2011 Truck wish list -What I have + what's next - your thoughts + input

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lotsofmiles

Father of the Van
Dec 4, 2008
3,097
0
0
Michigan
Thinking about what to do to the truck next.

For those that dont know the truck is 2007 LBZ cc/lb 2wd. Just turned 275,000 miles. Used mostly for towing campers one way out of Elkhart County IN and running empty back home to MI.

Here's what is done to the truck already, followed by what I'm thinking of next

HIDs - low + fog (hi's ordered soon)
Aftermarket: cab/running/+rear bar lights
Banks: I/C, 6gun, intake w/scoop
Fuel cooler W/fan
Egr Blocked
DE down pipe into 4 inch straight pipe
Trans go Jr
Snow Stage 3 mpg/max water meth
115 gallon aux fuel tank
5th wheel/gooseneck/front hitches
Rancho adjustable shocks on all 4
Firestone rear airbags
Gauges: Oil temp, Fuel temp x2, meth psi, air psi, aux fuel level + meth fuel level, rear diff temp, FRP, egt, boost, +whatever other 2 I want to watch with the 6 gun

probably some other little things that I'm forgeting


OK, lets get these 2 things out of the way, and go ahead and feel free to blast me for them.
1 - The trans is staying stock until it dies. 275k, never limped, its fine and its not getting built until its dead. And, if it ever dies, I've got a spare with under 20k on it waiting. So no built trans on the list.
2- Banks 6 Gun is staying until it or the truck dies. Yes I have EFI and like it. But the 6 gun is staying. It has done me well, performed exactly as claimed, and will be the primary tuner for the truck until, if and when there is a major faliure.

So, theres 3 things I've been wanting to do to the truck and wanted some thoughts on it.

I've kept a maintance fund that takes a percentage out of my pay and sets it aside for maintance. I always pay for the normal maintance stuff out of pocket so the fund just sits there and grows till I want to use it for something. I just emptied it out and will be starting fresh.

Heres what I thinking about for the next maintance fund purchase, please keep in mind the truck and what I use it for.

Egr delete - a while back the egr was kinda seeping oil down the back of the engine. It did that for about 8-10 months and stopped. Since then I've been thinking about doing the delete.

3.42 gears - remember its 2wd so only need the rear. Thinking this would really help mpgs when running empty. And shouldnt hurt towing because what I've found says maybe 300 rpm drop. So if I'm towing heavy I'll run in 5th instead of 6th.

Lift Pump - the ads say they help with mpg's, do they?

What do you think I should do next? Doesnt have to be one of the three I have listed.
Any and all thoughts are welcome (except the ones blasting me for stock trans + Banks:hug:)
 
Skyhigh4by

Skyhigh4by

Goin to Poochisloose
Apr 13, 2008
408
0
0
Powell River, BC
I would think that a lift pump would take some stress off the CP3 and maybe help it last a bit longer...

Custom bumpers....?

Nice wheels & tires can totally transform the look....
 
duramaximizer

duramaximizer

#1 Abuse Enabler ;)
May 4, 2008
1,187
1
38
Edgerton, Ohio
EGR delete from Burkhardt, with or without the grid heater. I went without the heater. I would go to the bigger hot air charge pipe from one of the venders here. Like the Afe Banks etc. Maybe you have that already. I also love my cognito UCA's even with 2wd it should help your ride a bunch.

How do you like your snow? I am looking at getting that. Did it help much with MPG?
 
DAVe3283

DAVe3283

Heavy & Slow
Sep 3, 2009
3,727
296
83
Boise, ID, USA
lotsofmiles said:
Egr delete - a while back the egr was kinda seeping oil down the back of the engine. It did that for about 8-10 months and stopped. Since then I've been thinking about doing the delete.

3.42 gears - remember its 2wd so only need the rear. Thinking this would really help mpgs when running empty. And shouldnt hurt towing because what I've found says maybe 300 rpm drop. So if I'm towing heavy I'll run in 5th instead of 6th.

Lift Pump - the ads say they help with mpg's, do they?
Click to expand...
EGR Delete - I don't know that an EGR delete will do much, since it is blocked already. It is one of those things I would only do if I had to tear into the thing to begin with.

3.42 gears - If you don't hot-rod the truck, this could be a good mod. You'll obviously loose some acceleration, but you should pick up some mileage in return. You may not even find that you need to drop a gear when towing. But, with a stock trans, you might?? I believe the Banks is pretty good about backing down the power before you hurt the trans, so I'd try pulling in 6th and see what happens. I'd do this mod before the EGR delete, personally.

