3 Important Duramax Diesel Upgrades

Duramax diesel trucks are some of the most popular on the road today. GM was the first on the market with a common rail system for their trucks back in 2001. Since then, they have made upgrades along the way for emissions, durability, and longevity. We have recorded over 400 episodes with experts all across the diesel community.

This post is about what we’ve learned about modifying and building a pre-DPF duramax diesel so you can save money.

Each duramax diesel generation is different, and the upgrades they need can vary. LB7 engines can need an injector upgrade to be reliable and it’s usually the first thing needed. LLY’s can have some heating issues which lead to headgasket failures. The LBZ addressed many of the problems of earlier generations, but as you add power, the factory pistons can crack which leads to an engine build. A common problem with all three are transmission failures in the 500+rwhp range. The good news is that upgrading a 5 or 6 speed Allison is easy with tons of rebuild kits and crate transmissions on the market. As you begin to modify your truck, it is important to address the generational weak points between Duramax engines and also plan on a built transmission.

Our podcast guests have all said the same thing – pick your power goal first. Doing this allows you to set an accurate budget number and begin putting your upgrades in order. For example, if you want to build a 550-600hp daily driver that can tow well, you won’t need to buy a race transmission, built engine, or extravagant turbo and fuel setup. On the other hand, if you are aiming for a 1000hp street truck, the turbo(s), injectors, CP3, transmission build, and engine will need an entirely different set of parts. We have found duramax diesel owners have the most regret when they didn’t pick a power goal first. Then, they bought parts for a 700hp build, decided they wanted 900, and wasted money on parts. Sure, they can sell the parts on the secondhand market, but they rarely sell for the initial purchase price.

Shop owners, racers and manufacturers have all said tuning can make or break a build. Choosing a tuning company with experience can make all the hard part upgrades worth it – or catastrophically expensive to repair. When searching for a quality tuner, research their expertise, how many trucks they’ve tuned with the same goals as yours and their policy for re-tuning as you add upgrades. Your tuner will bring together all the hard part upgrades you did and maximize their potential to deliver clean, smooth, efficient power. Make sure the tuner is familiar with your upgrades (and the brands you’ve picked for turbo, injectors, etc) and knows your exact goals. Doing this can make all the difference in a good running truck or one with broken parts or a less than stellar driving experience.

This post was all about 3 duramax diesel upgrades you need to know about before starting a build. Learning these tips from experts in the industry has helped us understand the best way to build a truck (and avoid mistakes) and we hoped it helped you as well.