Performance Gear: Parts to Make Your Diesel Stronger, Cooler, and More Fuel Efficient

Let's face it: You have a diesel because you need it. This isn't about style, fashion, or what your neighbor drives. You have the torque puller for a reason, and you want it to last as long as possible. That's why you take care of it the way you do. We want to help. Here are some ideas to make your low-end oil-burner run better, whether you want to improve its exhaust note, add better cooling, or provide more off-idle grunt. Once you start building up each link in the chain, though, word will get out that you have the strongest truck in three counties and everyone will start asking you for favors. Don't say we didn't warn you.   |   ANSA universal Stock Kit Big-Rig Style
ANSA's new Silverline Universal Stack Kits feature five-inch, in-bed 409 stainless-steel plumbing. The polished stacks come in either miter-cut or turn-out styles, or you can opt for Black Stacks with a bright-black smoke finish. Inside, a unique splitter plate ensures equal exhaust flow from both stacks, resulting in a better sound and improved performance. ANSA Automotive; 800/841-9166.
www.silverlineexhaust.com   |   Fluidampr performance Diesel Damper Stop Vibration
Fluidampr's Performance Diesel Dampers dramatically reduce power-robbing torsional vibrations over stock. Torsional vibrations also can destroy crankshafts and bearings. Reducing these unwanted vibrations can increase the life of an engine and pick up at least five horsepower. Fluidampr; 716/592-1000.
www.fluidampr.com   |   Mag Hytec diff Cover Deeper Diff Covers
Mag-Hytec's heavy-duty diff covers provide more cooling capacity to hard-working rearends. Each cast-aluminum cover is powdercoated, has machined cooling fins, and features an anodized aluminum dipstick with a magnetic insert, along with a magnetic drain plug--you don't have to remove the diff cover to change the fluid. Mag-Hytec; 818/786-8325.
www.mag-hytec.com   |   GM Performance exhaust Warranty-Friendly Performance
GM Performance's exhaust for 2001-2007 Chevy/GMC diesels includes a larger-diameter downpipe from the turbo to the cat-back exhaust and is made from polished T304 stainless steel, featuring mandrel-bent piping and S-type mufflers. Choose from five- or six-inch tips, each with the Duramax logo. If you have the system installed by a GM dealer during your new-vehicle warranty period, the exhaust warranty carries over if you sell your truck. GM Performance Parts; 800/468-7387.
www.gmperformanceparts.com   |   ATS epower Tuner Pick Your Power Level
ATS' E-Power Tuner for Ford, Dodge, and GM diesels gives you a choice of Towing, High-Power, and Max-Power levels--good for adding as much as 170 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The tuner recalibrates engine and transmission functions and allows you to read and understand Check Engine light codes. The towing mode also is said to provide noticeable fuel-economy gains. ATS Diesel Performance; 800/949-6002.
www.atsdiesel.com   |   Dynomax ultra Flo Turbo Back Exhaust Easy Out
DynoMax's Ultra Flo turbo-back exhaust for the 2004-2006 Ford 6.0-liter turbodiesel F-250/350 Super Duty is designed to increase torque, improve towing performance, and reduce backpressure. The stainless-steel system features mandrel bends and maintains a consistent pipe diameter for unrestricted exhaust flow. The straight-through Ultra Flo muffler produces a strong, aggressive tone. It has a two-piece downpipe assembly and includes a bung for an EGT sensor. DynoMax; 734/384-7806.
www.dynomax.com   |   Superchips firefly Plug-In Power
Superchips' FireFly for the 2004.5-2007 Dodge 5.9-liter Cummins provides gains of up to 65 rear-wheel horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. It offers three power levels; switch between them on the fly by touching the gauge face. The underhood power module attaches to the engine's factory sensor connectors in less than 10 minutes. It comes with a Lazer Gauge to monitor turbo boost pressure and EGT. Superchips; 888/227-2447.
www.superchips.com   |   Turbonetics torque Master Replacement Turbo Beef Up the Boost
Turbonetics' Torque-Master replacement turbo offers fast spool-up for quick acceleration and increased airflow to help keep exhaust gas temperatures down on the 6.0-liter Power Stroke. The patented turbo is good for up to 500 horsepower and its ceramic ball bearing has 50 times greater thrust capacity, offers quicker throttle response, and is more resilient under high-temperature shutdowns than conventional designs. Turbonetics; 805/581-0333. www.turboneticsinc.com   |   Flex A Lite electric Fan Hot AND Bothered?
