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I am new to the diesel market and was wondering what's the best upgrades (programmer'Exhaust'intake) for towing I am not planning on racing only pulling a 15'000 fith wheel camper and I don't want to chance damaging anything
2003 towing upgrades
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Very first thing is tranny! At least a tc and valve bodie
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Some of the big favorites on here are georand, garmon, suncoast, dtt. Go to the drivetrain section you will get tons of reviews on tranny builds.
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I tow a similar weight but with an NV5600. My build thread might have a few tid bits worth your time. I built the truck to tow well as a first priority, but I got the bug after I bought the turbos and injectors and now am looking for more HP with custom tuning.
Hope this helps or is at least entertaining. Build thread
Hope this helps or is at least entertaining. Build thread
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A few basic things of value in that thread:
- 4" Exhaust is fine
- Straight through mufflers are a joke
- Buy a small or medium set of compounds for towing, get a medium to large set for MAX fun factor
- Get a lift pump
- Get good filtration
- Get valve springs if your gonna twist it up above stock RPM, or boost above 40-50 lbs.
- Edge programmers run HOT
- Airbags are a must for towing
- Get the CTS Insight, 8 analog gauges is distracting
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Take this for what its worth, its just my opinion based on what I have learned from talking with a few well regarded professionals, read on the internet, some magazines, a couple books, and the limited experience I have with my particular application over the last 8 months.
The '03 has a nice welded aluminum aftercooler that seems to be quite tough, and the stock intake elbow works fine. So those are unnecessary for most people that have a properly sized turbo and injectors, and easily upgraded later if you find out you need them. The elbow is, from what I can tell, a nice cosmetic upgrade and not much else. (Boost elbow fan boy with chrome strippers on his back window and 24" rockstars commenting in 5,4,3,2....)
The '03 has a nice welded aluminum aftercooler that seems to be quite tough, and the stock intake elbow works fine. So those are unnecessary for most people that have a properly sized turbo and injectors, and easily upgraded later if you find out you need them. The elbow is, from what I can tell, a nice cosmetic upgrade and not much else. (Boost elbow fan boy with chrome strippers on his back window and 24" rockstars commenting in 5,4,3,2....)
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We don't have much of the Sun Coast stuff on our site yet, but if you email my boss, he'll do the leg work for you. The email link is in my signature.
Just tell him what truck you have and plans are. You'll have to identify the transmission which is on a tag under the hood. You won't need that until ordering, but you may as well get that info. 2003's had both depending on production date. Get that from the door too.
Behind the right headlight there is a verticle frame member. It's right behind the bolts that hold the head light in.
There's 4 rows of number/letter combinations. The one furthest behind the hed light is the row you need. The 2nd set of 3 digits is what to look for.
DG8 is a 48RE and DGP is a 47RE
For 15,000 pounds a Torque Converter on a 47/48 RE would be a good idea.
Hope that helps you
Just tell him what truck you have and plans are. You'll have to identify the transmission which is on a tag under the hood. You won't need that until ordering, but you may as well get that info. 2003's had both depending on production date. Get that from the door too.
Behind the right headlight there is a verticle frame member. It's right behind the bolts that hold the head light in.
There's 4 rows of number/letter combinations. The one furthest behind the hed light is the row you need. The 2nd set of 3 digits is what to look for.
DG8 is a 48RE and DGP is a 47RE
For 15,000 pounds a Torque Converter on a 47/48 RE would be a good idea.
Hope that helps you
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I dont think mr banks would like that comment:confused013: high ram intake manifolds rulz...thats with a Z!
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- Under what conditions
- in what application
- with who's turbo
- Proven buy what dyno or by what testing method
What I see is highly subjective, would you put your money where your mouth is and have me test one and provide everyone my feed back? If I come out a believer I'll make it well known, if not I'll send you a check to cover all costs involved.
The pusher intakes look very nice, and I have considered building one of my own several times, just for the looks and "ooooh, whats that" effect. That, and I like to fabricate.
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