Performance upgrades for 2500LD?

[marksbe1]

I JUST BOUGHT A 2004 SILVERADO 2500LD, 6.0L GASOLINE ENGINE. I AM LOOKING FOR OME ADVICE FROM OTHER OWNERS ABOUT WHIHC PEROFRMANCE UPRAGDES ARE WORTH THE MONEY. I AM LOOKING TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY. I HAVE CHANGED TO MOBIL 1 SYNTHETIC OIL, ADDED A K&N 33-2135 AIR FILTER. I AM WONDERNG IF THE HYPERTECH POWER PROGRAMMER III IS WORTH THE MONEY?

 

PLEASE E-MAIL WITH SUGGESTIONS. THANK IN ADVANCE.

JAYSON

[asilverblazer]

I can say that the Hypertech is a waste for performance but I'm sure I will love it to correct my speedometer for larger tires or differential change.

[Shaners]

I'm running the Westers Garage custom tune PCM and a drop-in K&N. It runs great (well it did until my dealer over-wrote some of my custom program).

 

I need to get ahold of Lyndon Wester and have him re-write it for me... this time I'm opting for the 89-93 Octane dual tune!!!

[snoman]

I can say that the Hypertech is a waste for performance but I'm sure I will love it to correct my speedometer for larger tires or differential change.

It made a difference in my truck that I can tell and it was a lot cheaper than a Westers (about 1/4th the price on Ebay) and does not "marry" itself to the VIN perminently either.

[PFarkas]

I could feel a difference with headers and cat-back exhaust.

 

I could really feel a difference with gears.

 

 

I could not feel any difference with the HPP3, nor could I measure one.

 

It used to be that Hypertech was the only game in town, however this is no longer true. There are other players that bring a lot more to the party than Hypertech. If you're going to get a programmer, at least get one that will display OBD2 codes.

 

 

 

The original poster asked about improving performance AND efficiency.

 

I measured an improvement in fuel efficiency and felt a SOTP improvement in performance when I installed the mid-length headers.

[marksbe1]

THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK. I AM NEW TO THIS TRUCK AND KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE GM 6.0L ENGINE.

 

I APPRECIATE ALL THE REPSONSES.

 

JAYSON

[marksbe1]

ARE THE INTAKE KITS FROM MAC PERFORMANCE WORTH THE MONEY? KIT 3560 WITH THE INTAKE TUBE IS APPROXIMATELY $199.50. ALSO SHOULD I GO WITH A PROGRAMMER THAT DOWLAOADS TO THE ECM OR SHOULD I ALLOW SOMEONE TO PHYSICALLY MODIFY THE ECM IN THE TRUCK? DO THESE TYPES OF MODS VOID THE FACTORY WARRANTY?

 

THANKS AGAIN,

 

JAYSON

[snoman]

ARE THE INTAKE KITS FROM MAC PERFORMANCE WORTH THE MONEY? KIT 3560 WITH THE INTAKE TUBE IS APPROXIMATELY $199.50. ALSO SHOULD I GO WITH A PROGRAMMER THAT DOWLAOADS TO THE ECM OR SHOULD I ALLOW SOMEONE TO PHYSICALLY MODIFY THE ECM IN THE TRUCK? DO THESE TYPES OF MODS VOID THE FACTORY WARRANTY?

 

THANKS AGAIN,

 

JAYSON

I have never been a fan of custom intake filter as I do not drive WOT and any effect they might have will be in that mode. You want a downloadable program not a chip/ECM change.

[PFarkas]

In the original post you ask for suggestions on performance upgrades that are worth the money. Then you let us know that you are interested in improving performance AND efficiency.

 

That makes for two categories of upgrades: Performance upgrades that are worth the money and efficiency upgrades.

 

Few products fit into both categories.

 

The efficiency upgrades list is easy

• Keep the tires properly inflated
  
• install a bed cover of some kind (I like the versatility of a soft cover)
  
• keep the truck clean on the outside
  
• keep the fluids and filters clean
  
• keep the windows rolled up while driving
  
• accellerate slower
  
• drive slower
  

 

The list of performance upgrades "that are worth the money" is much more difficult. "Worth the money" is open to interpretation.

 

This is NOT a comprehensive list of EVERY performance mod possible, just some common ones in order of decreasing price.

