S&B Filters builds cold air intake kits and intake manifold elbows for many of today’s most popular diesel and gas powered trucks and SUV’s. For years they’ve sold an intake manifold elbow for 1998.5 to 2007 Dodge Ram diesel trucks with the 5.9L Cummins engine. Their cast aluminum elbows provided large gains in airflow over the stock Cummins manifolds.
Old Version of S&B Cummins Intake Manifold Elbow
With many thousands of these elbows sold and installed, S&B still wanted to make their product better, and they finally figured out a way to do it. They went back to the drawing board to come up with an even better improved elbow, and the result is impressive. Rather than cast aluminum, their new version is fully CNC machine cut and TIG welded. Check out this beauty!
New S&B 5.9L Cummins Diesel Intake Manifold Elbow
S&B used advanced flow software technology to eliminate dead areas, streamline airflow and pinpoint optimal velocity. This new and improved model comes with features that diesel enthusiasts were asking for, like an almost ridiculous 8 ports. Now you can run water-methanol injection, nitrous, temperature sensors, whatever floats your boat. All eight ports come with an airtight plug.
8 Ports for Injection & Monitoring!
Most aftermarket elbows attach to the intake by running two bolts through the interior of the elbow. This restricts airflow and hinders performance. S&B Filter’s new elbow attaches with four bolts on the outside of the elbow. This results in a tighter seal, increased airflow and better performance.
S&B Intake Manifold Bolt Location
S&B Filters is a company that prides itself on testing it’s products both in-house and independently. They have their products tested to ISO 5011 standards. On this elbow, they had it burst tested, and the results were impressive. For the test, both ends of the elbow were sealed, and water was pumped into the elbow until the point of failure. The result? The S&B elbow withstood pressure of 300 psi before it cracked at the weld point. Even competitively raced diesels pushing 1000 horsepower would rarely see over 100 psi – mission accomplished.
If you’re interested in adding these types of premium performance diesel parts to your Dodge Ram, you’ll want to pick the correct manifold elbow for your truck. If you have a 2003-2007 common rail 5.9L Cummins engine, the correct part number for your truck is 76-1004. If you have a 1998.5-2002 24V Dodge diesel, you’ll need part 76-1007. For all your Dodge Ram Cummins diesel performance needs, trust the pros at Parleys Diesel Performance.
It’s widely known that upgrading your factory system to a performance diesel exhaust is a great way to increase your engine’s power and fuel economy. Because of all the changes to stock emissions systems over the past few years, there now exists some confusion and questions among diesel owners as to which exhaust upgrade is the best option for them. Parleys Diesel Performance wants to help you make an informed and educated choice, so let’s start by reviewing the basics.
Traditionally, light duty diesel truck factory exhaust systems were 3 inches or 3.5 inches in diameter, with crimped spots along the diesel exhaust system that hampered flow and robbed your vehicle of its true potential. Installing a performance system to increase the diameter of your exhaust allowed your engine to expel exhaust gasses more efficiently, and mandrel bends gave your exhaust a true 4″ diameter. Diesel trucks today come from the factory with catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters, even urea injection systems (also called SCR or selective catalytic reduction). And 4 inch stock exhausts are commonplace.
Late Model Exhaust Diagram
So which exhaust should you choose for your truck?
If you have a “pre-DPF” diesel pickup (anything before the 2007.5 6.7L Cummins, 2008 6.4L Powerstroke, or 2007.5 Duramax LMM) the most common diesel exhaust upgrade is a four inch turbo back exhaust system. The standard 4″ diameter will meet most people’s needs; however, if it’s your intention to upgrade your vehicle to a high horsepower level (think over 550HP), we recommend you invest in a 5″ diesel performance exhaust system. This will allow the larger amount of exhaust your high horsepower diesel creates to flow properly and keeping temperatures down.
