LB7: Air Intakes

04dirtymaxdiesel

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May 4, 2020
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Hey Diesels, I just purchased an 04 Silverado 2500HD with a LB7 with only 75,000 miles, My son who owns a 06 Dodge 3500 5.9 went out and got me a Bully Dog programmer and a boost fooler, now he's telling me I should get a cold air intake, I really don't want to spend $300-$400, I found a Spectre Performance one for less than $150, Should I do it and are there going to be a noticeable difference, I appreciate any feed backs, Thanks
 

Chevy1925

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Oct 21, 2009
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a search on here would tell you all you need to know.

leave the stock filter and leave the tuner under 60hp or you will be building that trans sooner than later
 

Mike L.

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I remember a test that was posted years ago on DP where they tested every known cold air on the same truck at the drag strip. Including stright pipe( no air cleaner ). Truck ran the same times every pass.
 

Bdsankey

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IMO unless you've got a big drop in style turbo I wouldn't mess with an intake. The factory setup does a pretty darn good job and its cheap as its already there. Just stay up on filter replacements and you shouldn't ever have a problem.
 

Dozerboy

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Jun 23, 2009
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Even with 600hp+ and modded stock turbo I use the stock LBZ filter. On the big tune I can’t even pull the filter minder down


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

torqued2dmax

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Mar 26, 2017
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The massive hp gain you will see is about 1/4th what you feel when you shut off the air conditioning switch ! If you get the bully dog working , see post from 1925 ! In other words if the price of a cold air is an issue do not blow a $4000 to $5000 tranny the guys on this site know what they are talking about .
 

TheBac

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Apr 19, 2008
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Moved to LB7 section.



If under 500rwhp, stick with the stock intake.


Bullydog isnt the best handheld to use, either.
 

zakkb787

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Sep 29, 2014
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Something you’ll learn is that the duramax and Cummins are extremely different with their basic mods and where your money should go. Factory air box with it modded will suit you just fine for what your trans will hold. Also as mentioned yes a bully dog will work, but it’s not the best. If you go canned tuner a PPE will be your best bet but I think compares to a single EFILive tune.
 

04dirtymaxdiesel

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May 4, 2020
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Upstate New York
Lb7 Air Intake

Thanks for all your info, I value all your opinions, Being new to the whole diesel world is a bit confusing, But it's pretty cool, I'm going to leave the stock air intake alone, and as far as the "Bully Dog" it works really well, Is there anything else I should know about, or simple mods I can do, don't want problems down the road, Thanks Again
 

KyleC4

Tech
Dec 30, 2016
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Bay Area
I personally think that one of the best things is to install a lift pump (fass, airdog, etc) on an lb7. Nothing you’ll notice power wise in the seat but a good help to that fuel system. And in the diesel world there are a lot of opinions. Browse around the lb7 section and you’ll get a better feel for it all
 

Mike L.

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Aug 12, 2006
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I personally think that one of the best things is to install a lift pump (fass, airdog, etc) on an lb7. Nothing you’ll notice power wise in the seat but a good help to that fuel system. And in the diesel world there are a lot of opinions. Browse around the lb7 section and you’ll get a better feel for it all

You will notice some power gains with a big tune after installng a lift pump.
 

Bdsankey

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I personally think that one of the best things is to install a lift pump (fass, airdog, etc) on an lb7. Nothing you’ll notice power wise in the seat but a good help to that fuel system. And in the diesel world there are a lot of opinions. Browse around the lb7 section and you’ll get a better feel for it all

You will notice some power gains with a big tune after installng a lift pump.

I'm with Mike on this one. The factory CP3 loves to be force-fed fuel and it really shows as demanded fuel quantity goes up, especially on the 200hp+ stock injector/stock turbo/built trans files.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
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Oct 21, 2009
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Phoenix Az
Thanks for all your info, I value all your opinions, Being new to the whole diesel world is a bit confusing, But it's pretty cool, I'm going to leave the stock air intake alone, and as far as the "Bully Dog" it works really well, Is there anything else I should know about, or simple mods I can do, don't want problems down the road, Thanks Again

well its a LB7 so plan on injectors at some point. SAC style are out with stock flow numbers which pretty much eliminates the weak points of the old style injectors. Lift pump as mentioned before. exhaust is not a bad thing if you wanted to add one though stock is ok under mild tuning. be a good idea to look into a pump rub plate for the t-case and get that done before it punches a hole through the case.
 

04dirtymaxdiesel

New member
May 4, 2020
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Upstate New York
Thanks Guys, I'll start looking into those thing ya mentioned, I did notice, there' quite a big difference in the "Bully Dog" power levels, in the performance mode the truck runs great with alot of quickness, in the extreme mode the tuck jumps a live with quick pedal response, rolls a little coal too, Just don't want to blow anything up, So I'm going to take it slow with the mods, any make sure everything's going to work together before I get in trouble, Thanks Again for all the info
 

Bdsankey

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Feb 1, 2018
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Thanks Guys, I'll start looking into those thing ya mentioned, I did notice, there' quite a big difference in the "Bully Dog" power levels, in the performance mode the truck runs great with alot of quickness, in the extreme mode the tuck jumps a live with quick pedal response, rolls a little coal too, Just don't want to blow anything up, So I'm going to take it slow with the mods, any make sure everything's going to work together before I get in trouble, Thanks Again for all the info

Do yourself a favor and don't run the bully dog turned up. The stock trans will not have a happy life there.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,106
4,841
113
Phoenix Az
a search on here would tell you all you need to know.

leave the stock filter and leave the tuner under 60hp or you will be building that trans sooner than later

Thanks Guys, I'll start looking into those thing ya mentioned, I did notice, there' quite a big difference in the "Bully Dog" power levels, in the performance mode the truck runs great with alot of quickness, in the extreme mode the tuck jumps a live with quick pedal response, rolls a little coal too, Just don't want to blow anything up, So I'm going to take it slow with the mods, any make sure everything's going to work together before I get in trouble, Thanks Again for all the info

literally the second post. follow this or get ready to drop 5k or more