Flex-a-Lite's new electric fan for 1994-2002 Cummins replaces the stock belt-drive fan and shroud to improve fuel economy, horsepower, torque, and even air-conditioning performance. The fan pulls up to 5500 cfm and draws 28 to 36 amps. A variable-speed control module operates the fans between 60 and 100 percent, depending on engine temperature and A/C activation. Flex-a-Lite; 800/851-1510.
www.flex-a-lite.com   |   Hypermax tapercore Intercooler Cooler Air Charge
The Tapercore intercooler from Hypermax is named for its taper-sided core design, which maximizes flow capacity within the confines of a late-model Ford diesel engine compartment. The intercooler features 20-percent-more frontal area, along with 30-percent-greater flow capacity than the Ford factory cooler; exhaust temperatures could drop by as much as 200 degrees. Hypermax Engineering; 847/428-5655.
www.gohypermax.com   |   Centerforce dual Friction Clutch Assembly More Holding Power
Increase your truck's reliability and holding capacity with Centerforce's new Dual Friction clutch assembly for 2003-2006 Ford F-250 through F-550 6.0-liter diesels with the manual transmission. This new clutch assembly replaces the stock pressure plate and is designed as a direct bolt-in. It's great for high-torque street driving, towing, and racing. Centerforce; 928/771-8422.
www.centerforce.com   |   Banks billet Torque Converter The Weakest Link
Strong engines need strong transmissions. In a Dodge, the Banks Billet Torque Converter provides 1600 pound-feet of torque capacity compared with the stock 700 pound-feet of capacity (a Power Stroke gets 1100 pound-feet versus the 7.3-liter's stock 740 pound-feet). The BBTC features a multi-disc clutch, improved forged-steel billet cover, and improved heat tolerances. Each converter is specially designed to match the torque band of the Cummins or Power Stroke engine, and Banks says the converter can improve acceleration when towing. Gale Banks Engineering; 866/825-6710.
www.bankspower.com   |   SCT livewire For You AND Your Friends
SCT's Livewire is a PCM flash tuner that arrives preloaded with up to three different performance tunes and one fuel-economy tune and can be custom-tuned by one of SCT's 500-;plus dealers. Its 128MB SD memory card can hold tunes for as many as 20 different vehicle applications, plus it stores the complete factory uploaded program. The instrumentation feature lets you view and record six different vehicle parameters and up to two additional signals through a special port. You also can read and clear diagnostic trouble codes. SCT; 866/297-6298.
www.sctflash.com   |   KN high Flow Intake System Deep Breathing
According to K&N, its high-flow intake system for the 2006-2007 GM Duramax is good for an increase of 22 horsepower and 40 pound-feet of torque at the rear wheels. The system draws air through a large, cone-shaped K&N high-flow air filter, then moves it along an intake tube, which provides smoother airflow to the engine. K&N Engineering; 800/858-3333.
www.knfilters.com   |   Industrial Injection fuel Injectors Mo' Flow
Industrial Injection's fuel injectors for Cummins and Duramax engines come in three different performance levels. Dragon Fly injectors (stock CP3 fuel pump) provide a 50-;horsepower increase over stock. Dragon Flow injectors (modified fuel pump) provide a 90-horse increase over stock. Super Dragon Flow injectors require a new pump and are currently being run on an 817-horsepower diesel-only truck. Industrial Injection; 800/955-0476.
www.industrialinjection.com   |   Justice Brothers diesel Fuel Supplement Hit the Bottle
Justice Brothers says adding a bottle of its Diesel Fuel Supplement to your fuel tank could improve cold-weather starts, increase horsepower and torque, and reduce smoke emissions. The Diesel Fuel Supplement cleans injectors and the fuel system, lubricates rotary pumps, disperses water, and controls bacteria and algae in the fuel--especially useful for older diesels. Justice Brothers; 800/835-8784.
www.justicebrothers.com   |   Magnaflow exhaust Exhaustive Research
After researching and testing the 2008 6.4-liter Ford Power Stroke and its particulate filter system, MagnaFlow has released nine stainless-steel exhaust options good for increases of up to 29 horsepower and 45 pound-feet of torque. All have more attractive intercooled tip options (allowing up to 15-percent-better cooling than the OE tips). Magnaflow Performance Exhaust; 800/824-8664.
www.magnaflow.com   |   Transfer Flow replacement Fuel Tanks Extended Range
Transfer Flow's larger replacement fuel tanks for Chevy and GMC 2500 and 3500 diesel pickups will help you go a lot further between fill-ups. The 45-gallon tank fits crew- and extended-cab trucks with a six-foot bed, while the 56-gallon tank fits crew and extended cabs with the eight-foot bed. The tanks are made from 12- and 14-gauge aluminized steel for rust resistance and strength, are baffled for extra support, and are black powdercoated for durability. Transfer Flow; 800/442-0056.
