SuperMax Stage 1 Upgrades

(NARRATOR)>> PROJECT SUPERMAX IS BACK TO START OUR INCREMENTAL PERFORMANCE UPGRADES BECAUSE YOU DON'T BECOME SUPER ALL AT ONCE. STAGE ONE INCLUDES A FOUR INCH EXHAUST, BIGGER COOLER, AND EXTREME TUNE. PLUS HOW TO FIX A BAD BODY REPAIR. THAT AND MORE RIGHT NOW ON TRUCK TECH.

(LT)>> TODAY WE HAVE PROJECT SUPERMAX IN THE SHOP. IT'S OUR 2003 REGULAR CAB SHORT BED 2,500 HD SILVERADO. NOW IT'S POWERED BY THE LBSEVEN SIX POINT SIX LITER DURAMAX, AND RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOTHING TOO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS POWER PLANT. IT'S BONE STOCK OTHER THAN THE COLD AIR INTAKE THE PREVIOUS OWNER INSTALLED JUST A LITTLE BIT CROOKED, BUT WHAT IS SPECIAL IS WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO TO THIS DIESEL POWER PLANT.

(JEREMY)>> WE'VE ALREADY DONE SOMETHING PRETTY COOL THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME OF YOU SCRATCHING YOUR HEADS. THIS TRUCK STARTED AS A LONG BED, NOT REALLY SEXY AT ALL, WHICH IS WHY WE SHORTENED THE WHEEL BASE BY CHOPPING 14 INCHES OUT OF THE FRAME. YOU SEE GM NEVER OFFERED A SHORT BOX DIESEL PICK UP. SO WHAT DID ALL OF THIS WORK BUY US? STYLE! I MEAN SHORTER IS COOLER AND THE TRUCK IS NOW LIGHTER, BUT WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE THREE QUARTER TON FRAME. SO THE ONLY THING LEFT FOR US TO DO NOW IS TO BUILD ON THE STRENGTH OF THE LBSEVEN WITH SOME SERIOUS PERFORMANCE UPGRADES.

(LT)>> WE KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE WON'T TRANSFORM A DIESEL TRUCK FROM BONE STOCK TO 1,000 HORSEPOWER RACER IN ONE SIMPLE STEP. IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS THAT INVOLVES A LOT OF EXPENSE AND A LOT OF TIME. SO WE'RE GONNA BUILD OUR LBSEVEN IN THREE DISTINCT POWER STAGES TO REACH THAT CRAZY HORSEPOWER GOAL. NOW STAGE ONE REPRESENTS WHAT MOST PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY FIRST BUY A DIESEL TRUCK. WE HAVE A GOAL OF ABOUT 400 HORSEPOWER, AND TO REACH THAT GOAL WE'RE GONNA MAKE CHANGES TO THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST SYSTEM TO MAKE AIR FLOW INTO AND OUT OF THE ENGINE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT, BUT MOST OF THE POWER GAINS ARE ACTUALLY GONNA COME FROM THE COMPUTER PROGRAMMER. SO WE'LL THROW ON A TUNER. NOW ANY TIME YOU ADD MORE POWER TO AN ENGINE YOU ALSO WANT TO ADD SOME GAUGES JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING INSIDE THE ENGINE IS HAPPY. NOW STAGE ONE WILL BE A PRETTY FUN STREET TRUCK BUT STAGE TWO, NOW THAT'S WHERE THINGS REALLY START TO GET FUN. OUR LBSEVEN HAS A FACTORY RATING OF AROUND 300 HORSEPOWER, BUT OUR GOAL FOR STAGE TWO IS 650 AT THE WHEELS. SO TO MEET THAT GOAL WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO YANK OUT THE FACTORY TURBOCHARGER AND REPLACE IT WITH AN UPGRADED COMPRESSOR WHEEL. NOW WE ALSO HAVE TO UPGRADE THE TRANSMISSION. THE ALLISON 1,000 IS VERY STRONG BUT ONCE YOU GET TO ABOUT 150 HORSEPOWER OVER STOCK IT JUST WILL START TO SLIP AND IT WON'T CUT IT ANYMORE. SO WE'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT. WE'LL ALSO ADD A LIFT PUMP AND PROBABLY SOME MANIFOLDS AND UP PIPES. 650 HORSEPOWER IS GREAT FOR ANY HOT STREET TRUCK, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GO DRAG RACING THEN STAGE THREE IS WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AT 1,000 HORSEPOWER OR MORE. NOW TO MEET THAT GOAL WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO YANK OUT THAT LBSEVEN AND UPGRADE THE PISTONS AND RODS TO MUCH STRONGER PIECES. WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO ADD TWIN COMPOUND TURBOCHARGERS AND TWIN CPTHREE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL INJECTION PUMPS. WE'LL PROBABLY THROW ON SOME CYLINDER HEADS WHILE WE'RE IN THERE, BUT I THINK WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF OURSELVES. TODAY WE'RE GONNA START BY CHANGING ALL THE PARTS FOR STAGE ONE. [ engine starts ] BACK HER UP!

WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE EXHAUST, WHICH MEANS THE TRUCK NEEDS TO BE UP ON THE LIFT.

THE ORIGINAL MUFFLER IS LONG GONE. SO WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE REST OF THE STOCK SYSTEM BY DISCONNECTING THE VBANDS NEAR THE STARTER. THE FACTORY EXHAUST IS THREE AND A HALF INCHES IN DIAMETER BUT WE NEED TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.

[ drill spinning ]

(JEREMY)>> ONE OF THE MORE RESTRICTIVE PARTS OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN BE THE PIECE THAT RUNS FROM THE TURBO TO DOWN TOWARD THE TRANSMISSION. NOW THIS IS CALLED THE DOWN PIPE. IT'S A PAIN TO GET TO BECAUSE IT RUNS BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND FIREWALL.

WITH SOME PERSISTENCE AND A COUPLE OF BLOODY KNUCKLES IT'LL COME OUT.

THE FACTORY DOWN PIPE IS REDUCED IN SIZE TO ALLOW FOR A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND FIREWALL, BUT THERE IS ROOM FOR A LARGER PIPE. NOW WE GRABBED THIS ONE FROM SUMMIT RACING. IT'S A DIRECT BOLT ON THAT'S CERAMIC COATED AND ALREADY HEAT WRAPPED TO PROTECT ANYTHING AROUND IT. SIDE BY SIDE YOU CAN SEE THE TRUE THREE INCH DIAMETER WILL MAXIMIZE EXHAUST FLOW.

(LT)>> WE NEED TO GET THE EXHAUST FROM THE DOWN PIPE TO THE TAIL PIPE, AND FOR THAT WE WENT TO FLOWMASTER AND PICKED UP A FOUR INCH DOWN PIPE BACK DUAL EXIT AMERICAN THUNDER EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS WILL GIVE US BETTER HORSEPOWER, BETTER FUEL MILEAGE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY LOWER EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURES. THIS IS MADE FROM STAINLESS STEEL, WHICH MEANS IT'LL GIVE YOU A LIFETIME OF GOOD LOOKS, AND THE POLISHED TIPS WILL WORK PERFECTLY WITH THE THEME WE HAVE PLANNED FOR OUR SPORT TRUCK. NOW WE HAVE MODIFIED WHEEL BASE, WHICH MEANS NO OUT OF THE BOX EXHAUST SYSTEM IS GONNA WORK FOR US, BUT THIS ONE IS INTENDED FOR EXTENDED AND CREW CAB DURAMAX'S. SO IT'S VERY CLOSE. NOW MOST OF THE EXTRA LENGTH WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT FROM THIS MIDDLE SECTION OF PIPING. THE FRONT PIPE SLIDES INTO PLACE AND ATTACHES TO THE NEW DOWN PIPE WITH THE ORIGINAL VBAND CLAMP. NEW URETHANE ISOLATORS WILL ATTACH TO THE FACTORY HANGER, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL PIPE GOES INTO PLACE. JEREMY WILL SUPPORT THE FRONT WITH A STAND. THEN IT'S ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHICH ATTACHES USING A NEW MOUNT IN AN EXISTING HOLE. THE MUFFLER CAN THEN SLIDE INTO PLACE.

