Performance add ons

Huskerfan · July 16, 2005

I'm like everone else nowadays and trying to get the best fuel mileage possible while still helping my horse. I've been looking at Cold Air Intakes, but I've also seen intake spacers and pulleys. I was just wondering, especially with the pulleys and spacer, if these were good modifications to look at and if so who are the best companys, on all three, to go with. I'd really appreciate any help/advice I can get.

Thanks.

roden001 · July 17, 2005

I'm like everone else nowadays and trying to get the best fuel mileage possible while still helping my horse. I've been looking at Cold Air Intakes, but I've also seen intake spacers and pulleys. I was just wondering, especially with the pulleys and spacer, if these were good modifications to look at and if so who are the best companys, on all three, to go with. I'd really appreciate any help/advice I can get.

Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can use the search function to find about a million discussions on these products. From what I've seen people post on this forum, cold-air-intakes have several fans and several critics. Everyone seems to agree that spacers are a waste of money. I don't see much talk about pulleys. You may find something in the search function, though.

BTW, welcome to the forum

mcreyaufmiller · July 17, 2005

The spacers have their critics and proponents as well. I have a spacer on my truck and as I do not believe that it did anything for fuel milage, I do believe it has given me better throttle response. The cold air intake, as long as you get cold air is good, watch out for a lot of the products though, they are drawing air from the engine compartment which is hot, this is not a good thing. There are some discussions on here about people that have made their own cold air intake out of PVC and gotten good results. As far as the under drive pulleys, this has a good theory, but if you are going to do something like this, put an electric water pump on the truck and then add the underdrive pulleys. Make sure that your alternator can work under the decreased rpm. Other things you can do is to have the PCM reprogrammed, there are a few posts from a guy in FL that is doing low cost PCM's and people have gotten good results.

Huskerfan · July 18, 2005

Thank you. I appreciate your input. I don't know alot about trucks and I'm trying to learn as I go. I just found this website and I'm hoping to learn alot from everyone. This is my first GMC and I love it! This is probably going to be the only truck I buy from here on out.

MrQuadrasteer · July 18, 2005

What ?!!!? Nobody suggests a toon ?!!!?

Hi, Fan. The best bang-for-the-buck mod you can is unquestionably a custom tune for your ecm

A tune will remove most of the factory imposed restrictions they place to protect them, not to help us do anything

A tune will also adjust for different diameter tires, calibrate shifts to your liking, and a whole bunch more !!!

A cai is a good mod, most think spacers are junk, but I'd have to say somebody must like them, cuz they keep on selling... Pulleys would probably be good if your application (stereos, winches, etc) allows it.

Miller, I've kinda searched for a truly-streetable electric water pump and was discouraged by all, saying they're race-only, only limited street, on cars. They laughed when I said it was for a 3/4t crewcab !!!

You know something I don't ?!!? Got a link ?? Not trying to call you on it, but if you've found one, I'm interested Thanks.

GM GIMP · July 18, 2005

I tried the pulleys on a '97 Suburban 454 I had. Didn't get any better mileage and the headlights would noticeably dim at idle. I believe the factory has figured the proper ratios for all around driving.

MrQuadrasteer · July 18, 2005

Ohh... I guess I messed it then, didn't I

Ya did....

Gimp, exactly.

Huskerfan · July 20, 2005

MrQuad. I've been planning on getting CAI for a while. I figured, no-matter-what, I was definately going to do that. I've just been debating on which company to go with. I searched on the site and everyone seems to like a different one and there is no unanimous choice. Also, I know very little about tunes. They seem to be kind of pricey, though.

MrQuadrasteer · July 20, 2005

Husker, personally I like the aFe intake. If you search on my name with dyno as a search word, you'll find where I did a dyno shoot out with the aFe, Volant and stock boxes.

aFe whooped both, but the Volant tested was not the new redesigned part, so the numbers may not be completely accurate in that regard.

The aFe did put out 20hp more than the stock bow !!!!!!

Also, my truck is tuned, so results on 100% stock trucks might be a little less. Like the intake complements the tune, and the tune compliments the intake

and it sounds wicked

Tunes seem a little expensive (depending on who you go with) up front, but they will pay for themselves in a year or so with the increased economy.

Not to mention they'll raise the fun-to-drive quotient by about 10000% !!!!!!!!

toneman · July 20, 2005

You might want to consider the Outlaw intake; from what I've read about it in the various forums, the only negative about it was its looks. Other than that, it had the best gains out of the various big-name intake makers...

Chad H · July 21, 2005

Huskerfan, I would go with a Westers tune. After getting in a battle with MrQuadrasteer about it, he clearly proved my statements wrong. Its the only way to go. I am ditching my predator and going with a Westers tune in the next month or so. I would go with a Volant or AEM for the CAI. But again, just check out MrQuadrasteers post with his dyno results. They will make you want one badly!! Below is their website.

http://www.westerscustomtuning.com/

**Yes, I feel like an ass. No hard feeling's MrQuadrasteer. **