07 V-max Preformance

[salmonier_slednut]

Looking to get some extra punch out of my GMC

Already have the usual upgrades, intake, throttle body spacer, hypertec programmer, true dual exhaust with headers on order

So, as for the truck it's a 2007 SLT 1500 Z71 with the 6.0.

Not sure which direction to go from here, the stock gearing is fine, as it rev's plenty high as is. Wondering about a different cam, what can i run without digging into the rest of the engine? how about different underdrive pulleys? Anyway hope you guys can point me in the right direction, just getting familiar with engine components, and am a mechanic by no means but have all the tools and some good mechanic friends, so install would not be done by a "professional"

 

Thanks guys!

[Zembonez]

Need to toss the throttle body spacer (useless on this truck) lose the Hypertec and get a Black Bear tune. You'll be amazed.

[L76PWRD]

Get rid of the throttle body spacer & get a real tune. You have 4.10 or 3.73 gears? For headers get long tube, not shorty headers.

[99silveradoz71]

The BlackBear definitely woke up my 08 V-Max

[salmonier_slednut]

Thanks for the info, I contacted black bear to see what they have to offer me for my truck, as for the throttle body spacer, i did find it helpful, but it was installed the same time as the intake, unless someone can tell me its doing more damage than good I'll leave it for the time being.

As for rear end gears I have no idea, whatever came in the truck from the factory.

Other than the black bear tune, what else can i look into?

[Stevens03]

Look in the glove box for the RPO codes and see if you have NHT, max trailer package, GT4 (3.73), GT5 (4.10) and G80 for factory lockers. The blackbear tune will yield the best bang for the buck. HUGE difference over the handheld you have. Of all the handhelds, Hp3 is one of the most conservatives in tuning.

 

Depending on what gears you have, a gear swap would be a good upgrade, higher stall converter will get you moving faster too. Long tube headers and cam swap are also good upgrades.

 

Get the tune first and if its not enough, then look at other options

[07VMax]

Get rid of the throttle body spacer & get a real tune. You have 4.10 or 3.73 gears? For headers get long tube, not shorty headers.

 

 

i agree 100%

 

an easy way to tell what gears you have on the maxes are if you have rear disc brakes you have 4.10 if you have rear drums then you have 3.73 (this is only true for the maxes)

[jro909]

Get rid of the throttle body spacer & get a real tune. You have 4.10 or 3.73 gears? For headers get long tube, not shorty headers.

 

 

i agree 100%

 

an easy way to tell what gears you have on the maxes are if you have rear disc brakes you have 4.10 if you have rear drums then you have 3.73 (this is only true for the maxes)

 

 

 

that dosen't seem accurate, two trucks could have two separate gearing and still share disc brakes, this may sound crazy but some people enjoy towing with high gears i met a guy that special ordered the highest gear he could get with a cummins so save mpg on the highway.....p.s to the original poster ditch the throttle body spacer, unless you have a TB gmt-400 its useless, it is probably the single worst mod you can waste money on in a newer truck...get a tune and get some whistle tips and be happy

[dirtfan21]

You can always chalk line the tire in one spot, jack up the rear end, chalk line the driveshaft in one spot, then spin the driveshaft and count the rotations until the tire makes a full revolution. This will get you pretty close on an idea of your gearing, if you cant find it another way.

[whitefrost]

i don't know but my 06 v-max has 4.10 gears and has drum brakes,different body though.

[07VMax]

Get rid of the throttle body spacer & get a real tune. You have 4.10 or 3.73 gears? For headers get long tube, not shorty headers.

 

 

i agree 100%

 

an easy way to tell what gears you have on the maxes are if you have rear disc brakes you have 4.10 if you have rear drums then you have 3.73 (this is only true for the maxes)

 

 

 

that dosen't seem accurate, two trucks could have two separate gearing and still share disc brakes, this may sound crazy but some people enjoy towing with high gears i met a guy that special ordered the highest gear he could get with a cummins so save mpg on the highway.....p.s to the original poster ditch the throttle body spacer, unless you have a TB gmt-400 its useless, it is probably the single worst mod you can waste money on in a newer truck...get a tune and get some whistle tips and be happy

 

 

 

it is for the 07-08 Vortec Max trucks. the ones with the discs have the max trailering pac and they have the 4.10's. the vortec Max with the drum's are the 3.73's because there not the max trailer pac just the max package with the 6.0 engine and the 4l70e trans plus the 14 bolt semi floating rear axle.