(NARRATOR)>> AHEAD JEREMY WILL PUT THIS BAD REPAIR TO BED, AND SHOW YOU HOW TO FIX IT RIGHT.

(LT)>> WE'RE BACK ON TRUCK TECH CUSTOM FITTING OUR NEW FOUR INCH FLOWMASTER AMERICAN THUNDER EXHAUST TO OUR SHORTENED FRAME. WITH EVERYTHING LINED UP THE WAY I WANT IT I CAN TACK THE TUBES INTO PLACE. NOW WE HAVE THE TWO HALVES OF THE SYSTEM INSTALLED, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THIS LITTLE GUY RIGHT HERE IS ACTUALLY THE MUFFLER. ON A DIESEL ENGINE LIKE THIS THE TURBOCHARGER REMOVES A LOT OF THE EXHAUST NOISE. SO THE MUFFLER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AS BIG. NOW WITH THE TWO PARTS INSTALLED THEY'RE ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TOGETHER THAN I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT. THERE'S ONLY ABOUT AN EIGHT INCH SECTION THAT I HAVE TO FILL. SO WHAT I THINK I'M GONNA DO IS MAKE SOME CUTS, MOVE THE MUFFLER A LITTLE BIT FARTHER TO THE REAR, ADD ABOUT A 15 DEGREE BEND TO THE FRONT PIPE, AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL CONNECT UP TOGETHER. I'LL REMOVE THE TAIL PIPES AND WELD THEM TOGETHER TO PREVENT THEM FROM MOVING AROUND TO KEEP ALIGNMENT PERFECT. THEN TRIM THE EXCESS LENGTH. [ saw cutting metal ]

(LT)>> AND REINSTALL THEM ON THE TRUCK FOR GOOD, ALONG WITH A MUFFLER IN ITS NEW LOCATION FARTHER BACK. REMEMBER, THIS FOUR INCH SYSTEM IS FOR A LONG BED TRUCK, AND ALL THE BENDS ARE THERE TO MAKE IT WORK ON OUR SHORTENED FRAME. ANOTHER TIP, ANYTIME YOU WORK ON CUSTOM EXHAUST SAVE THE LEFTOVER PIECES. THEY COULD COME IN HANDY SOME DAY.

WITH THE EXHAUST CONNECTED, WE'LL LOWER THIS TRUCK AND HEAR HOW IT SOUNDS.

AH, NOTHING LIKE A DURAMAX. [ engine revving ]

(JEREMY)>> WE NEEDED THE BED ON WHILE LT WAS LINING UP THE EXHAUST, AND WITH IT NOW FINISHED WE CAN YANK IT OFF SO I CAN GET TO WORK. REMEMBER THIS WAS A LONG BED DURAMAX PICK UP THAT WE CONVERTED TO A SHORT BED. SOMETHING THAT GM NEVER PRODUCED, AND RIGHT HERE IS WHERE WE CUT 14 INCHES OUT OF THE FRAME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. NOW WE COULD HAVE TAKEN A DURAMAX DIESEL ENGINE AND SWAPPED IT INTO A SHORT BED TRUCK AND NOT HAD TO CUT A THING, BUT THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THE THICKER FRAME, THE BIG THREE QUARTER TON REAR AXLE, THE HEAVIER SUSPENSION, THE EIGHT LUG BOLT PATTERN, AND HEAVIER BRAKES, AND TO DO THIS CONVERSION WE DIDN'T NEED A SINGLE AFTERMARKET PART. EVEN THE FUEL TANK WE PULLED FROM A SHORT BED PICK UP FITS PERFECTLY IN THE FRAME RAILS. WE WENT THROUGH A HANDFUL OF JUNKYARDS TRYING TO FIND A SHORT BED FOR OUR TRUCK, AND MOST OF THEM WE FOUND WERE PRETTY SMASHED DUE TO WRECKS. NOW THIS IS THE BEST OF TWO THAT WE FOUND AND IT'S STILL NOT THAT GREAT. IT'S GOT QUITE A FEW DENTS IN IT, AND THE WAY THEY STORED THIS THING AT THE YARD THEY BENT ALL FOUR CORNERS, BUT THIS BED'S ALSO HAD A LITTLE BIT OF WORK DONE TOO IT. I'LL GET IT UP IN THE AIR AND SHOW YOU WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