In addition to figuring out the diameter of the exhaust system you want for your truck, there are also some other important choices to make. Diesel exhaust systems come in four main materials: T-304 Stainless Steel (high-polish show finish quality), 409 Stainless Steel , Aluminized Steel (similar to your original stock exhaust), and different variations of Black Stainless or Black Aluminized Steel. You also need to decide whether you want to have a muffler or not, and if you do choose a muffler, do you want one that is a high flow performance muffler or one that keeps your exhaust volume low. The majority of Turbo-Back Exhausts come with high flow performance mufflers. If you want a “straight pipe” exhaust, meaning no muffler, a popular choice is the no-muffler series from MBRP Performance Exhaust. Their stainless steel SLM (Stainless Less Muffler) and PLM (Performance Less Muffler – this is aluminized steel) are very competitively priced and work great.
Although less popular, catalytic converter or Cat-Back Diesel Exhausts allow you to upgrade the sound and flow of your exhaust and in some areas are necessary to keep your diesel street legal.
With exhaust systems from all the best manufacturers, Parley’s Diesel Performance can help you choose the proper diesel exhaust system for your truck. Whether you choose to install a Cat-Back or a Turbo-Back diesel exhaust, or if you just aren’t sure and would like help deciding, contact us and we’ll help you make the right decision. In part 2, we’ll help you choose the right exhaust system if you own a DPF-equipped diesel truck.
If you are like many new Chevy Silverado HD & GMC Sierra HD owners, you’re looking for options and ways to upgrade the look and sound of your new diesel. May we suggest for your 2011-2012 Duramax 6.6L LML exhaust the new performance diesel exhaust system from Gale Banks Engineering. Banks Monster Exhaust systems are 100% stainless steel and streamlined with heavy-wall tubing and constant-diameter bends. Finished off with Banks’ proprietary CoolCuff exhaust tip technology, this is a meticulously designed & tested DPF-back system that actually delivers cooler diesel exhaust gas temperatures. It also cuts back pressure by up to 57% and has air-flows up to 80% better than your stock Duramax exhaust. And of course no Banks Monster Exhaust or Banks Monster Sport Exhaust would be complete without an impressive 6″ rolled edge polished-stainless steel tailpipe. It’s double-walled design features a 1/2″ air gap preventing heat from tarnishing its mirror finish. The 4″ Banks Monster exhaust sounds great too, with that proven deep aggressive exhaust note diesel enthusiasts crave.
Features
Extensively tested & validated
Improves flow up to 80%
Unique CoolCuff design
100% stainless steel – no aluminum here!
Huge 6″ polished rolled-edge tip
Won’t void factory warranty
Lifetime Limited Warranty
Street Legal exhaust system
Awesome Deep Exhaust Sound
Parley’s Diesel Performance carries a complete selection of Banks Monster and Monster Sport Diesel Exhaust Systems for all of today’s diesel trucks and VW TDI’s.
Because we still get phone calls every day asking for information about Dr. Performance power modules, we wanted to let you know that they went out of business in the summer of 2011. Questions we are most often asked include “How do I get warranty work on my Dr. Performance module that I bought a few years ago?” and “Do you know how we can get in contact with Dr. Performance?” The unfortunate truth is that they are completely out of business, haven’t answered their phone in almost six months, and any repair work on a damaged or faulty Dr. Performance module at this point is impossible.
The most frequent question we hear from customers interested in a diesel performance module next is “Since Dr. Performance modules aren’t available, are there any other manufacturers of diesel power modules?” Thankfully we can answer in the affirmative that there are several companies that make diesel performance modules that have the same beneficial characteristics that Dr. Performance modules had. Some of the reasons Dr. Performance modules were so popular included improved power without increased operating temperature, they were great for towing, and they gave substantial diesel fuel mileage improvements. They were also widely used as a trustworthy pressure box by diesel owners who wanted to “stack chips.” It didn’t hurt that the majority of them didn’t leave a footprint in the vehicle’s ECM because they were simply rail pressure boxes that uninstall quickly and cleanly from the rail pressure sensor harness.
