Situation: I have a Bully Dog 6 pos chip that came with the truck when I bought it years ago. Never really cared for the tunes, pretty weak even on the highest setting (100hp). I've recently upped tire size to 35", and bought a 35' bumper pull camper so I was looking at having DP flash some better tunes on the BD chip.

While doing research on the tunes I want from DP, I kept seeing mention of the T500 HPOP upgrade, and figure I'll "need" that too. I plan to get both eventually, but it will be two purchases spread out over several months. Initially I was going to get the DP tunes first, but I'm wondering if I would see more benefit from the T500 first. The biggest issue I have with the BD tunes is that they seem to fall flat in the mid and top end, but I've read that is likely due to the HPOP no keeping up with even the stock e99 sticks my truck has.

So do I get the T500 first and see if the BD tunes wake up, or do I get the DP tunes first and upgrade to the T500 in a few months?

Eventually, I will upgrade to larger injectors but that's not in the budget any time soon.

 

the way I look at this (and Im sure Tuggly will be chiming in on this too) is if this were Stinky Jr. I would look it from the perspective of get every thing fine tuned and healthy first then begin with the mods, its a good possibility that you are feeling the anemic abilities of the tunner because your truck isn't up to 100% health (depending on mileage on the truck you could be a few simple items or looking a bit more complex ware items), time to get the best thing out there "mod wise" and get a utility called Forscan (yes I know dirty thoughts, get them out of your head) and Torq pro, look at the information and get us the numbers (I forget which values to monitor, but there should be a thread by Tuggly with the Torq pro explaination and things to monitor and more or less what healthy numbers look like, so once you get the numbers looking good then begin with the mods.


Now for me I look at things that will make my truck reliable and last for years to come and improve its towing abilities in the event that I need to tow things, or pull a stuck car out of the ditch or something...but that is just me...

 

All things being equal, and if everything is in working order otherwise, I would go with the T500 first, just to rule out the early '99 HPOP as being a factor. That beings said, it's a big IF. Jaime has the right idea in getting the truck running tip top first before running into the possibility that spending money on new tunes, and a T500 doesn't have the intended effect because there are other things going on, limiting their effectiveness. If there is little concern by you that other things aren't amiss, that my suggestion is T500 first than DP Tuner second.

 

With stock injectors and good tuning you won't need a T500. So with your choices I'd go T500 first
DP blamed my brand new hpop not being able to keep up with my tunes.... I'm not talking big HP tunes either 60 and 80.
If you do the tuning first then you'll have to have your tunes redone to reap the benefits of the T500 later. If you do the T500 first you'll just have to remember to tell your tuner that you have it
I'm with Jamie. Check those up pipes too!
Just an fyi the "horsepower" setting claimed by most is a joke. At the end of the day a stock injector truck will make at best 330ish hp in 100% perfect working order.

 

here is how I look at things, upgrade things to make a reliable rig, solve the known issues and quirks with the truck (or vehicle in question) then tune accordingly, and if needing to replace a broken item (think wear items) then AND ONLY then will I look into upgrades, for example, since my transmission TC is chattering like marbles in a washing machine on high im looking into a replacement TC, while at the same time I am looking to see what other upgradeable items are in that area that I should hit also, like the John Woods valve body, why? simple its part of my making it reliable, and firming up the shift points...and I am hitting it while the trans is out for work anyways, so im not loosing any additional time or fluids having to pull it out a second time to do the second piece...again this is HOW I THINK in these processes...your results and mileage may vary accordingly...

 

Jaime makes some good points,. I always try do everything at once not in steps.
IMO set your goal (whats your rigs main purpose, towing, racing, daily, or a bit of each) after you made your truck reliable then you can start thinking in mods, first in the list since you got air and exhaust covered would be in this order.
I dont know if you have a hand shaker or auto so before anything at a minimum an upgraded tc and a 6.0 trans cooler,( thats about the only thing my stock 800k tranny has with stock internals)
HPO from TE's T500 or other?
Injectors.
Turbo or at least an after market wheel.
Custom Tunning
All of the obove will varry depending on injector size. Good luck

 

This one is so easy... I don't even have to type a real answer. Just click the "Custom Tunes" link in my signature to get the full reply.