ALL RIGHT, HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A TEMPORARY REPAIR. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A DENT IN THE LOWER BED CORNER, AND WHOEVER REPAIRED THIS THING DID THE OLD SCREW SLIDE HAMMER METHOD TO YANK THIS THING BACK OUT. THE PROBLEM IS THEY DIDN'T WELD UP ANY OF THE HOLES. THEY JUST SLAPPED FILLER ON THERE, WHICH IS WHY YOU SEE ALL THESE FINGERS STICKING OUT AT YOU. SO I'LL TAKE MY KNIFE AND SCRAPE SOME OF THIS FILLER AWAY. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A ROCK SLUNG UP AND KNOCKED SOME OF THIS HARDENED FILLER OFF. NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT HOLES IN YOUR PANEL AND YOU'RE HAVING TO REWORK IT, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M GONNA DO AFTER I GET THE BED DOWN ON STANDS.

(LT)>> WHEN IT COMES TO PERFORMANCE, INCREASED AIR FLOW IS THE NAME OF THE GAME, AND OUR LBSEVEN IS NO DIFFERENT. NOW WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF THE EXHAUST SIDE OF THE EQUATION. SO IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON TO THE INTAKE. NOW OUR TRUCK, LIKE MOST DIESELS, IS EQUIPPED WITH A TURBOCHARGER, WHICH FORCES MORE AIR INTO THE ENGINE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT PROCESS ALSO CREATES A LOT OF HEAT. OUR TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERCOOLER, WHICH WILL REMOVE A LOT OF THAT EXTRA HEAT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT SUPER EFFICIENT, AND IT WON'T HOLD TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO HIGHER BOOST PRESSURE LIKE WE PLAN ON ACHIEVING IN STAGE TWO AND STAGE THREE. SO WE WENT TO SUMMIT RACING AND PICKED UP THIS MISHIMOTO HIGH FLOW INTERCOOLER KIT. NOW THE CORE IS SUBSTANTIALLY THICKER AND LARGER THAN STOCK, BUT IT STILL DROPS RIGHT INTO THE FACTORY LOCATION. IT ALSO COMES WITH THESE POLISHED ALUMINUM HIGH FLOW INTERCOOLER PIPES AS WELL AS ALL THE NECESSARY SILICONE COUPLERS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE INSTALLATION. I'VE GOT TO GET SOME PARTS OUT OF THE WAY TO MAKE ROOM FOR OUR LARGER INTERCOOLER, BUT WHY GO THROUGH THE TROUBLE FOR THIS UPGRADE? WHEN AIR FROM A TURBO IS COMPRESSED IT GETS HOT PRETTY QUICKLY, AND AS THE TEMPERATURE CLIMBS THE OXYGEN DENSITY DROPS. COOLER OXYGEN ENRICHED AIR SENT TO THE ENGINE IS WAY MORE EFFICIENT IMPROVING COMBUSTION. NOW I CAN SEPARATE THE RADIATOR FROM THE INTERCOOLER AND LIFT OUT THE STOCK RESTRICTIVE COOLER. THE LARGER MISHIMOTO INTERCOOLER SLIDES INTO PLACE. OURS IS SPECIFIC FOR THE SIX POINT SIX DURAMAX, BUT LOG ON TO SUMMIT RACING DOT COM FOR YOUR APPLICATION. AFTER A LITTLE PERSUASION THE RADIATOR REATTACHES TO OUR NEW INTERCOOLER. WE'LL INSTALL THE BEAM TO SECURE THE WHOLE PACKAGE. THEN REMOVE THE STOCK COOLER TUBES AND INSTALL THE THREE INCH POLISHED TUBES, AND SECURE THE COUPLERS. FROM THERE IT'S A SIMPLY MATTER OF REINSTALLING THE PARTS WE HAD TO TAKE OFF.

