More power

[IraqMP]

Ok I drive a 2011 Silverado with the 5.3. Only “performance” thing is a Airaid intake tube and a k&n filter and a Flowmaster 40 series. It’s lifted running on 34’s. What can I do to get more power and either better gas mileage or at least the same? I’m kinda new to all this. 

[CamGTP]

Gears.

 

Those huge tires hurt you more than you think. It needs 4.10's or 4.56's at a minimum to get your mechanical advantage back.

 

Then you can look into a tune and other performance upgrades like a camshaft swap, headers or whatever your budget allows for. (different gears will require a tune anyway)

[IraqMP]

What kind of tuner should i go with?

[CamGTP]

Depends.

 

If you want to learn it and do it yourself, you'd want HP Tuners.

 

If that is something you don't want to learn then you'd have to pay someone to do it or use a tuning service that some companies might offer like blackbear performance.

 

I'm against all the handheld tuners because they are generic flash files that leave a lot to be desired.

 

But for sure you need better gearing first. A tune can only do so much and the truck will still struggle if when it's running 3.42 or 3.73 stock gearing.

[SierraHD17]

4.56 gears first.  You need to tune it anyway after the gear change. Those trucks are sacks with the stock tires and 3.42s so your 5.3 will thank you with the gears.

[Brian715]

Just like has already been said, Headers, cam, gears,tune. You can do the headers and the gears without absolutely needing the tune but once you do the cam, you will need the tune with it. I'd probably save up and do it all at once. 

[IraqMP]

What Cam, and headers should i go with?

[IraqMP]

Is there a set of headers with a certain exhaust set up that I can get as a package. I’ve built guns for years. Just getting into my truck so I’m really new at all this. 

[CamGTP]

Nobody can really tell you want camshaft to go with because you haven't even thought about or said what you want from the engine.

 

There are a million different combinations of camshafts/lifter/pushrods you could run and they all be do different things to the power band and your budget.

 

This is going to take a ton of homework on your end to figure out what you want. Like do you want it to drive good or do it want to have some stupid extreme lope that won't even idle nice unless it's at 1,000rpm all the time?

 

Or do you want to run the stock stall torque converter or an aftermarket unit???

 

Those are the type of things you need to be aware of.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorta the same thing with headers, do a bunch of research and have a budget in mind. You can get anything from $350-400 headers that work or you can go $1,000-1,700 headers from the likes of Kooks or American Racing headers.

[IraqMP]

It’s my every day driver so I’m not looking for anything crazy. Basically I want the truck to run “normal” sound good with a good rumble and not have to down shift going up freeway off ramp size hills. And if I can either improve MPG or at least not get worse.  Not sure if this is all possible or am I just dreaming. 

[CamGTP]

Do gears and a tune first, then see if you want the more power.

 

You need to get your mechanical advantage back and it'll be like a whole new truck.

[IraqMP]

How will 4.10 gears affect my RPM while in the freeway?

[CamGTP]

Use a gear ratio calculator like this.

 

The 6L80e has a 0.67:1 6th gear ratio. So when put into the bottom calculator with 4.10 gears and 34in tires you are at roughly 1,900rpm.

 

http://www.csgnetwork.com/multirpmcalc.html

[SierraHD17]

Go 4.56.. skip right over 4.10.  I did this with my own 2017 Sierra with a 295/60/20.  I turn around 2100 at 70 mph.  If anything your mileage will improve offsetting the lift and tires that killed it in the first place.