So.... I noticed your poll didn't have any options at all.

 

See I knew Tugly would be here right on cue but I agree here, your Pole really is lacking in the options...


another thought I forgot when I posted before is gauges I know Pyro gauges (minimum is one, but for best results 2 one for each bank of exhaust headers) and I think also Trans temp (can't remember the suggested others) and one other....

 

Wow, this is why I love FTE, great info and fast!

Maybe I can add some info I should have added already.

The truck is an e99 so it already has a WW, just the smaller housing and spyder.

Truck has 278K miles and has been meticulously maintained its entire life, and I have an inch thick folder to prove it.

I have some gauges: trans temp, pyro, and boost.

The trans was fully built with a billet TC, tugger kit, modified VB, and it shifts like its trying to escape from under the truck,lol. Came with a lifetime warranty on parts and labor up to 600hp.

The entire drive line has been refreshed in the last year including the suspension, bearings, seals, bushings, u-joints, and both pumpkins getting inspected and resealed.

I'll be pulling the turbo off very soon to replace the pedestal O-rings that just started leaking. I plan on replacing the up pipe donuts while it's all apart (bellowed up pipes aren't in my budget.).

I'll also be pulling both valve covers and replacing the glow plugs,inj harnesses, and GPR.

Other than that the truck runs like a champ.

I have TorquePro with the Powerstroke PIDs loaded. With a little guidance I can do some logging to make sure the engine is healthy. I can say from a butt in the seat feel, the truck runs great...take it fir what it is. Performance hasn't changed at all since I got the truck, other than feeling slower due to the larger tires. I only ran the BD 100hp tune when towing before, but with the larger tires I leave it in that tune just to feel like it can move at a healthy pace.

I'm not looking to build a pulling rig, or drag truck, I want a solid reliable rig that will comfortably pull my 35' camper and race trailer with ease, and be a fun ripper when unloaded. I'd probably get the 60 tow, decel, 80 tow, 100 performance, 120 race, and high idle. Maybe that gives you an idea of how I use the truck.

I figured sine I had the 15* HPOP I was just out running the pump with the mild BD tunes. I've also been told the BD tunes don't do much for fueling anyway and just change the injector timing curve. All I know is I want as much power as I can get from stock e99 injectors and turbo.

In a couple years I'll be back asking about 200cc injectors and a d66 turbo, but until then I want to max out the expensive equipment with the budget mods like tuning and HPOP. What other options should be in my poll?

 

Ok daily, tow rig just like me, check my signature its the perfect combo for all around(mines an obs same concept) you will have some fun with these mods.

 

so it looks like I need the t500 and 160 injectors to have a similar setup? I would rather max out the 120s that are in there now. Scratching up $1k+ isn't really in the books with race season approaching. That's why I figured the T500 and DP tunes would push the stock sticks as far as they would go.

d66 and bigger injectors would be a birthday/Christmas type deal, so winter acquisitions. Getting new tunes isn't a huge expense so I'd rather max out what I have now.

 

#1 custom tunes, and a billet compressor wheel should do you justice.

 

Trans temp isn't as important as fuel psi. I got my truck up to 100% first before I did any mods... Still don't have injectors or tuner because I spent all my cash on getting the Grinch to 100%

 

Skip the T500... Skip the DP tuner...

Get a Hydra chip and run it... If you need a HPOP, work on that down the road. You dont need one with stock injectors, and I would not get the T500 if you did need one.

Hydra is $375 shipped from all the vendors. It comes with a built in no start, built in stock, 15 programmable settings, unlimited free access to all of Power Hungry Performances library of tunes, free... unlimited...

If you want one of the best HPOP's on the market, tested and proven to out flow the T-500... Google MB Diesel... Cheaper then the T-500 as well.

Currently working on a 20* version as well.

 

Now the water is getting muddy for me...so should I run the torque pro and lod fuel pressure with the tunes I've got on the Bully Dog??

Are you telling me I can max out my injectors potential with just a tune and a stock 15* hop with 278k miles on it?

I've read nothing but praise for DP around here, never heard of hydra...