Depending on the diesel truck you drive, we recommend a power module from two different manufacturers. If you’re looking for improved 6.4L Ford Powerstroke performance, we really like the TS Performance Power Play MP-8. On the 6.4L Powerstroke, the MP-8 is a fuel pressure only power module that adds up to 100 Horsepower and installs in just minutes by plugging in to a 15 pin fuel sensor connector. Just like the Dr. Performance module, the Power Play MP-8 doesn’t increase your diesel exhaust temperatures and most users report gains of 2-4 mpg in fuel economy.
TS Performance Power Play MP-8
For common rail owners looking for improved Cummins diesel performance or Duramax diesel performance, the Digi CRBB Power Module from DieselPower has quickly become our favorite choice here at Parleys Diesel Performance. Backed by an unheard-of 3 year manufacturer warranty and built from some of the best electronic components available, the DieselPower Digi CRBB is easy to install, doesn’t leave a “footprint” in the truck’s computer, can be adjusted quickly to any desired power level, and adds a decent amount of horsepower.
DieselPower Digi CRBB Common Rail Pressure Box
Because the Digi CRBB is a fuel rail pressure module it can be “stacked” with a Smarty programmer on the Dodge Ram Cummins diesels yielding loads of power that you almost have to feel to believe. Operating temperatures are kept down, and if you don’t drive the truck like you stole it fuel economy can be improved significantly. The Digi CRBB is also effective for “stacking chips” when using EFI-LIVE tuning on your Chevy or GMC Duramax diesel. If you have any questions about these or other options for your diesel truck, call us and we’ll be happy to help.
Break In Those Tires – A worn tire is about 7% more efficient than a new tire. The break-in period for tires is between 35,000 and 50,000 miles.
Check Your PSI – Every 10 PSI that a tire is under inflated reduces fuel economy by 1%.
Know Your Tire Facts – Tires make the biggest difference in mpg below 50 mph. Aerodynamics is the most important factor over 50 mph.
An Idle Mind – idle time is costly. Every hour of idle time in a long-haul operation can decrease fuel efficiency by 1%.
Check Your Speed – Above 55 mph, each 1-mph increase in vehicle speed decreases economy by 0.1 mpg.
Now, you didn’t think we would give you all of these fuel saving tips all at once did you? You might notice we didn’t try to sell you on any of our diesel performance products in this first post, that is because these first tips can be performed with things that you already have, minus the discipline to drive 55 everywhere you go. So your homework assignment over the next few days is to apply these principles and check your increase. Then come back for more tips.
I’m a Cummins man, let’s just get that out of the way right now. I drive an ’05 Cummins 2500 and I love it; aside from the fact that the stock Dodge transmission and Cummins performance upgrades dont mix so well…
So with diesel prices being so high lately, I figured it was probably a good time to go see what kind of deal I could get on a new truck. Now while I love my Dodge, and would really love a new mega cab, there is just something about the look of the new LMM Duramax and the Duramax Performance scene in general that just draws me in. Maybe its the sturdy look or the clean lines both inside out out; the designers at GM have definitely outdone themselves on this model, with a few exceptions.
While I like the gauge cluster, and especially the option of the built in trailer break, the shifter felt like it was going to snap off in my hand. In addition to that, the new LMM Duramax seems to be much louder than the other models that I have driven and seems to lack power in comparison. It just seems like it is being suffocated by all of the emissions crap that is required on 08 and newer diesel vehicles. So if you are in the market for a new truck and must buy new, I wouldn’t say don’t buy the new Duramax because I still really liked it; those are just some things that you will want keep an eye on. If you have already bought your new truck and are looking for some LMM Performance parts, here are a few of our most popular diesel particulate filter friendly performance parts:
Here is another diesel performance article that we wrote a while ago and thought you guys would enjoy.
