Performance Gear: Parts to Make Your Diesel Stronger, Cooler, and More Fuel Efficient

Let's face it: You have a diesel because you need it. This isn't about style, fashion, or what your neighbor drives. You have the torque puller for a reason, and you want it to last as long as possible. That's why you take care of it the way you do. We want to help. Here are some ideas to make your low-end oil-burner run better, whether you want to improve its exhaust note, add better cooling, or provide more off-idle grunt. Once you start building up each link in the chain, though, word will get out that you have the strongest truck in three counties and everyone will start asking you for favors. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Big-Rig Style
ANSA's new Silverline Universal Stack Kits feature five-inch, in-bed 409 stainless-steel plumbing. The polished stacks come in either miter-cut or turn-out styles, or you can opt for Black Stacks with a bright-black smoke finish. Inside, a unique splitter plate ensures equal exhaust flow from both stacks, resulting in a better sound and improved performance. ANSA Automotive; 800/841-9166.

Stop Vibration
Fluidampr's Performance Diesel Dampers dramatically reduce power-robbing torsional vibrations over stock. Torsional vibrations also can destroy crankshafts and bearings. Reducing these unwanted vibrations can increase the life of an engine and pick up at least five horsepower. Fluidampr; 716/592-1000.

Deeper Diff Covers
Mag-Hytec's heavy-duty diff covers provide more cooling capacity to hard-working rearends. Each cast-aluminum cover is powdercoated, has machined cooling fins, and features an anodized aluminum dipstick with a magnetic insert, along with a magnetic drain plug--you don't have to remove the diff cover to change the fluid. Mag-Hytec; 818/786-8325.

Warranty-Friendly Performance
GM Performance's exhaust for 2001-2007 Chevy/GMC diesels includes a larger-diameter downpipe from the turbo to the cat-back exhaust and is made from polished T304 stainless steel, featuring mandrel-bent piping and S-type mufflers. Choose from five- or six-inch tips, each with the Duramax logo. If you have the system installed by a GM dealer during your new-vehicle warranty period, the exhaust warranty carries over if you sell your truck. GM Performance Parts; 800/468-7387.

Pick Your Power Level
ATS' E-Power Tuner for Ford, Dodge, and GM diesels gives you a choice of Towing, High-Power, and Max-Power levels--good for adding as much as 170 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The tuner recalibrates engine and transmission functions and allows you to read and understand Check Engine light codes. The towing mode also is said to provide noticeable fuel-economy gains. ATS Diesel Performance; 800/949-6002.

Easy Out
DynoMax's Ultra Flo turbo-back exhaust for the 2004-2006 Ford 6.0-liter turbodiesel F-250/350 Super Duty is designed to increase torque, improve towing performance, and reduce backpressure. The stainless-steel system features mandrel bends and maintains a consistent pipe diameter for unrestricted exhaust flow. The straight-through Ultra Flo muffler produces a strong, aggressive tone. It has a two-piece downpipe assembly and includes a bung for an EGT sensor. DynoMax; 734/384-7806.

Plug-In Power
Superchips' FireFly for the 2004.5-2007 Dodge 5.9-liter Cummins provides gains of up to 65 rear-wheel horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. It offers three power levels; switch between them on the fly by touching the gauge face. The underhood power module attaches to the engine's factory sensor connectors in less than 10 minutes. It comes with a Lazer Gauge to monitor turbo boost pressure and EGT. Superchips; 888/227-2447.