Lift Pump - I have an AirDog II, and it installs really easy, but doesn't do jack to help mileage or engine noise (the two things everyone claims). It does hold rail pressure better at WOT, and for some reason has better off-idle response. That was the first thing I noticed, actually: the off-idle throttle response is way quicker. My mileage (and engine noise) is unchanged. Overall, it is probably a worthwhile mod, as it goes on easy, and you never worry about loosing prime, and re-priming the system is super easy!
MuscleTruck03 said:
heated seats :thumb:
and no a lift pump wont help with mpg at all
Click to expand...
x2 heated seats are the BOMB! I love setting the A/C to about 68-70 degrees and put the heat on the lowest setting. The miles just fly by. I actually prefer sitting in my truck to my couch, lol.

Here is my personal favorite thing to mod on a vehicle: the stereo. Even if you don't listen to much music, some better speakers in the doors can make a world of difference for clarity, and are a cheap mod. If you wanted to go all-out, some sound-deadening material in the cab is supposed to make the truck much nicer to ride in weather or not the music is playing. I don't know if you have a nav system, but those are awesome! I have the factory Nav out of a Cadillac and it is really nice, but supposedly the aftermarket is even better.

So, what kind of temperatures do you see in the rear diff?
 
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lotsofmiles

Father of the Van
Dec 4, 2008
3,097
0
0
Michigan
Ugg. Multi quot doesn't like to work on my phone. Let's see if I get it all

Yes I have the I/C tube from banks forgot that

The meth got me 2-3 mpgs when empty. Rarely check towing mpgs. Always a different trailer different direction etc. Hard to compare. Only time I checked towing mpgs was with our own camper. That was 17mpg running 65-68 mph, but that's with a 4100 lb empty weight Airstream.


I think the truck will rust in half before it wears out



Thanks for the input on the lift pumps. I've been watching FRP pretty close. With the last trailer hooked up, maintaining 65 mph on what few hills I saw, FRP had no problem holding 20-25k and wouldn't drop until I let off.

And yea, egr WAS seeping oil, it stopped and looks like a little buildup around it but not bad

Yes, have aftermarket stereo with usb player + bluetooth + 12 disc changer. Bluetooth on the phone + Pandora I don't run out of tunes. Speakers do suck tho



I may do the Recon 3rd brake light. That would be a out of pocket thing. Also started changing the interior lights/map lights to LEDs. I like that look

Stock body mounts.


Thanks for all the replies so far
 
MuscleTruck03

MuscleTruck03

Wants a turbo!! or two...
Mar 10, 2010
369
0
0
north ogden, ut
Also some hid's with projector housings, it's amazing how much more light they put out
*edit * crap just saw you're already doing them, I would suggest projectors though
 
TeaBagger2006

TeaBagger2006

Im a Garrett Nut Swinger
May 11, 2008
3,123
15
38
Bis ND
Do that mod that let's you recline your seats all the way back(down), that is one of my favorite things about the truck. Don't know if you have to have power seats tho
 
BLKLMM

BLKLMM

<<< Slow Mamba
Jan 31, 2010
2,142
0
36
Oceanside
avatar1718_15.gif


WTF? whats up with the side of your Van???
 
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DAVe3283

DAVe3283

Heavy & Slow
Sep 3, 2009
3,727
296
83
Boise, ID, USA
TeaBagger2006 said:
Do that mod that let's you recline your seats all the way back(down), that is one of my favorite things about the truck. Don't know if you have to have power seats tho
Click to expand...
Yeah, that mod is easy and really nice if you have an hour or so to kill. Just lean back and relax! Heck, you could probably sleep in the truck if you wanted.
BLKLMM said:
avatar1718_15.gif


WTF? whats up with the side of your Van???
Click to expand...
I think someone edited his avatar (along with a few other people's). It cracks me up.
 
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lotsofmiles

Father of the Van
Dec 4, 2008
3,097
0
0
Michigan
Haha. Another forum 'issued' that avatar too me. I changed it here + posted in that avatar thread to see if anyone noticed.


I like some of the inexpensive ideas I see in here.

Looks like I better stop thinking and talking about the 342s and do that next for the few hundred dollar + mod


Yes pwr seat in my truck. Thought I read something about that recline a while back
 
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