Duramax vs. Cummins seems to be the question on everybody’s mind. Let’s be honest Duramax vs. Cummins, has never been the real question, neither has Duramax vs. Powerstroke or Cummins vs. Powerstroke in any of these debates. For the most reasonable answer to these questions that I have found I look back to the teachings of a wise professor. A Philosophy teacher I once had was discussing what he had found to be the main causes of homosexuality after years of being a counselor for school districts and at the local prison, he said that they were genetics, environmental and hormonal. Might I be so bold as to say that it really doesn’t matter who makes the truck or how durable the components are in the truck are but the real answer to the question Duramax vs. Cummins or Powerstroke vs. Cummins or Duramax vs. Powerstroke is what did your father drive (genetic) where did you grow up, what did the people around you growing up drive, what do your current friends drive (environmental), and what body style really “does it” for you (hormonal).
Another factor into this question that my professor went over was the fact that men are attracted to form rather intellect, so just as some men are attracted to women that chew (Powerstroke Owners) men will be attracted to different trucks based on how they look to them. Another factor that I think can fall in line with this is how does the truck make the man look to the ladies? Have you ever noticed how when you are in a parking lot and you see a huge Power Stroke pull into the parking lot with a 12 inch lift and 35 inch Super Swamper Boggers on it and then it will park and out pops the 4’5” driver in his wranglers and a belt buckle that is almost as tall as him. Then you catch a glimpse inside the cab of the truck just before he closed the door and you can see the seat up as far as it can go and sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes I swear I see a stack of phone books. I don’t know what it is but it is the strangest phenomenon, I think that factors into the whole form thing as well, the fact that the men need to feel secure about themselves, maybe they missed the memo that the new Jeep Liberty’s have a nice little diesel in them as well, opening the door for jeep diesel performance, and they wouldn’t need a ladder to pull themselves up into it.
Now I hope you don’t think that this is it and that I am going to leave you hanging. You know I would never do that my friends. I will be back soon enough with some factual base and research that has been done over the past several years I will include dyno results for max horsepower, shop transcripts for history of what make had which problems etc.. But for now stick with my theory of the three degrees of Trucksuality.
So the good people at CFM+ wanted us to take a look and tell them what we think of their new Cummins performance intake manifold. We have been pretty excited to get this beast on our 05 Cummins project vehicle but have been waiting for the 3 hole tapped CFM+ drilled and tapped version to be released. Now that it is, we have one in hand and should have it installed and being tested within the week so keep posted. For those of you not familiar with CFM Plus’ intake manifolds, they differ from other cummins performance intake manifold in a couple of different ways. First, they are made of composite material instead of cast aluminium which helps greatly for keeping tempratures down and second, instead of just going for a larger diameter like you see on the ATS Arcflow and the Banks setup they went with a better design that allowed them to flow more air and get the studs out of the way.
Let us know if you have any questions and be sure to visit Parley’s Diesel Performance for all your diesel performance part needs.
Do you feel that you have run out of ways to lower your E.G.T.’s? Well if you drive a 03-07 Cummins, there might be one option that you have overlooked. The Quadzilla Boost Fooler is a simple and cheap Cummins Performance mod that installs in minutes and will add a little power but most importantly will help keep your E.G.T’s low.
We have been running this mod on some of the trucks in the shop and our reports have shown that E.G.T.’s are staying about 200 degrees lower than before. Of course, results may vary but as far as bang for the buck goes, I dont know many people who would turn down a 200 Degree drop in exhaust temperatures. Now if you already have a box like an Edge Juice w/Attitude, or a Van Aaken Smartbox, you already have a boost fooler built in. If you are running a programmer like the Superchips Flashpaq or the Diablo Predator you will definately want to check out the Quadzilla Boost Fooler. Shop Parley’s Diesel Performance for all your diesel tuner upgrades.
Diesel Performance | TDI Performance 