www.transferflow.com   |   Airaid cool Air Box Intake Suck It In
Airaid's new Cool Air Box intake was made for the new Super Duty powerplant. Since the key to quicker throttle response and improved horsepower and torque is airflow, the heart of the system is a huge 1600cfm Airaid Premium SynthaFlow series filter that blocks particulates to two microns. All filters are made with urethane and the system installs in less than an hour. Airaid Filter Company; 888/876-;8984.
www.airaid.com   |   Proliance HBX Heatbuster Extreme High Performance Charge Air Coolers Cool Operator
Proliance's HBX Heatbuster Extreme high-performance charge air coolers are drop-in replacements for less-efficient factory intercoolers. They feature high-efficiency tubulators and advanced louvered cooling fins to increase an engine's power by lowering the intake charge temperature. Additionally, Proliance's Ultra-Seal grommet technology is designed to withstand punishment and extreme vibrations typically inherent in turbodiesel engines. Proliance; 800/755-2160.
www.transpro.com   |   Pacbrake exhaust Brakes New-Fangled Exhaust Brake
Exhaust brakes are simple: A butterfly valve inside the exhaust stream closes when you lift off the throttle, creating backpressure, which helps slow your engine. But as rpm drops, the exhaust brake becomes less effective. Pacbrake's pressure regulated exhaust brake (PRXB) has a patented wastegate that closes as the engine's rpm begins to drop, maintaining higher backpressure and therefore higher brake horsepower. According to the manufacturer, the PRXB is as effective at 1200 rpm as it is at 2500 rpm. Pacbrake; 800/663-0096.
www.pacbrake.com   |   Edelbrock diesel Performance System A Systematic Approach
Edelbrock's Diesel Performance Systems for GM, Ford, and Dodge trucks include an Airaid air intake and filter, Superchips programmer module with three levels of performance upgrades, and Edelbrock diesel exhaust system, tuned by Edelbrock to work together. According to manufacturer tests on a 2006 6.6-liter Duramax Chevy, the DPS produced 419 horsepower and 717 pound-feet of torque, an improvement of 152 horsepower and 204 pound-feet over stock. Edelbrock; 310/781-2222.
www.edelbrock.com   |   CarTech high Performance Builders Guide Read All About It
CarTech's "High-Performance Diesel Builder's Guide" covers all aspects of the modern turbocharged diesel engine: intakes, cams, heads and valves, turbochargers, fuel systems, combustion chambers, transmissions, and gearing. The book includes detailed expert guidance and commentary on tuning your diesel engine, with info for novices and experts alike on installing airflow components, using electronic tuners, adding nitrous and propane injection, and much more. CarTech; 800/551-4754.
www.cartechbooks.com   |   BM Racing supercoolers Calm AND Cool
Whether doing serious towing or producing major boost, you may need help keeping temps under control. B&M's SuperCoolers can cool engine or turbocharger oil, ATF, and differential or power-steering fluid. They're all-aluminum and offer an efficient stacked-plate design; they're also pressure-tested to 200 psi and tested against flying rocks and debris. B&M Racing & Performance Products; 818/882-6422.
www.bmracing.com   |   BD Power super Max Turbo Kit Bigger, Badder Turbo
The Super Max turbo kit for the 2001-2004 Duramax was engineered by BD and built by BorgWarner Turbo Systems' AirWerks program. The Super Max creates enough airflow for up to 550 rear-wheel horsepower at 45 pounds of boost on diesel (up to 675 rear-wheel horses with a shot of nitrous). Its efficiency reduces EGT, lowers emissions, and can improve fuel economy over the stock turbo in certain situations. The direct-replacement system is designed to deliver quick spool-up and improve airflow across the entire rpm range. BD Power; 800/887-5030.
www.bd-power.com   |   Snow Performance stage3 Diesel Boost Cooler Just Chillin'
Snow Performance's Stage-3 Diesel Boost Cooler is a water/methanol injection system reported to provide increases of 150 pound-feet of torque, improved fuel economy, and decreased exhaust temps. The key is atomization: The fluid is injected at more than 200 psi; a nozzle spins the fluid supersonically before forcing it through a venturi-shaped orifice. Controlled by a dash-mount Digital Variable Controller, it takes boost and exhaust gas temps into account in regulating injection. Snow Performance; 866/365-2762.
www.snowperformance.net