Diesel Tuner's Blog

 When it comes to improving the performance of your Duramax, Cummins, or Powerstroke, diesel tuning is always a great place to start. It offers some of the best value when it comes to price and performance and can make your truck feel like a whole new vehicle. However, when it comes to choosing which type of tuning to go with there seem to be two distinct yet similar options out there, Box Tuners and Custom Tuning. This article will help you decide which option is best for you. 

Box Tuners

How They Work

Box tuners manipulate the data stream of different engine sensors to provoke a desired engine response. In most cases, this consists of manipulating map sensor values in order to trick the ECM into adding more fuel into the combustion chamber. The idea behind this is that most diesel and even gas engines run on the leaner side of air and fuel mixtures. By increasing the amount of fuel in the combustion chamber more air is able to be burned, which in turn creates more power.

Over the years, GM has changed a lot regarding the turbos they use on Duramax engines. Not only have they changed manufacturers a handful of times but each RPO has its own unique measurements for key components. This can make it a headache when trying to track down exactly what the measurements of your stock turbo are. Luckily we've compiled this list of stock Duramax turbo specifications along with other helpful information so you can get a good idea of what you're already working with before you dive into the sea of turbo upgrades these trucks have to choose from. However, while some turbos may have the same peak power output, the size and shape of specific components can affect things such as exhaust gas temperature, drive pressure, and turbo efficiency range.  

The 3.0L Duramax is a wildly capable inline 6-cylinder diesel engine designed for full-size half-ton pickup trucks and SUVs. Due to its amazing power-to-weight ratio and towing performance, GM has chosen to offer this engine in everything from Chevy Silverado 1500 to the Chevy Suburban and even the Cadillac Escalade. Clearly, GM is confident in its new design. 

The new 3.0L Duramax shares very little in common with its predecessor the 4-cylinder 2.8L Duramax. It's been completely redesigned from the ground up and features many improvements such as a forged crankshaft, forged steel connecting rods, and a much stronger block design. The result is an engine that can produce 277 hp and 460 ft-lbs. of torque. Which is comparable torque to that of the more expensive 6.2L gas engine that is offered in most of the same vehicles that the 3.0L is offered in. 

The ten-speed Allison 1000 is substantially better than previous Allison models we have seen come in Duramax trucks. Known for its superior towing performance, excellent fuel economy, and outstanding reliability. It utilizes some of the best technology GM has ever produced. Its reputation for excellence was earned largely because of the advanced electronic control systems provided by the TCM (Transmission Control Module).

If you've ever been in search of emissions in tact tuning for your diesel truck you've probably come across the 49 state and or 50 state tuning label. While it may only seem like the difference between one state. How much of a difference can one state make? The answer may surprise you. This article will try to answer the top five most common questions regarding 50 state tuning. 

1. What is the difference between 49 and 50 state tuning?

2. Will I only need 50 state tuning if I live in California? 

3. Do 50 state tunes make less power than 49 state tunes?

4. Will 50 state tuning void my factory warranty?

5. Who is 50 state tuning made for? 

It's no secret that Calibrated Power's newly designed Cummins 6.7L Stealth 64 Turbo HE351VE / HE300VG Turbos are making their rounds on a ton of 2007.5-2018 trucks. With Calibrated Power's success in developing, designing, and manufacturing the Stealth Turbo for earlier Cummins models, they now take prior knowledge and expertise to give these 6.7L Cummins a top-of-the-line replacement. Once you learn about what went into the design of this turbocharger. We are going to break down exactly why this turbo is the right replacement for your stock 6.7L Cummins.

ENOUGH AIR TO SUPPORT 700+ RWHP!

One of the biggest advancements in turbo design since we first started applying them to diesel engines over 70 years ago has been the invention of Variable Geometry Turbos. These turbos utilize a set of movable vanes on the inside of the exhaust housing that allows the actuator to vary the area in which exhaust gasses can pass through them. This allows the exhaust side of the turbo to increase or restrict the flow of exhaust hitting the turbine wheel. In some designs it also changes the flow direction of gasses hitting the exhaust turbine as you can see illustrated below. 


When restricted, the velocity of the exhaust gasses increases which helps spin the turbine faster than a fixed geometry turbo would. This gives the turbo the ability to spool the turbine and compressor wheel up much better than it normally would even with a low volume of exhaust pressure traveling through the system. This helps to spool the turbo at lower RPMs to create boost where it would normally be lacking. This is why variable geometry turbos (VGTs) are such an advancement. They have the ability to significantly reduce turbo lag and provide much better response and turbo efficiency across a range of RPMs. 

New Product Release: L5P Stealth STR Turbo
Calibrated Power was the very first custom tuner to tune the L5P Duramax platform and have been building custom turbos and tuning for over 15 years. We know exactly what these trucks respond to and need to get the best performance out of them. Now with their newest addition to the L5P performance market, the L5P Stealth STR. We've used what they have learned about the L5P platform to provide a drop-in stock turbo replacement that offers improved performance and reliability at a similar price to a stock turbo replacement. 

Here are the features: 

• Airflow that Supports 625hp with stock emissions in-tact
• Brand New parts and electronics
• Custom 7-blade extended tip billet compressor wheel
• Designed and spec'd with the help of tuning experts at DuramaxTuner

As technology gets better, we see transmissions in trucks with more and more gears. Recently the Allison 6-speed was replaced with the 10-speed version. For older trucks, this can set them behind the competitors, both in terms of performance and fuel efficiency. A 6-speed conversion kit can take LB7 and LLY trucks to a whole new level of performance and drivability. 

If you are already in need of a valve body replacement due to slipping gears because of a weak or bad solenoid this kit is exactly what you'll want to swap in its place. The kit comes with an upgraded valve body combined with a 6-speed TCM. This upgraded TCM comes with updated shift schedules customized to your truck for the new gearing . Calibrated Power has been able to design one of the smoothest shifting 6-speed conversion kits there is. This kit will have your 15-year-old truck shifting like a 2018 model. It's also relatively simple to install and can easily be installed by someone who knows what they're doing in the shop or at home. Another option is to have Calibrated Power install it themselves in one of their upgraded transmissions (DT550, DT750, or DT1000), which is what you'll want if you're trying to make big power. 

If you're looking for any of these qualities out of your transmission then a 6-speed conversion is for you:

• Better MPG's
• Quieter Exhaust Drone On The Highway
• Smoother Shifting Transmission 
• Engine and Transmission Longevity
• Narrower Cruise Range to Meet Emissions Requirements