(NARRATOR)>> LATER ON OUR STAGE ONE PERFORMANCE UPGRADES ARE PROVEN ON THE DYNO.

(JEREMY)>> THE FIRST THING I'M DOING IS STRIPPING THE PAINT AND OLD FILLER TO GET DOWN TO BARE METAL. IT'S A PRETTY QUICK JOB WITH THIS EIGHT INCH MATCO SANDER, AND 36 GRIT TAKES OFF ALL THE HARDENED FILLER. AFTER THAT A SCREWDRIVER TAKES CARE OF THE REST. WITH THE AREA CLEANED OF ALL THE FILLER I CAN START WORKING THE DISTORTED METAL BACK STRAIGHT. I'M STARTING OUT WITH A SLAPPING SPOON ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE PANEL AND A DOLLY. PATIENCE HERE IS KEY. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO MOVE THE METAL, AND YOU DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO GO TOO FAR. NOW I'M MOVING ON TO A HAMMER AND DOLLY TO SMOOTH OUT THE METAL. YOU KNOW 40 OR 50 YEARS AGO DRILLING HOLES IN A PANEL TO PULL A DENT WAS CONSIDERED A PROPER REPAIR, BUT I'D NEVER SLAP FILLER OVER THE HOLES AND CALL IT A DAY. WHOEVER DID THIS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST WELDED UP THE HOLES, WHICH IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO BUT CAREFULLY. THE GUY BEFORE ME GROUND SO MUCH METAL AWAY THAT THE PANEL IS PAPER THIN. I'LL TURN THE MIG ALL THE WAY DOWN SO I DON'T BURN THROUGH. SMALL SPOT WELDS WILL DO THE TRICK UNTIL ALL THE HOLES ARE COVERED, AND TO CLEAN UP THE WELDS I'M USING A 36 GRIT THREE INCH ROLL LOCK ON AN ANGLE GRINDER. NOW I'M ONLY FLATTENING OUT THE WELD SINCE THIS AREA IS SO THIN. OKAY NOW WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO THE TOP OF THE BED. YOU CAN SEE THIS THING TOOK A PRETTY GOOD HIT AND THIS IS WHAT WE CALL DIRECT DAMAGE BECAUSE IT'S EXACTLY WHERE IT TOOK THE IMPACT. NOW A LOT OF GUYS WOULD FILLER WORK THIS OUT AND THINK THEY'VE GOT IT BUT IN REALITY YOU DON'T BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET A DENT LIKE THIS IT DRAWS THE METAL TOWARD THE DENT, SHRINKING THE METAL. IT CREATES LITTLE WAVES AND WIGGLES OUT HERE CALLED INDIRECT DAMAGE. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. IF I LAY THIS SHEET OF PAPER UP HERE AND I PUT A DENT IN IT, YOU SEE WHAT IT DOES. IT WANTS TO PULL TOWARD THE DENT. SO IF WE TAKE THE TIME AND PROPERLY METAL WORK THIS OUT YOU CAN SEE HOW IT FLATTENS BACK OUT. SO THE PANEL WILL WANT TO GO BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE AND IT MINIMIZES THE AMOUNT OF FILLER WORK WE'LL HAVE TO DO. THE FIRST STEP IS TO STRIP THE PAINT FROM THE AREA SINCE WE'LL NEED BARE METAL FOR THE NEXT STEP. NOW I CAN START WELDING ON STUDS WITH MY MATCO STUD GUN. I'LL WORK FROM THE OUTSIDE IN, SLOWLY MASSAGING THE DENT BACK OUT WITH THE SLIDE HAMMER. IF YOU DON'T OWN A STUD GUN YOU CAN ALWAYS GET YOURSELF AN INEXPENSIVE SLIDE HAMMER AND SOME SHEET METAL SCREWS. JUST REMEMBER WELD UP THE HOLES. I'LL REPEAT THIS PROCESS WORKING MY WAY TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE DENT. I'M ALSO LIGHTLY TAPPING THE METAL WITH A BODY HAMMER WHILE PULLING UP. THIS HELPS PULL THE METAL BACK INTO PLACE.

