Buying 03 Harley truck... mod ideas

[OGmackPLRcool]

Im flying out to pick up an 03 harley truck in a couple weeks, and I was trying to get my list of first mods put together. Here is what I have on the list so far...

Side exit Magnaflow exhaust
Upper/Lower boost pulleys w/upper idler kit
LFP Plenum
LFP single blade throttle body
Upgraded valve body
MAF upgrade

Questions:
From what I have read people are saying headers dont offer a considerable performance gain. That seems strange to me considering the stock log style manifolds cant flow that well. Any other opinions on this?

Basically I want to stretch the limits of the truck to the maximum safe level. I am having trouble finding people with modded trucks beyond the basic bolt ons and their results. What other mods would you suggest?

I will be using it to pull my SCCA car, and a couple jet skis during the summer, but I wouldn't mind taking it up to the track (and occasional street battle) and laying the smack down every once in a while.

What do you guys think? Treat me like a noobie. I have a history of owning fairly extensively modded cars (240whp Turbo Focus, Turbo 1.6l Miata, 04 stg 2 Audi A4) but this is going to be my first truck as well as my first V8.

Thanks!

[tarajerame]

forget the upperpulley if you are running the stock eaton, just add a 4# crank pulley the throttle body and plenium you are looking at along with a real good dyno tune.

or just convert it to a turbo (and sell the eaton) expecially if you'll be towing alot.

tranny mods are a must, a better torque converter and a superduty tranny cooler will help expecially when towing


don't forget

a whipple or kennebell upgrade and long tube headers


did you get 2 tone or a black one?

[Dan SS2471]

This site is great but it's HD traffic is light. I suggest you go over to NHTOC.COM and take a look if you haven't already.

Good luck with the truck and your modding...

[OGmackPLRcool]

Originally Posted by tarajerame

forget the upperpulley if you are running the stock eaton, just add a 4# crank pulley the throttle body and plenium you are looking at along with a real good dyno tune.

or just convert it to a turbo (and sell the eaton) expecially if you'll be towing alot.

tranny mods are a must, a better torque converter and a superduty tranny cooler will help expecially when towing


don't forget

a whipple or kennebell upgrade and long tube headers


did you get 2 tone or a black one?

I got the black with the silver stripe.

Im trying to keep the stock blower and just squeeze as much power out of it as I can. Maybe a Magnum Powers, but Im really trying to stay away from going too crazy with it. I have to stop spending thousands and thousands of dollars on every vehicle I buy. I am limiting myself to about a $3k limit.

As for tuning I think Im going to use the sniper software. I used it on my focus and found it really easy to use and had a great time with it on the dyno.

I was under the impression that the stock trans was pretty solid. The enclosed trailer and car is only about 4500-5000 pounds or so, and jet skis weigh next to nothing. I should be able to tow them without a problem with maybe some basic trans mods right? I dont want to be pulling the tranny off to swap torque converters right after I get it.

[dufunnel]

You really probably won't notice any difference with headers vs. the stock manifolds, but you will know they have been changed, so that could be enough to justify them. I put Gibson stainless headers on mine and put the Magnaflow side exit duals on my King Ranch (I converted it to duals so I could fit the Harley edition Magnaflow kit on it). I like the sound (not too loud or obnoxious) and it looks really good.

[tarajerame]

Originally Posted by OGmackPLRcool

I got the black with the silver stripe.

Im trying to keep the stock blower and just squeeze as much power out of it as I can.

then i'd grab a 6# crank pulley, install a ftvb and have the stock eaton ported

if you can tune it then great