Newish guy..

[DuramaxGarrett]

I have been on this site multiple times in the past year or two just searching for answers and never making an account. Got to the point about a month ago that i was on here nearly every day so i figured i should just get an account and hopefully start contributing to these forums!

To let you guys know a few things i live in california and recently bought my dads truck. 03 chevy cc/sb. It has a few goodies already like afe stage 2 intake, ppe hot +2 programmer, ppe boost valve, 4 in exhaust to 5 in tip, and it is leveled with 33's.

i hope to make this truck an amazing daily driver and one of the fastest in my city! For right now though i have to focus on college and getting through that first! Priorities!

But enough about that i do have a question about my programmer though if any has actually read through all of this so far...

With this programmer i don't know the hp levels above the first one and there are only 4 levels. I know it is an older model programmer and I'm just wondering whats safe to run with a stock transmission! All answers appreciated, the more i learn the better!:beer2:

 

[Hot COCOAL]

first off, welcome and congrats on owning a real sweet truck

now that the formalities are outta the way, down to business...
for starters, some of us here, myself included, can be less than tolerant every now and then about the most ridiculous stuff, so don't take it to heart if that happens

A little advise...
College is more important than your truck, as fun and exciting as performance diesels are, never lose sight of that simple fact (WTF? Shoot me, I'm turning into an adult)

ok...anyways
Read, search, talk and learn, as much as you can
don't ask about a smoke tune, a lope tune or brag about how you smoked out a Prius
Please don't get a bigger exhaust tip thinking it's cool, it's not
Now that the truck is yours, I'd imagine you're going to start figuring out what it's really capable of...IF you start turning up the power with the front end leveled like it is and start trying out/learning 4x4 boosted launches and pretty soon you'll find your front end spittin out CV axels cuz leveled trucks and performance trucks don't work synonymously, together
start out slow, learn before you buy, this hobby can get outta hand fast

OK, about the tune(ing), the stock trans can handle an additional 90hp (give or take) before you can really start causing damage that would lead to premature failure...however, allot has to do with driving characteristics, condition of the parts and the tuning itself, but the +90 mark is generally where the Alli starts talking back...

IIRC from the PPE Hot+2 programmer, the power levels were:
+40
+90
+160
+225... but I think the +2 was a "built trans" programmer...and I don't believe the standard Hot Accelerator Programmer was as potent...I'd guess you're seeing something like:
40 40
60 90
90 130
130 or 160

you could always call PPE...

EITHER WAY
the #4 tune has every potential to shred your trans in short order and I wouldn't be inclined to use it unless you're ready to walk or drop some serious coin (serious enough to me) so BE CAREFUL!

 

[DuramaxGarrett]

first off, welcome and congrats on owning a real sweet truck

now that the formalities are outta the way, down to business...
for starters, some of us here, myself included, can be less than tolerant every now and then about the most ridiculous stuff, so don't take it to heart if that happens

A little advise...
College is more important than your truck, as fun and exciting as performance diesels are, never lose sight of that simple fact (WTF? Shoot me, I'm turning into an adult)

ok...anyways
Read, search, talk and learn, as much as you can
don't ask about a smoke tune, a lope tune or brag about how you smoked out a Prius
Please don't get a bigger exhaust tip thinking it's cool, it's not

Thanks for the advice man! I really appreciate it! I usually don't like to brag about smoking someone out though. I hopefully want to eliminate black smoke all together. But i can only do one thing at a time.
If theres anything else i should know don't hesitate to tell me! This truck is my DD and I want to take care of it but still have fun with it.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

it's all good bud:thumb:
that's what we're all here for

the best thing you can do is read and be patient with the growth of your knowledge base and your goals, make a plan that can evolve with your knowledge base and take the time to understand the "science" behind the vehicle systems you're altering and what the practicality of the modifications you chose, are...you know, the "WHY" do it, part...because everything isn't always about power...wait...yes it is


hahaha
take care man and good luck!
And make sure to get that college stuff taken care of, if you keep this hobby and if it sucks you in like the rest of us, you're gonna need that degree and a good job to afford this stuff:angel:

 

[superswamper003]

Welcome! When I had the ppe standard on my truck. I kept it on the 160 tune and I felt that that tune was pretty wild for the stock trans lol. It was pretty good at breaking my tires loose too. I now have efilive "trans safe" tunes and it definitely feels safer for the trans

 

[hipp11B]

Welcome man, If I may I'd like to suggest getting rid of the programmer and going with efi live. There are tons of people out there tuning efi, this forum has several amazing tuners these guys can make you tunes that are more up to date and a lot safer for your transmission and motor. I'm sure someone alse will chime in on this, congratulations on the truck and welcome to the community!!

