Programer purchase.

[mbean50]

i havent messed with any of the shiftpoints because im not a real big transmission guy so i dont wanna do anything to mess it up lol. and its not really an installation. you plug it in to the data port under the dash and then after you set the features you want you unplug it.

[bubbatrucklover]

Well then that would be a misconception I had.

Because just reading the info on a site that sells them and seeing the display on a unit I thought you plugged it in ran the wire mounted it (dash or wherever) set up the three different programs(economy,towing or off road and High performance) and then you put it in one of the 3 modes when applicable.

I have bigger fish to fry for now though. A pair of rear tires a roll 'n lock tail gate lock minor repair on truck box etc. possible front end work eventually. I've only had the truck 48 hours soooooo priorities will prob change "IF" suprises in the main categories arise.

Down the road headers,cam ....... programmer etc. my goal is 400 streetable hp out of a 383 to turn my big tires over easier.

[mbean50]

Nice man that sounds awesome. but you were looking at the one with the outlook monitor. its just a little bit different than what I have but the programmer should have the same ease of use. what kind of headers are you looking at?

[bubbatrucklover]

Thanks.

My priliminary search prior to owning the truck found that the only headers that would be applicable to my year and engine are Doug Thorley's at a painful $520 for the pair.

Then do I stay with his factory ceramic look or go with a jet-hot color? That is small on the what to do list. Haven't decided on a color theme under the hood YET. Leaning towards red and black and same with the under carrage area. The interior is gre(a)y and haven't had to many other thoughts on that and pewter is the paint job no plans on that for WAY down the road decissions.

Then the exhaust out dilema of highflow cats and cat back exhaust vs no cats. EVEN THOUGH we don't get jammed up over emissions I kinda want to avoid "what ifs".

I figure my progression(when neccessities are out of the way ONE being regeared front end to match rear then modified front drive shaft) is programmer first. I'll need that in the long run no matter what so I can use it to get the performance restrictions that the factory has out of the way.

Next chunk of change would be the exhaust.

Then for the finale ......the engine. My prob there will be $$ OBVIOUSLY then down time. I'm not sure but the Bad A*# vortec heads Chevy has for $500 is most likely NOT the stock ones I have. So then we are talking Heads,crank,pistons,cam,lifters etc. new edelbrock intake too. SOOOO I might as well say block and get it built up and do the engine swap.

Short of winning the lottery I would venture to say I have a year PLUS to worry about the engine part in my grand scheme.

[mbean50]

Im going in about the same direction with my truck. Just for performance mods so far I started with magnaflow exhaust with dual tips out the back. Then I went for the CAI and then the Bully dog programmer. After I got that outta the way I decided to change up my exhaust just a little bit and I got an electric exhaust cutout which I love. When Im driving around town I can open it up and really let it scream. but then on a long roadtrip I can close it up and just have the nice tone.
I have also looked into the Doug Thorley Tri-y's. I have always heard good things about them but Im gonna have to wait until I do my engine swap. Im planning on getting the LQ9 6.0 which puts out 345hp stock and the bully dog will still work with it. but the doug thorleys wont fit the 5.3 and 6.0 lol but im gonna have my transmission rebuilt and beefed up a bit to handle the extra horses. The whole swap is gonna cost me about 3-4k and I hope to have it done in the next year.
I think Im pretty much done with the exterior with a 3" lift and 32" tires, blacked out gmc logos, clear side markers and turn signals and hyper white headlights. but I really would like to get some Heated/ac leather seats to just top it off. Everything takes money and it takes quite a bit of time to get the truck where I want it to be. But there's always something else that catches my eye and then I want it lol

[bubbatrucklover]

I have the 2 1/2 single flowmaster dual tips now. as I said I JUST got the truck and the seller got ALOT of the headaches out of the way( KILLER suspension, tires, rims, rebuilt tranny, fuel pump,oil pump etc..

I have the leather buckets NO heat though. I'm PRETTY sure I don't need them though. Air cooled maybe?

What year is your truck? 'cause mine is an '02 with a 5.3 and that's what lead me to the tri-y Thorley's and not Hookers. E-mailed the tech department and they replied with "we don't have ceramic coated for your truck"

[mbean50]

Mine is an 01 with the 5.3 and its alway nice to get a truck that already has a bunch of aftermarket stuff. I bought mine with a spray in bed liner and a low-profile toolbox

[bubbatrucklover]

Mine also came with a low profile box and the bed is that pro-tech option(turns out it was carried by VERY few dealers due to the $800 add on to the overall price) it comes with the spray in already.
HOWEVER it doesn't hold up as well as line-x but it's good for now.

Check your in box as to the headers. Even though TAD is a very limited in what they offer I still think you're not suppose to link to a sight that actually caries something you need and they don't have.

[mbean50]

does the pro-tech come up over the railings or is it just the inside of the bed. and ya ive tried TAD and i cant ever seem to find the stuff I actually want

[bubbatrucklover]

Yes the spray does except for the small top edge of the fender. The pro-tech part is actually what the fenders and skin on the tailgate is made off. Saturn has the same technology on the doors. It's "dent resistant".

NOW the interesting part is (as described and pointed out by the seller) with the box . You pop a tailight out,undo the 10mm bolts between the bed and cab and the ones under the fender well and the side skin pops of. I have no idea why you would need to (maybe for spraying the liner in)but still. the top edge of the fender(less than a half inch) sits in a hidden lip on the sprayed box section.

The tailgate is slightly different.

I will put pics in my album of the box and when I have time to play I will pop off a side as I think it's unique and snap shots of that too.