Diesel Tuner's Blog

We all get there at one point, should I upgrade my turbocharger?  It's something us diesel owners come across.  Maybe your charger blew up or maybe you just want to help cool your truck's EGTs a bit more.  There are a ton of different reasons why we want to upgrade.  With that comes a ton of different variables that go into which turbo you SHOULD buy.  Let's take a look at three big things to consider. 

#1: How Do You Use Your Truck?

You've heard this one before, if you're new to the diesel world maybe you have not.  How do you use your truck?  Do you commute 20 miles to work and back daily?  Do you haul any toys?  Maybe you hotshot as a career, all these are some of the ways a driver uses his diesel truck.  A driver that tows a lot would best be suited for the Stealth 64, why?  It runs more efficiently at higher horsepower numbers while loaded.  The truck will sustain a heavy load for longer because the heat that the turbo is introducing is lower than a stock charger.  Lower piston temps, lower EGTs equals more time and a larger buffer before the truck is affected by the added heat.  

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Single, Drop-In, 800 HP, LB7 Turbo:

When you're looking for the ultimate Duramax turbo, everything really depends on what caters to your wants and needs for your truck.  This turbo was created with diesel enthusiasts such as ourselves in mind. We asked what everyone wanted in a larger turbo and the Stealth 67 G2 is what we came back with. This new addition to the Stealth line is superb and fits in the family of our in-house designed, industry leading turbos. Let's delve into what this beast can accomplish. 

 

The Stealth 67G2:

• Quick spool up
• Big power
• Great daily driver
• Models available for 2001-2016 Duramax (LB7, VVT, LML)

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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!

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Stealth 64 G2 Technical Information:

If you have an LB7 and are considering a replacement LB7 turbo, you want the best!  It has to be a turbo that is going to be reliable and meet your demands for performance.  You want something that is cutting edge, proven to work and a turbo that you can still drive or tow with everyday.  You need an upgraded LB7 turbo that is going to deliver.  And if you are looking for a Stage 1 LB7 turbo upgrade, you probably will look at the Stealth turbo line. 

 

Shopping for the best turbo means understanding what you need and what the turbo can do.  Here you can find the technical information about the Stealth 64G2 along with some insight as to what you should be looking for when shopping for an LB7 turbo upgrade. 

Other Articles About LB7 Turbo Options:

• LB7 Turbo Upgrade
• 6 Things to Know Before Upgrading Your Duramax Turbo
• How Much Boost Should My Stock Duramax Turbo Make

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2003-2007 5.9L  DROP-IN CUMMINS TURBO:

After the extensive testing we did in the Cummins Turbo Shootout back in 2013 we learned a few things about Cummins single turbo systems.  This test featured 5 turbo's, recomended by the manufacturer, analyzed and compared side-by-side.  

If you read the article featured in Diesel Power Magazine or listened to the episodes we did at the Diesel Performance Podcast then you already know there was no clear 1 winner.  The reality of aftermarket turbo's is you have to sacrafice something to gain something.  So we set out to develop a turbo that could meet our requirements for being a great daily driver, good for managing EGT's while towing and something we could cause havok on the streets with.  

Cummins Stealth 64:

• Great Daily Driver
• Good for managing EGT's while towing
• Cause havok on the streets!

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Duramax VVT Upgrades:

 

The 2004.5-2005 LLY was the first model Duramax to be equipped with a Variable Vane Turbo (VVT).  VVT  technology provides quicker spool-up, better EGT control, and better overall boost control.  This is also commonly referred to as a VGT or Variable Geometry Turbo. 

To understand the basics of a VVT or VGT technology take a look at this VIDEO on YouTube.

The stock Duramax VVT turbo from 2004.5 until 2010 is similar.  Slight changes to each model (LLY, LBZ and LMM) were made in compressor size, aspect ratio, blade profile and other features.  Despite these changes, you will find the same peak power potential of approximately 530 RWHP.  As a Duramax performance enthusiast this is probably just not enough power to keep your interest for long. 

There are many upgrade options on the market.  Deciding which one is the best for you can be tough.  An endless amount of forum threads and user stories makes it challenging to decipher fact from opinion.  

Stealth 64 Turbo Product Links:

• Stealth 64 LB7
• Stealth 64 VVT
• Stealth 64 LML

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Scottsdale Duramax

This 1985 Scottsdale pickup truck started life with a 6.2L diesel motor.  That's right, the non-turbo, under-powered, over weight regular cab had a dismal 130 horse power from the factory.  

We love the body lines and nostalgia of these trucks.  The swap being partially done prior to it coming to us DuramaxTuner.com was an appealing feature to this build.  This provided a solid head start on a project truck we intended to use for testing.  

 

The Diesel Performance Podcast sponsored by Calibrated Power Solutions has been a hit!  We currently have over 70 episodes and counting.  Our $15k Budget Build was such a hit, we wanted to do a $30k and possibly frame out a higher priced build show in the future.  Thank you for listening!  

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IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO UPGRADE THE TURBO ON YOUR LB7 DURAMAX THERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER FIRST

• What is your power goal?
• How do you use the truck?
• Is there a sled pull class you would like to compete in?
• What are your future plans for the truck?
• Are your mechanical skills up to par for installing it yourself or are you taking it to a shop for installation?
• What is your budget?

With so many options on the market, it's very hard to determine which is the best choice for you.  Of course you can always call each manufacturer and discuss what options they have, however you will still need to ask the right questions. I hope to save you time, money, and the headache of weeding through all of the hype out there and point you in the right direction in  how to select the right turbo for you!

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What are your Power Goals?

Clearly defining your power goals will help you establish a game plan. No one wants to buy a turbo that will not work with their future goals for the truck. However there are some baselines that you need to set first; like are you going to build the motor?  On an LB7 we know the rods cannot handle more than 650HP.   So if you're not going to invest $15k-$25k on a motor build, there's no point in purchasing a turbo that is 800 HP capable.  On the flip side, if you are going to do a motor build in the future but want something more suited for the stock truck, consider a valley charger that will still work-in a twin kit.  This is a great way to maximize your dollar-per-horse-power. Below you will find a list of just a few chargers and their peak horse power. 

 

 

 

6 Turbo Chargers + 1 Month of Testing = Cummins Turbo Shootout

 

 

If you ask five different diesel shops which single turbo upgrade is best, there is a good chance you will get 4-5 different answers.  To separate fact from fiction, we put together a rigorous test for five of the industry’s top turbo chargers.  Also included was the factory HE351 to see if the usual reported improvements over stock are true.  You might be wondering,  How did they choose the turbo chargers? What tests were run? And most importantly, What were the results?