Tyler Meyer is a walking example of how diesel performance
has grown over the past decade. Meyer began selling diesel performance parts
and accessories online back in 2007. He made a name for himself by creating a
big presence on several diesel forums and putting a lot of time into getting
the Quadzilla tuners to make a Duramax rip.
When the 2008-generation diesels hit the market in mid-'07,
the DPF-delete kits really took off. Meyer rode the wave and eventually opened
a home-based shop in 2009.
He built up his home-based business to the point that he
needed to move into a full storefront facility just a year later. Meyer opened
the doors of Meyer Performance in a new shop in Franklin, IN,
in April of 2010. The new shop features a three-truck bay with a hoist. Meyer
is offering full diesel performance services. And Meyer Performance also
handles custom fabrication, specializing in traction bars, 4-link systems,
cages and anything for the off-road Jeep guys.
Meyer says his neck of the woods is primarily Dodge country.
There are even more second-generation Ford diesels running around than Chevy
diesels. He says EGR delete kits for the 6.0L Power Stroke have been very
popular. But seeing mostly Dodges and Fords has left the door open for some
Chevy testing.
And what's a shop without a shop truck? Meyer Performance's
2007.5 Chevy Duramax LMM has seen more than its fair share of test parts.
Meyer deleted the DPF system right off the bat when the
truck had 2,000 miles. It started out with an MBRP LBZ 5-inch exhaust system.
This was back before anyone had programs to turn off the DPF sensors. Meyer's
LMM ran the LBZ exhaust with no DPF and without a tuner initially. The truck
ran fine, throwing regen-related codes, but never went into limp mode. Meyer
drove it for a few thousand miles before the technology to turn the sensors off
hit the market.
Meyer installed a Quadzilla tuner on the LMM, finally being
able to turn off the DPF sensors. He says it was a great day to have a tuner
and not have codes anymore.
Meyer soon after installed an AirDog 150 lift pump, then a
BD Power driver's side exhaust manifold. The stock manifold has an indent in it
to provide unnecessary clearance for the steering shaft. The indent creates a
hot spot in the manifold, which is eliminated with the BD Power manifold.
Meyer pulled out the Quadzilla and tuned the LMM with a Hot
+ 2 programmer from Pacific Performance Engineering. Meyer says the truck ran
great with good power, but lacked bottom end response. Soon thereafter, Meyer
became a beta tester for the Edge Products' Race Evolution tuner. He ran that
for about a year. Later, he also did beta testing for the Edge CTS unit.
As the power levels crept up, the need arose to upgrade the
Allison transmission. Meyer built the transmission with a Sun Coast Stage IV
kit and a 1055 torque converter.
With a solid powertrain, Meyer turned his attention back to
horsepower. When Garrett released the 4094VVT drop-in replacement turbo for the
Duramax, Meyer got his hands on one. He says he was looking at either
Industrial Injection's compound kit or the Garrett 4094VVT. Todd Fogler, one of
Meyer's customers, installed the Industrial compounds on his LMM, so Meyer went
with the drop-in Garrett. He installed the 4094VVT charger, along with a
Diamond Eye 3-inch round downpipe, in September 2009. Meyer was impressed with
the new charger. To maximize its potential, Meyer went to Nick at Duramax Tuner
and tuned the LMM with EFI Live.
When we saw Meyer's LMM in Franklin, IN,
back in May, the truck still had the stock CP3 pump. Meyer plans to upgrade
either to a Wicked modified CP3 or go with twin CP3s.
And what's a Duramax without a few of the basics, like a PPE
ported rail fitting and PPE race valve in the fuel rail. Meyer's truck has
both, along with an AFE intercooler tube.
As far as being a shop truck, the LMM has seen a Banks cold
air intake and an S&B intake, which it currently has.
It's had everything from a 6-inch stack to 4-inch dual
exhaust and its current Magnaflow 5-inch single exhaust system. Meyer says that
if a customer calls and asks about how one exhaust system sounds compared to
another, he can tell them first-hand instead of saying "well, we put one on a
customer's truck and it sounded real nice as he drove away."
Inside the LMM, Meyer has Autometer Sport Comp II gauges for
boost, exhaust gas temp and drive pressure (tapped into the BD exhaust
manifold).
The clean, white regular cab runs Diamo 18kt wheels with
275/65R18 tires.
Meyer's plans for the truck include a full engine build with
cut and coated LLY pistons by SoCal Diesel and Crower rods. Once that's done,
he plans to build his own compound kit with the 4094 over an S480 charger.
He'll also throw in a set of 60-over injectors to get the fuel flowing through
the new engine.
For more information on Meyer Performance's truck and other
projects, check out the shop's website at www.meyerperformance.com.