Power Combination

J-Weezy1 · August 8, 2010

Well I'm planning on installing some performance add-ons to my truck but I'm not sure what to go with. I already have an exhust which consist of a Cherrybomb Vortec muffler with a single inlet and dual outlet. I live in California so modifications are limited. I want to add a cold air intake, throttle body spacer and a programer to the mix but there is too many to choose from now in days. Just wondering what other people have and what gave the best results.

dlewis1111 · August 8, 2010

Well I'm planning on installing some performance add-ons to my truck but I'm not sure what to go with. I already have an exhust which consist of a Cherrybomb Vortec muffler with a single inlet and dual outlet. I live in California so modifications are limited. I want to add a cold air intake, throttle body spacer and a programer to the mix but there is too many to choose from now in days. Just wondering what other people have and what gave the best results.

Before you buy the throttle body spacer, send me seventy-five dollars in the mail and I will send you the deed to some swamp land in Florida that I have for sale!! Seriously, and I know others will help me out here, don't waste money on a spacer. They are worthless.

Is your truck a GMT900 or 800? My 08 has a BlackBear tune, and by far this is the best bang for the buck, hands down. I also have a CAI fro K&N, not so much for power, I got it cheap and never have to replace the filter.

And welcome to the site.

J-Weezy1 · August 8, 2010

I have a GMT900

dlstewart01 · August 8, 2010

All you need to know on throttle body spacers...

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=98170

700 sportsman · August 8, 2010

I agree, skip the throttle body spacer, and go with a black bear custom tune. You will grin from ear to ear when you drive it. They are also now in Cali, so you maybe able to do something local?

bluegmctruck · August 9, 2010

i have an S&B Intake and a Superchips Cortex programmer and am very happy with both

J-Weezy1 · August 14, 2010

Sorry I haven't continued on my post sooner but I'm still trying to figure it out. I have considered the suggestions and I did like the S&B intake whitch is what I am set on going with. The tuner on the other hand, I kinda want something i can change on the fly. The tuned computer would be great but i would have to kis my MPG's good bye. This truck is my daily, but I also tow with it. Not to leave out hitting the track every once in a while after the upgrades.

Back to the subject, does ayone have any experiance with the EDGE Evolution tuner or know anybody that does? I really like the versitility that it offers and the price isn't bad, plus it comes with a mounting pod. Any info is still appreciated, thanks everyone.

dlewis1111 · August 14, 2010

Sorry I haven't continued on my post sooner but I'm still trying to figure it out. I have considered the suggestions and I did like the S&B intake whitch is what I am set on going with. The tuner on the other hand, I kinda want something i can change on the fly. The tuned computer would be great but i would have to kis my MPG's good bye. This truck is my daily, but I also tow with it. Not to leave out hitting the track every once in a while after the upgrades.
Back to the subject, does ayone have any experiance with the EDGE Evolution tuner or know anybody that does? I really like the versitility that it offers and the price isn't bad, plus it comes with a mounting pod. Any info is still appreciated, thanks everyone.

My MPG's actually went up with a BB tune. And it can be set up for whatever octane fuel that you desire. Not trying to advertise here, but this really was the best bang for the buck that I have done. I got a set of spare computers to mail off so that I would have my factory ones still programmed if I decide to switch back.

[email protected] · August 14, 2010

Tune would definitely be the smartest thing to do with your money.

GPSilverado · August 15, 2010

Sorry I haven't continued on my post sooner but I'm still trying to figure it out. I have considered the suggestions and I did like the S&B intake whitch is what I am set on going with. The tuner on the other hand, I kinda want something i can change on the fly. The tuned computer would be great but i would have to kis my MPG's good bye. This truck is my daily, but I also tow with it. Not to leave out hitting the track every once in a while after the upgrades.
Back to the subject, does ayone have any experiance with the EDGE Evolution tuner or know anybody that does? I really like the versitility that it offers and the price isn't bad, plus it comes with a mounting pod. Any info is still appreciated, thanks everyone.

I have the BB tune on mine (93 Octane) and am very satisfied. I get slightly better mileage than before, and I use my truck for towing a boat that weighs in around 6500 - 7000 lbs. Justin with Blackbear set my tune up so that the tow mode still uses most of the torque management to protect the transmission from excessively hard shifts when towing. When not in tow mode, we decided to leave approximately 20% of the Torque Management in place. My truck had a tendency to shift excesively hard under WOT due to the intake I was running.

I wouldn't even consider the Edge if it were me. I have read about too many people being unsatisfied with it. The Diablo Predator is probably the best handheld tuner out there from what I read, even though it can't program the transmission controller.

becker87 · August 15, 2010

Im getting a blackbear tune soon and im very excited to see the results. When i reduce TM will my shifts be very hard, or will they only be hard under hard acceleration? I love to smooth feel of the 6spd and don't want to ruin that, but when im driving hard i don't mind a hard shift.

music · August 15, 2010

I have to ask the obvious questions re: tuning. The best that can be hoped for out of a stock 5.3 is probably ~10 to 15 hp at the wheels. That's about the same as turning off the A/C. So, is the benefit primarily with quicker power delivery during shifts and from a dead stop? My old S15 (2.8 V6) that I had was a 5-spd straight shift with zero electronics. That thing would put more power to the wheels at a dead stop than my 5.3, but I also couldn't get traction on a wet road uphill. Honestly, that was frustrating, as I had to feather the throttle to get up the hill where I live. I don't race, and really didn't like that it responded so promptly to my foot. Is that what a tune is going to do, put more power to the wheels at the get-go and give it that more powerful "feeling"? I don't see how it will improve towing performance much (~10 rwhp), but I'm open to hear experiences to the contrary.