(LT)>> AS JEREMY FINISHES UP THE BODY WORK ON THE BED OF PROJECT SUPERMAX I'M NEARLY DONE WITH STAGE ONE OF THE PERFORMANCE MODIFICATIONS, AND THE LAST THING WE NEED IS A COLD AIR INTAKE. THIS IS THE BULLY DOG RAPID FLOW, AND IT LOOKS AND FITS JUST LIKE A FACTORY PIECE, BUT IT FLOWS 10 PERCENT MORE AIR, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY REDUCES THE INLET AIR TEMPERATURES BY 10 DEGREES. THAT'S GONNA GO A LONG TO THE POWER AND EFFICIENCY OF OUR LBSEVEN. NOW THE LAST LITTLE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IS THIS GUY RIGHT HERE, A BOOST INCREASE VALVE WE GOT FROM SUMMIT RACING. FROM THE FACTORY THE LBSEVEN PUTS DOWN SOMEWHERE AROUND 20 POUNDS OF BOOST, AND THIS IS GONNA RAISE THAT CLOSER TO 30, WHICH MEANS MORE AIR FLOW AND MOST IMPORTANTLY A LOT MORE POWER. THERE ARE A LOT OF INTAKE SYSTEMS ON THE MARKET THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY A FILTER ON THE END OF A TUBE, BUT YOU REALLY CAN'T CALL THAT A COLD AIR INTAKE BECAUSE IT SUCKS IN WARM AIR FROM THE ENGINE BAY. THE BULLY DOG RAPID FLOW IS A TRUE COLD AIR INTAKE BECAUSE THE FILTER SITS INSIDE A BOX AND DRAWS COLD AIR IN FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND REMEMBER, THE COLDER THE AIR THE MORE POWER YOU'LL MAKE.

WE INSTALL GAUGES ON EVERY PERFORMANCE BUILD WE DO AT TRUCK TECH. THEY'LL QUICKLY LET YOU KNOW IF SOMETHING'S GOING WRONG INSIDE YOUR ENGINE. THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT GAUGES FOR A TURBO DIESEL ENGINE ARE BOOST AND EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE. SO WE WENT TO SUMMIT RACING AND PICKED UP THIS ZERO TO 60 PSI MECHANICAL FACTORY MATCH STYLE BOOST GAUGE AS WELL AS THE ZERO TO 2,000 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT PYROMETER. WE ALSO GRABBED THIS NIFTY PILLAR POD TO MOUNT THEM IN.

(NARRATOR)>> NEXT, WITH THE GAUGES INSTALLED SUPERMAX HEADS TO THE DYNO.

(JEREMY)>> ALL THE HARD PARTS WE HAVE INSTALLED SO FAR ON OUR '03 DURAMAX WILL INCREASE PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMY A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE REAL SECRET TO UPPING THE POWER LIES WITHIN TUNING THE COMPUTER. WE MADE A BASELINE RUN ON THE DURAMAX'S STOCK COMPUTER THAT YIELDED 238 HORSEPOWER AND 430 POUND FEET OF TORQUE, REALLY CLOSE TO THE FACTORY NUMBERS AT THE CRANK.