• Supercharger/Turbocharger - these bolt on products are the CHEAPEST way to add horsepower when you consider dollars per horsepower. They are also some of the most expensive products to purchase.
  
• Polished/Ported intake manifold. Not as expensive as forced induction and also doesn't bring as much to the party. Definately makes a big difference, though.
  
• Headers - Properly designed long tube headers (Arizona Speed & Marine, TOG, Thorley, etc.) can make a positive difference in top end power without killing you in low end grunt. It's VERY difficult to find objective performance data comparing headers. I don't think I've read about anyone that was unhappy after purchasing any of the three brands I mentioned.
  
• Exhaust - Some restriction is NECESSARY in order for the engine to maintain exhaust gas velocity at low RPMs. A replacement exhaust system should consider this rather than be an "I think this will work - try it and let me know" type of deal. An engineered cat-back solution can add high-end performance without sacrificing low-end grunt. A poorly considered system can easily hurt performance across the board.
  
• Intake tube/cold air intake - Colder air is always better (colder is denser than hotter - denser air means more air in the same amount of space - more air means more fuel - more performance). I've seen mixed reports on the tubes that go from the filter to the butterfly. Lots of people say that the UPD (NSV)/K&N/Airaid tube helped their MPG and dyno numbers, however others say "not a big deal". As far as the filter goes, a properly oiled K&N will flow more air than a stock paper element. It will also pass more dirt (not much, but some).
  
• Throttle Body Spacers, injector spacers, The Tornado, The Magic Fuel Line Magnets - no measurable improvement in performance or efficiency. I believe that a "Crane Cams" sticker in the rear window (which by itself is good for more than 10hp and at least a half second) would be a better investment.
  

All of these items actually change the mechanical characteristics of your engine, overcoming restrictions that were designed in.

 

Programmers try to unlock unused potential in the engine by changing the way the computer tells the engine (and automatic transmission) to run.

 

Programmers like HPP3 have some predefined options that you can download into your trucks computer. During the programming process, you tell the HPP3 whether or not you have installed a colder thermostat, plan on running 87 or 93 octane fuel, answer some other related questions. Then the programmer stores the original program inside itself. Finally the programmer replaces the factory supplied program with its "upgrade".

 

Programmers like the HPP3 (and their programs) aren't custom made for YOUR truck. My HPP3 will work on your truck as well as every other year 2000 4.8, 5.3, and 6.0 GM/Chevy made. It would be unreasonable to think that a "performance tune" that will work on EVERY engine of a particluar size made in a given year would be OPTIMAL for even most of them. Custom tuning such as Westers is made for your truck. For many people, a Westers tune is an iterative process and takes several exchanges to get the final product dialed in "just right" for their truck.

 

 

What should you get? It's up to you. In general, you'll get what you pay for.

 

 

As far as whether or not any of these items will void your warranty, that depends on the dealership and what part of the warranty you're talking about. For example, headers will void the warranty on the exhaust system, but you're replacing that part anyway, so it's not relevant.

 

If the dealership wants to be a pain about it, they can FUNCTIONALLY void your warranty for any reason. By "functionally" I mean that a dealership can tell you "no" and even though legally they are required to honor the warranty, if they say "no" then it is up to YOU to compell them to honor it. If that happens, it is such a pain in the rear that the warranty might as well be void.

 

In general, warranty issues depend on the relationship between you and the dealership.

[duffus]

hmm how do you like the way that 2500 6.0L shifts? i drove a few before getting the 1500 and it felt like i was driving a bus -- the shift points were for towing even though it wasn't in tow/haul mode..

 

if you could find a transmission shift kit-- or some way to re-program the way it shifts to a more sport-like shift, then you may not need a lot of performance upgrades. It is not alway in the engine-- sometimes the transmission. If i had the 2500 i'd aim at the tranny 1st

 

lemme know if fix that transmission with a better shift pattern.

[XTOAK]

duffus,

I have to agree that the tranny seems to be the "low point" of the 6.0 system in that it's rather doggy. I own one and while I love the extra power I get out of the 6.0, I would love to see if shift point changes made it alot snappier. I've toyed with buying a Westers to see if it would make a difference but don't know if it would help the tranny points any.....I agree though, that would be the first thing I would look at....