With so many drop-in turbo upgrades to choose from it can be hard to make sure you're getting exactly what you want, and need, out of a drop-in turbo upgrade for your '04.5-'16 Duramax. Could your stock LLY, LBZ, LMM, or LML turbo be enough to crank out the power you're looking for if you really turned it up?  Do aftermarket replacements really live up to their claims? Today we'll take an in-depth look at what you can expect out of varying levels of drop-in turbo upgrades for your 6.6L Duramax and compare them to what the your stock charger can provide. Below is the data from our in-depth engine dyno testing of a Stock VVT/LML turbo, Stealth STR, Stealth Mach 1, and Stealth Mach 2 turbo. All tests were conducted on a built LBZ engine connected to our Dyno-mite water brake engine dyno.  This empirical data was gathered under real-world circumstances, with a serious effort made to control as many variables as possible for consistency. Installation, instrumentation, and operation of this engine through a gauntlet of tests that took several weeks.

Turbo and Test Descriptions

Dyno Engine: The platform that we will be using for this test is a 2007 6.6L LBZ Duramax that received the following upgrades before testing:

• Custom tuning
• S&B Cold Air Intake
• 100% over injectors
• 10mm CP3 pump
• Head studs
• Alternate firing order cam
• Upgraded pistons
• Upgraded crank shaft
• Upgraded connecting rods

These upgrades were necessary to be able to handle the power levels that we pushed this engine to during the testing of all 4 of these turbos. 

Testing: We performed three tests to gauge the overall performance of each turbo in comparison to each other. Obviously the bigger the turbo, the more top end power. But what about all the other factors that go into creating that power like drive pressure, EGTs, air/fuel ratio, etc? What about in towing conditions and all-around drive-ability? The first test that we will present is the "Max Power" test which is your traditional dyno and power test.  This test will provide a general comparison in terms of the difference in power that these different turbo options can produce. The second test presents spool up data and will give a good visualization of the difference in drivability and turbo lag that each turbo can provide. Finally our "Tow Test" is the ultimate data provider, providing insights on key data points including EGT's, drive pressure, air/fuel ratio Ect...

When it comes to turbochargers for diesel trucks, Stealth Turbos have made a name for themselves by offering performance, reliability, and quality upgrades across the board. Whether you’re driving a 6.6L Duramax, 6.7L Powerstroke or a 6.7L Cummins, Stealth turbos can provide solutions for a multitude of different needs and wants—from stock replacements to high-performance setups. In this blog post, we’ll break down the key differences between Stealth’s STR, Mach 1, and Mach 2 line's of turbochargers and help you decide which one is the best fit for your driving needs.

Turbocharging diesel engines is nothing new.  The most basic premise of a diesel engine is the more fuel and air you mix during compression, the more power you get. 

• Wastegate Turbocharger
• Fixed Vane Turbocharger
• VVT/VGT Turbocharger
• Compound Turbocharger 
• Twin Turbocharger
• Dual Scroll Turbocharger

Between 1885 and 1916 a few patent applications were submitted for products that address the general concept of turbocharging, but it was in 1925 that Swiss Engineer Alfred Buchi put the first commercially available turbo on a 10 cylinder diesel engine.  Turbochargers use exhaust gas pressure to drive a Turbine Wheel that is connected to a Compressor Wheel. The compressor wheel forces cold air into your engine. You're using exhaust pressure to create boost pressure. 

Stealth 64?  Stealth 64G2? Stealth 67G2?

You finally got the okay from the wife on spending that tax return, you're thinking about upgrading the turbo on your 2001-2004 LB7.  Like any well educated Duramax owner you go to DuramaxTuner.com to check out everything you can on the Stealth turbo, but you're still wondering which is right for you.  

Now you may have the urge to simply pick the turbo with the highest peak power.  Maybe your thought process is to go immediately at the cheapest price.  To be honest, no matter which way you go, each Stealth turbo is going to be better than the stock charger. However, there are a few things we would recommend you consider before making your buying decision. It can help you save money and time in the long run, so let's dive into which suits you best.

There are a few things to consider before picking a new turbo for your LB7:

1.  What size injectors do you have?
2.  Are you going to build the engine?
3.  What is your ultimate HP goal and what do you plan on using the truck for?

We have lowered our MAP pricing on the Stealth 64 Turbo:

Calibrated Power, home of DuramaxTuner.com, has ramped up in-house production of the Stealth Turbo line.  This added capacity and volume of turbo production has provided an opportunity to lower MAP pricing on all Duramax models and allowed the Cummins 5.9L Stealth 64 to be a low price and top quality leader in it's category. 

Our Stealth 64 Turbo's are:

• Made in the USA!
• Upgraded, Drop-In Replacement!
• Quick Spooling with Big POWER!

Manufacturing the best turbo possible takes top quality parts, a scrutinty to detail and multiple QC checks.

DuramaxTuner.com is excited to be manufacturing turbochargers in-house.  It has given us a chance to dial in what it takes to produce the highest quality aftermarket turbo for the Duramax and Cummins trucks.  

For those of you thinking about upgrading your turbo in the future, or if you are just a diesel performance nut, we thought you would like a behind the scene look of what goes into our Stealth turbo manufacturing.  

Other Turbo Articles:

Drop-In Turbo Option for LLY, LBZ and LMM

LB7 Duramax Turbo Upgrade!

LML Stealth 64 VVT, 620 RWHP Drop-In Turbo

5.9L Cummins Turbo, Towing and Performance