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[DuramaxGarrett]

Thanks to the others for the advice! one of my next investments is a built transmission and efi live! Only problem is that college won't pay for itself so I have to wait a little for both of those. Does anybody upgrade my tunes? Say i get some that are for a stock tranny and then upgrade to a built one. Would i have to pay for new tunes?

 

[Awenta]

Some do it for free. Others do it for a small charge. Some charge way too much.

Either way it's completely upgradeable as you move on.

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[Awenta]

Oh yeah, welcome!

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[Hot COCOAL]

@duramaxgarrett-
Do you have a lift pump on the rig? I kinda remember reading about needing it to run anything +110hp or higher on an LB7? Hopefully others will chime in on the validity of that, or you've got one already and don't need to worry about it...

But you need a lift pump to support the CP3 (high pressure fuel pump) with the proper volume of fuel to support more powerful tunes or the CP3 won't keep up with the required demand and you will run the fuel rails and therfor the injectors dry, which is VERY BAD on a number of levels

Also, most lift pumps have excellent filtration incorporated into the design, which along with the air bubble removal/return feature that most pumps offer, will greatly extend service/replacement intervals for the CP3 and injectors...

Maybe you knew all that...I dunno
At any rate, Im sure thay all this has been covered 1000 times already and it can all be found in the archives from a little effort with the search tool (hint: use the advanced search feature)
:thumb:

 

[Awenta]

Max effort definitely requires a lift pump. Plus you can get rid of your factory filter head and all that crap.

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[DuramaxGarrett]

I don't have a lift pump right now but i don't run it past 100 hp with my stock tranny. I want to keep this thing for awhile and the injectors blowing along with the tranny blowing up. that would kill my wallet. My next investment will most likely be a lift pump. I don't know how old those injectors are and i want to preserve them for as long as possible.

 

[fastpunker]

I don't have a lift pump right now but i don't run it past 100 hp with my stock tranny. I want to keep this thing for awhile and the injectors blowing along with the tranny blowing up. that would kill my wallet. My next investment will most likely be a lift pump. I don't know how old those injectors are and i want to preserve them for as long as possible.

First off, welcome to the forum!!

I've been an enthusiast for quite some time, just recently had the time to be active on here... hints the low post count.

I would strongly advise on the lift pump as soon a possible, it just relieve the stress on the cp3, even with stock tuning. why gm thought it was a good idea to not have a pump in the tank and just let the high pressure pump suck it all the way from the tank I will never understand.

As for injectors, while you still have the stock ones I would keep smaller tunes on it to keep the pulse widths low... prolong the health of them. When (not if with the lb7's) they finally do go, I would strongly suggest you go with at least 30 overs (or larger depending on your plans). I made the mistake of buying stock ones and I run a full race/max effort tune all the time. My injectors only lasted about 40k doing so and now I am having to buy the damn thing s for a second time in 3 years because of it.

As others have said, keep college the first and foremost priority!! Don't become a Vanwilder 7 year grad haha. Best of luck to you and welcome again!!! :woott:

 

[DuramaxGarrett]

Whats some of the best lift pumps for the lb7? I can do most mechanical work i hope but whatever is best i would want. I don't want to go cheap on this truck.

 

[hipp11B]

No complaints about my airdog2!

06 lbz built trans, airdog2, Ppe gauges, efi by eisenhart diesel, arp head studs, Danville billet 68mm 4094, custom traction bars, fuel rail shim, s&b intake, 5 inch mbrp 7 inch stack, 20x12 tis, Goodyear duratrac my.

died - Feb 2015

 

[Awenta]

They all have injector issues not just the lb7s. Those have just been around the longest.

Either the airdog 4g or fass titanium. You can't hear either running

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[DuramaxGarrett]

Awesome! thanks guy for the info you're great!:thumb:

 

[Big Block 88]

Welcome and best of luck i would add some info but it seems it has been taken care of already... As for trans safe thats up to your foot more than anything being a 5 speed i wouldnt go much over 90-100 horse if youre gonna run it hard. I have what was max effort tuning back in 08 still very knarley when you want and my 6 speed has held this far knock on wood

 

[1ATony]

Thanks for joining, it's great to have you here

Tony :hello: