Waking up the 5.3

[Slo281]

Currently have a 2014 5.3 reg cab with 3.42s. I want to get some more speed/hp out of the engine. What are my best mods to go with other than a full blown supercharger? i know for sure I want 3.73s & a tune afterwards. What else will give me some better power? Are cai's a good mod for these engines. Sorry for the noob question. I am a first time gm owner coming from ford only. Interested in getting the best bang for my buck parts

[stamgd1909]

If you're going to spend all that money for gears, I would go more than 3.73's JMO though.

[Slo281]

If you're going to spend all that money for gears, I would go more than 3.73's JMO though.

4.10s ?

[stamgd1909]

4.10s ?

That's what I am doing I think. I was going to go 4.56's but I think 4.10 will be better for what I need.

[BowHunter1]

Look up BlackBear Tune. They are out of Cali and have gotten alot of great reviews from new GM truck owners. I'm waiting for them to come to Va in the spring to do an In person tune. You can save some money that away

[LongrangeLauber]

Look up BlackBear Tune. They are out of Cali and have gotten alot of great reviews from new GM truck owners. I'm waiting for them to come to Va in the spring to do an In person tune. You can save some money that away

Where you at in VA?

 

And blackbear tuning is probably the best bang for your buck as far as tuning goes. Never heard of any complaints with them other than it takes a while for that first email to get through

[BowHunter1]

I live on the James River just across from Williamsburg. I'm not sure when Blackbear is suppose to becoming, their schedule just says 'Sping 2015' but I think the savings will be worth the wait...hopefully anyways!

 

Where you at in VA?

[POS VETT]

The very first and cheapest "mod" you could do is to run E85 if your truck was a FFV. It's worth 25 hp and 30 ft-lbs for a tiny increase in fuel cost per mile; for me and some others, it's slightly lower cost per mile (not lower volume of fuel per mile).

[thewhitestallion]

if you want a little extra hp and tq but don't want SC or TC then I would say a nice set of long tube headers with a off road y to a free flowing exhaust with a CAI and a custom tune would really fancy your pants. I know this is comparing apples to oranges sorda but when I put LT and an ORY on my 02 SS I gained almost 20hp (using a dyno jet dyno for both pulls) at the wheels without a tune. you prob wont see that much of an increase with just LT and a ORY in a truck b/c of the driveline loss but if you add the tune I think your butt dyno will like it.

[BigBadSierra]

I just put in an Airaid CAI and just that wakes the engine up. I can slip the back tires taking off way easier than before.

 

I also haven't had it just lag real bad on takeoff as it did a few times before.

[Zasker1]

I have the BlackBear Tune and K&N CAI and I love the increase in PEP. The tune also changes the shifts from .5 seconds to .3.

[Luster]

The very first and cheapest "mod" you could do is to run E85 if your truck was a FFV. It's worth 25 hp and 30 ft-lbs for a tiny increase in fuel cost per mile; for me and some others, it's slightly lower cost per mile (not lower volume of fuel per mile).

 

+1... I've heard unbelievable claims of MUCH more HP and torque with E85. Sure worth a try for an extremely cheap mod!

[BigBadSierra]

 

+1... I've heard unbelievable claims of MUCH more HP and torque with E85. Sure worth a try for an extremely cheap mod!

Unless you have to drive 200miles to get some ha ha...

[Luster]

Unless you have to drive 200miles to get some ha ha...

 

Yeah... I think about half the stations around my part of the country have E85. I haven't put any in my truck yet. I really don't need the power, 5.3 has plenty for me. And I like the fuel econ of regular gas... averaging 17/24, not bad!

[Slo281]

The very first and cheapest "mod" you could do is to run E85 if your truck was a FFV. It's worth 25 hp and 30 ft-lbs for a tiny increase in fuel cost per mile; for me and some others, it's slightly lower cost per mile (not lower volume of fuel per mile).

I'm a little under quarter tank of fuel right now. How empty shoud te tank be to go ahead and try e85? Also, is their any issue going back to regular unleaded after using the e85