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Please help with 4.3L HP increase?

TomBrady80

By TomBrady80
in Engines & Drivetrain

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Jchoi Enthusiast

Jchoi

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I know a guy who has the 4.3, and it seems to have plenty of juice. I’d check into the tune as others have stated. I will tell you that he ended up putting smaller wheels and tiresand seemed to be happier with that. (17s I think). Just don’t let anyone shame you because you have two less cylinders. That’s a damn nice truck. I had a Honda Ridgeline, and all my buddies shamed me, but not because of the two less cylinders ha ha. 

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i82much
i82much

Stop!  You are wasting your money.  I had the old 4.3 Vortec and I never *needed* more power, your truck is a rocket compared to my old one.  If you want a faster truck, buy a truck with a bigger engi

TXGREEK
TXGREEK

Looks is what gets everyone into hating their ride. My truck came w 22”’s, had dealership downgrade to 20”s then had to order new rims, made the mistake going back to 20”’s cause they look good but wi

newdude
newdude

Procharger?  Would have to be a custom setup, but that might be a way to go.  E85 is the cheapest mod for the 4.3 as that adds some HP.  And the 4.3 comes flex fuel equipped.  If it can be tuned and o

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TomBrady80 Enthusiast

TomBrady80

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1 hour ago, Donstar said:

Here's what we've been pulling for the last couple of months.  Burns more gas going uphill but plenty of power.

P_20180501_145214.thumb.jpg.0845739d3c98e8cc08586a502213756b.jpg

That’s nice and exactly what we had in mind! Yours is 4x4 too! Really nice! 

TomBrady80 Enthusiast

TomBrady80

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18 minutes ago, Jchoi said:

I know a guy who has the 4.3, and it seems to have plenty of juice. I’d check into the tune as others have stated. I will tell you that he ended up putting smaller wheels and tiresand seemed to be happier with that. (17s I think). Just don’t let anyone shame you because you have two less cylinders. That’s a damn nice truck. I had a Honda Ridgeline, and all my buddies shamed me, but not because of the two less cylinders ha ha. 

Thanks for that! I actually had 17s on it at first and then I probably messed up adding the 20s but it’s okay. It looks better with 20s lol! And those Honda Ridgelines are nice too!

TomBrady80 Enthusiast

TomBrady80

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4 hours ago, newdude said:

Procharger?  Would have to be a custom setup, but that might be a way to go.  E85 is the cheapest mod for the 4.3 as that adds some HP.  And the 4.3 comes flex fuel equipped.  If it can be tuned and optimized for E85 that would get some good gains.   

Mine is all ready set up to run E85, so now I just buy a tuner to optimize or tweak certain performance options? Tuning is new to me, but I’m a fast learner. 

SarahsGMC Senior Enthusiast

SarahsGMC

Posted
Posted (edited)

Bore the cylinders, cam, longtubes, if you do longtubes do an intake, custom tunes and modify the shift points, lower the gear ratio in axles to take strain off trans and give you some pep. this is all stuff ive done and will do. but I have a 5.3

Edited by SarahsGMC
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TomBrady80 Enthusiast

TomBrady80

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25 minutes ago, SarahsGMC said:

Bore the cylinders, cam, longtubes, if you do longtubes do an intake, custom tunes and modify the shift points, lower the gear ratio in axles to take strain off trans and give you some pep. this is all stuff ive done and will do. but I have a 5.3

Thanks! :)  I asked a local speed shop the other day but they couldn’t find any “long tubes,” only “short tubes.” Are the short tubes pointless? 

2017_whitez71 Enthusiast

2017_whitez71

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I definitely agree with running e85.  Makes a noticeable difference, in my opinion.  I had a 14 double cab with a 4.3 and always ran e85.  An added benefit of e85 is that the exhaust smells like corn chips :lol:

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TomBrady80 Enthusiast

TomBrady80

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2 minutes ago, 2017_whitez71 said:

I definitely agree with running e85.  Makes a noticeable difference, in my opinion.  I had a 14 double cab with a 4.3 and always ran e85.  An added benefit of e85 is that the exhaust smells like corn chips :lol:

Lol! I have to try that just to see if I smell the corn chips... lol 

GMC2015 Enthusiast

GMC2015

Posted
Posted

For your case, the best thing to do for performance would be to regear to 4.10s and get a custom tune. Together, they’ll make the truck alot more driveable and responsive. Ditto on the e85, it added a nice bump in performance on my old 2015 4.3.

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newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

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16 hours ago, TomBrady80 said:

I like what you’re saying.... I’ve never heard of a Procharger, but the E85 mod sounds like a common theme. Who should I seek out for that type of mod? Thanks 

 

Performance/speed shop.  https://www.procharger.com/      https://www.procharger.com/dealer-locator   It would take some custom work to get the 5.3 kit I'd imagine to work.  We've got a place up here in NY that would be great at making that type of thing happen.  https://www.berg-racing.com/ 

 

15 hours ago, TomBrady80 said:

Mine is all ready set up to run E85, so now I just buy a tuner to optimize or tweak certain performance options? Tuning is new to me, but I’m a fast learner. 

Custom tune.  Never out of the box plug in tuner.  BlackBear Performance, or a local LS/LT engine specialist. 

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TXGREEK Senior Enthusiast

TXGREEK

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Posted
Thanks for that! I actually had 17s on it at first and then I probably messed up adding the 20s but it’s okay. It looks better with 20s lol! And those Honda Ridgelines are nice too!


Wheels and tires make a huge difference in towing. I’ve never owned a six cylinder in a full size truck but be very cautious of getting all terrain tires. Personally, I’d avoid them, go with Michelin High mileage highway tires like Defenders. Research them on Discount Tire website, comparing weight of tires and make sure to stay with original equipment sizes cause you’ll most likely notice an improvement and you can sell your wheels and tires later after. Good luck


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Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

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1 hour ago, TXGREEK said:

 


Wheels and tires make a huge difference in towing. I’ve never owned a six cylinder in a full size truck but be very cautious of getting all terrain tires. Personally, I’d avoid them, go with Michelin High mileage highway tires like Defenders. Research them on Discount Tire website, comparing weight of tires and make sure to stay with original equipment sizes cause you’ll most likely notice an improvement and you can sell your wheels and tires later after. Good luck


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Switching out my 13's for 15's turned my '64 Econoline from an urban delivery vehicle to a highway cruiser!  To add to your post, Op can regain close to stock diameter and still keep his 20" wheels. I am 100% agreement on the Defenders.

TXGREEK Senior Enthusiast

TXGREEK

Posted
Posted
Switching out my 13's for 15's turned my '64 Econoline from an urban delivery vehicle to a highway cruiser!  To add to your post, Op can regain close to stock diameter and still keep his 20" wheels. I am 100% agreement on the Defenders.


Close to stock would mean lower profile and stiffer ride, getting rid of meat, will it not?


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2018GMC Senior Enthusiast

2018GMC

Posted
Posted (edited)

What gears?

 

If it has 3:08 gears that’s your problem. 

 

Put in 3:73 , 3:42 , or 3:23 and a good tune -Blackbear

Edited by 2009GMC
Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

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Posted
33 minutes ago, TXGREEK said:

 


Close to stock would mean lower profile and stiffer ride, getting rid of meat, will it not?


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Stock tire on a  factory 20" wheel is 275/55/20.  I think this is a comfortable riding and good looking tire size. 

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