Duramax vs Titan

I would say that a stock duramax at the least would be even with the titan. I don't know what they do in the quarter mile but all you have to do is get a mild chip and you're sure to beat him. Even the best chip out there for a titan gas engine is no match for even the mildest chips for diesel engines. You can run the stock intake and exhaust, but it just doesn't make sense. They're both pretty cheap upgrades and yield quite a substantial gain for the money. At least get a 4" mandrel bent turbo back. And it would only make sense to get the intake too. Look at it this way, you buy the chip but stick with the stock intake and exhaust. It's restrictive compared to the aftermarket offerings. You want that air to get in and out as fast as possible which will increase power and lower EGT's at the same time. If you free it up, you can run higher chip hp levels and get the same temps as with lower levels and stock in/ex.
As for lifting the truck you're going to suck quite a bit of power out of whatever you do add to your truck once you throw on those giant shoes. Not to say a truck on 37's can't be fast, in fact I saw a highly modified dodge run mid 13's on 37's......but that's highly modified. You'd be on mild side so if you smoked that titan to begin with, you might just barely squeeze it out with the bigger, heavier rotating mass. As for a lift kit, i've really started to like fabtech the past couple of years and if I did decide to lift my truck again I'd probably go with their kit.
Anyway, i'd go ahead and race your buddy just to see what he has.....then go spend a few bucks and go for a rematch, but don't tell him what you did. Let him stare at your tailgate for a few...

I have my '02 set up with a 65 hp increase courtesy Granetelli Motorsport's Diablo and a Borla 304 stainless 4" exhaust provided by Summit racing. I run a K&N intake filter. That's all. I run 285-75-R16 BFG All-Terrain KO's on the ground. I generally have good excelleration from zero to 60, but passing gear is unbelievable with really hard excelleration all the way to 98 mph where the speed limiter cuts in. When I take it easy (hard to do) I average 17 MPG city and highway.

No, I haven't tried to load my truck up with all the fastest go gadgets. I find that I get what I want with what I've got on this truck. I tow a 31 foot fifth wheel and get an average 14 mpg on most terrain with the 40 hp (tow) setting. Very good up-hill pull and crusin' sometimes I forget the trailer is back there!

These trucks are made for pullin'! You guys talk about these light weight trucks racing a 7500 lb diesel in the 1/8th or 1/4? Well, I have a better challenge. Let's line up a couple of yours, put on the park brake, let me tie them all together and pull them down the 1/8 with their tires smokin'. Now that's what a 2500 HD Duramax/Allison can do! Luv it!

But, if you want to race me in the short straight, I have another little toy that's, well, quite a bit quicker. It aint much to look at but it sure will snatch your head back. Bet you can't take the dollar off the dash on this one!