chips and guage - worth it? early 99 @ 175,000 miles

[samiam]

well, it's a family rig, pretty much. i don't want to break it, since I don't want to fix it! i'm sure i want to upgrade the PCM to obtain better shifting and the misc other benefits. i've given it a 4" turbo back exhaust, and i will be getting around to the DIY intake. i'm only planning to haul/tow a 3-6K camper/trailer occassionally. i put a new factory tranny in it just a while ago. so i'm debating the cost (@ $700?) for a DP chip with mild tow/econ tunes + gauges versus the risk of blowing gaskets or breaking something. i'd like to just get the truck running smoother, and hopefully more efficiently. i figure at the minimum a mpg increase of 1 gallon, which still pays for the chip in a few years. anyone have any thoughts? am i going too "small"? thanks.

[REDPOWERSMOKER]

I WOULD DEFINATLY DO THE CHIP AND GAUGES BUT BEFORE YOU RUN THEM I WOULD MAKE SURE YOU GET THAT INTAKE ON IT MAKE YOUR ENGINE BREATH BETTER AND TUNIG AND YOU WILL GET BETTER ECONO

[Jeff_Northon]

My transmission guy suggested a gauge and larger t-fluid cooler, he is a no bs guy.

[CSIPSD]

Originally Posted by samiam

well, it's a family rig, pretty much. i don't want to break it, since I don't want to fix it! i'm sure i want to upgrade the PCM to obtain better shifting and the misc other benefits. i've given it a 4" turbo back exhaust, and i will be getting around to the DIY intake. i'm only planning to haul/tow a 3-6K camper/trailer occassionally. i put a new factory tranny in it just a while ago. so i'm debating the cost (@ $700?) for a DP chip with mild tow/econ tunes + gauges versus the risk of blowing gaskets or breaking something. i'd like to just get the truck running smoother, and hopefully more efficiently. i figure at the minimum a mpg increase of 1 gallon, which still pays for the chip in a few years. anyone have any thoughts? am i going too "small"? thanks.

You need to get gauges, Pyro, Boost and Tranny temp. Then add a Valve body to the tranny, be it a John Woods or a BTS... Then a DP chip with a Hi Idle, 40 tow, 60 tow and 80 econo, maybe a 120 setting for fun... I would also talk to Jody about a PMT PCM for your truck, the XLE stuff is some of the worst for shifting and such!

[samiam]

Thanks everyone. Do smoke tunes put much stress on the engine?

[CSIPSD]

Lots of soot in the oil, and they are normaly an extream 140 type setting... Can they hurt, yes... but its not like its going to blow.

Shoot me a PM sometime, I come thru Salem every week now on my way to work and home... Take ya for a ride...

[Ron's power stroke]

jody at DP tuner has come a long ways on the XLE code trucks this past year..i love mine..it shifts good..but i also have a BTS VB im there and jody tuned to it..

[Raul@Stealth Automotive]

i have a TW chip/ gauge combo sale going on right now for $750.... if you dont want to mess anything up i would skp the extreme and smoke tune... that way your not tempted to do it i would get stock, econo, daily, light tow, heavy tow, high idle

let me know if i can help you out in any way... link is in my sig for the sale item

-Raul

[jrelliott1]

244k on my truck just installed dp tune/gauges/diy intake still need exhaust thats next.
Cannot believe the difference wish I had done this sooner. Also Have not quite finished my first tank but right now I have got 50 miles then I've ever got before on a tank and thats with the new chip, its very hard to keep your foot from bumping the floor on take off even if it is $3.35 per gallon

[samiam]

I've spent a little bit of time digging through threads on the forum, and I've learned that the DIY (tymar) intake is a bit quirky on the early 99. I almost started a thread in this Early 99 Forum, but thought i'd just throw it in here. I can't seem to find any threads devoted to the early 99 DIY intake mod, I just find some references that on the early 99 you have to modify the intake tube a little. same filter? seems possible to use a PVC pipe instead of 4" exhaust if it's not handy. my primary concern is modding the intake tube.

Originally Posted by jrelliott1

244k on my truck just installed dp tune/gauges/diy intake still need exhaust thats next.
Cannot believe the difference wish I had done this sooner. Also Have not quite finished my first tank but right now I have got 50 miles then I've ever got before on a tank and thats with the new chip, its very hard to keep your foot from bumping the floor on take off even if it is $3.35 per gallon