[salmonier_slednut]

Thanks for the info guys, esspecially on the gearing, ill have a look at that tomorrow, plus my diff cover is leaking so I have to pull it off anyway and I'll check it out

As for the tune, im presently talking to black bear performance trying to figure out if i wanna throw another few hundred at a tune. From their reviews I can tell its worth the money, but I don't want to throw my factory warentee out the window for a few horse power. Where as with a different cam, heads, etc I am told I can really boost my numbers, and still keep some reliability. I just dont want to spend $400 for a second tuner for 10 or 15 horse power.

 

But as for gearing, where the truck is 4x4, what has to be done to change the ratio for the front end when 4x4 is engaged, I'm seriously considering doing this since I just added 33's today and find quite a difference over the 31's

 

And one last question, I like my vechiles loud, I currently have dual flowmasters, my friend has the same but removed his cat's, his truck is older and a lot more torn down. I love the sound but do not want to make my truck a pig on gas. If i remove my converters will this decrease my MPG? The guy that does my exhaust work told me it would, but he heard of some sort of plug that hooks up to my oxygen sensor or computer that would give my computer more or less a flat line reading instead of it reading lean/rich the entire time.

 

Thanks again, just looking to persue all options, finding the best bang for buck, and a few modifications that will keep my truck on the road instead of in the garage

[jro909]

Thanks for the info guys, esspecially on the gearing, ill have a look at that tomorrow, plus my diff cover is leaking so I have to pull it off anyway and I'll check it out

As for the tune, im presently talking to black bear performance trying to figure out if i wanna throw another few hundred at a tune. From their reviews I can tell its worth the money, but I don't want to throw my factory warentee out the window for a few horse power. Where as with a different cam, heads, etc I am told I can really boost my numbers, and still keep some reliability. I just dont want to spend $400 for a second tuner for 10 or 15 horse power.

 

But as for gearing, where the truck is 4x4, what has to be done to change the ratio for the front end when 4x4 is engaged, I'm seriously considering doing this since I just added 33's today and find quite a difference over the 31's

 

And one last question, I like my vechiles loud, I currently have dual flowmasters, my friend has the same but removed his cat's, his truck is older and a lot more torn down. I love the sound but do not want to make my truck a pig on gas. If i remove my converters will this decrease my MPG? The guy that does my exhaust work told me it would, but he heard of some sort of plug that hooks up to my oxygen sensor or computer that would give my computer more or less a flat line reading instead of it reading lean/rich the entire time.

 

Thanks again, just looking to persue all options, finding the best bang for buck, and a few modifications that will keep my truck on the road instead of in the garage

 

you sort of countered yourself, you don't want the tune because of the warranty but you have a leaking diff that your going to deal with yourself? what would you consider warranty work lol...p.s if you remove your cats kiss your warranty goodbye...its federal law to have cats

[salmonier_slednut]

My truck is a 2007 Classic, it has 88xxx kms, I do not want to put a tuner on my truck that I cannot easily remove and put back to stock, currently i just plug it in and its done. My diff cover is not covered under warentee, I have powertrain which does not cover my rear end housing. Any idiot and take out 12 bolts and fill a diff, so why take it to a shop.

And as for removing my cats, I know it CAN void my warentee. My coverage will stay them same unless that specific modification caused the damage (ex: back-fires, goes back through the engine and blows head gasket...bad example, but you get the point)

I went to the dealer several times before doing anything to my truck and the result was any modification to the truck that is a direct result of damage, excessive wear, etc will void warentee ( suspension lift voids U-joints, big tires voids wheel bearings, etc)

 

But I'm pretty confident that my truck will not backfire severley enough to do internal damage if I remove my converters, so my concern was fuel mileage as stated above.

 

Back on topic, besides the tune as Im already on top of that, best way to get some quick hp from my engine. Does anyone have experience with under-drive pulleys, high-rise cams, etc? Im considering the cam upgrade as I can get an aftermarket cam for a decent price, a buddy who has done several for others before, and have "heard" about massive horsepower gains. I do not want to have to gut the engine, change rollers, springs, or anything else, so is there a cam i can upgrade to that will give me a nice boost without having to tear into the engine? Same question for head, heard of some people having their head ported/polished , etc. Not the same idea but on my snowmobile i had my head shaved down a minimal amount, still pump gas, but made a MAJOR difference through my RPMs.

[Jennabear]

My recommendations:

 

Stage 1: intake, exhaust, tune

Stage 2: cam, headers, F/I

Stage 3: transmission, gears, spray