(LT)>> THE REAL TRICK TO ADDING POWER TO A DIESEL ENGINE IS GETTING INSIDE ITS COMPUTER, ADDING MORE FUEL, AND ADJUSTING THE INJECTION TIMING. THIS IS THE BULLY DOG GT PLATINUM. IT'S A POWERFUL PROGRAMMER THAT LETS YOU SWITCH POWER LEVELS ON THE FLY, FROM STOCK, TO TOWING, TO PERFORMANCE, AND OF COURSE EXTREME, BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST A PROGRAMMER. IT'S ALSO A MONITORING TOOL AS WELL AS A SCAN TOOL THAT LETS YOU READ AND CLEAR DTC CODES. WE'LL GET STARTED BY SWITCHING IT TO THE TOW TUNE AND SEE HOW MUCH MORE POWER WE CAN GET FROM OUR LBSEVEN. THE BULLY DOG GT PLATINUM WORKS WITH GM, FORD, AND DODGE DIESEL, AND COMES WITH AN SD CARD PRELOADED WITH TUNES FOR YOUR SPECIFIC TRUCK. [ engine revving ]

(LT)>> WITH THE GT'S TOWING TUNE INSTALLED OUR DURAMAX GAINED AN ADDITIONAL 54 HORSEPOWER AND ADDED 100 POUND FEET OF TORQUE, AND THAT'S JUST THE FIRST TUNE. WE'LL SKIP THE SECOND TUNE AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE BIG DADDY, THE EXTREME TUNE AND SEE HOW MUCH POWER THIS BULLY DOG TUNER CAN PULL OUT OF OUR DURAMAX. [ engine revving ]

(LT)>> OUR FINAL SPIN YIELD 374 HORSEPOWER AND 684 FOR TORQUE. THAT'S AN OVERALL GAIN OF 136 HORSES AND 254 POUNDS OF TORQUE OVER STOCK, AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET. STAGE TWO WE'LL TRY AND DOUBLE THESE NUMBERS WITH ADDITIONAL UPGRADES INCLUDING A BIGGER TURBO, HIGH FLOW MANIFOLDS AND UP PIPES, AND FUEL SYSTEM UPGRADES.

(JEREMY)>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS FOR BODY AND RESTORATION GUYS OUT THERE HAS TO BE A GOOD SET OF SANDING BLOCKS. THEY PROVIDE A FIRM SURFACE FOR YOUR SAND PAPER, SPEED UP THE SANDING PROCESS IN MAKING YOUR PANELS LASER STRAIGHT. THIS IS A SIX PIECE SET OF GO TO BLOCKS. THEY'RE MADE FROM 60-61 TSIX ALUMINUM. THEY'RE LIGHT WEIGHT AND YOU NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WARPAGE LIKE YOU WOULD GET FROM A FOAM OR RUBBER BLOCK, AND THE ROUNDED EDGES MEANS YOU WON'T CUT GROOVES IN YOUR FILLER OR PRIMER. CHECK THEM OUT AT GO TO BLOCKS DOT COM.

(LT)>> WHETHER YOU DRIVE A PURPOSE BUILT ROCK CRAWLER OR WANT TO JUMP YOUR OFF ROAD TRUCK SUSPENSION LIMITING STRAPS ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR SHOCKS, BALL JOINTS, AND OTHER COMPONENTS FROM OVEREXTENDING AND CAUSING DAMAGE. SUMMIT RACING HAS GRANT LIMIT STRAPS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR HIGH PERFORMANCE OFF ROAD CAR, TRUCK, OR JEEP. FIND THE RIGHT SIZE FOR YOUR APPLICATION AT SUMMIT RACING DOT COM. THANKS FOR WATCHING TRUCK TECH. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.