Long legs

gyusher · December 15, 2006

Just bought a 2007 Silverado Classic Ext Cab 1500 with the 4.3 V-6. I now have about 1500 miles on her and she has loosened up a lot becomming almost a pleasure to drive except for the fact that she is so long legged with the 3:23 gear and the 245/70/17 tires. At 30-40 she slips into OT and still shudders a bit from lugging. . .

Bonus time is this March when I'll have around 3000-4000 miles on her. I plan to buy wheels and tires, nothing crazy maybe 255/60/17 on something deep dish and shiny.

I'm wondering how much trouble it would be to put a 3:73/4:10 gear in this truck??? She has the G80 option now. . .Could that stay and just replace the R@P??

Anyone done this before?? I love the truck V-6 and all. She works well in "3" gear kinda like that should be top gear. . . This truck is still in passing gear at 90. . .She pulls hard on top as long as you stay 'on the pipe'. . . I'd just like a bit more response around town. Not interested in a drag queen but more punch would be nice. . .I'm sure my mileage might suffer some but would be worth it to me. . .

yeehaw87 · December 15, 2006

You want more response, you should have got the 6.0 Vortec Max. A 200 horse motor in a 3+ ton vehicle is never going to give you enough power. Kinda defeats the purpose of a truck.

Just bought a 2007 Silverado Classic Ext Cab 1500 with the 4.3 V-6. I now have about 1500 miles on her and she has loosened up a lot becomming almost a pleasure to drive except for the fact that she is so long legged with the 3:23 gear and the 245/70/17 tires. At 30-40 she slips into OT and still shudders a bit from lugging. . .

Bonus time is this March when I'll have around 3000-4000 miles on her. I plan to buy wheels and tires, nothing crazy maybe 255/60/17 on something deep dish and shiny.

I'm wondering how much trouble it would be to put a 3:73/4:10 gear in this truck??? She has the G80 option now. . .Could that stay and just replace the R@P??

Anyone done this before?? I love the truck V-6 and all. She works well in "3" gear kinda like that should be top gear. . . This truck is still in passing gear at 90. . .She pulls hard on top as long as you stay 'on the pipe'. . . I'd just like a bit more response around town. Not interested in a drag queen but more punch would be nice. . .I'm sure my mileage might suffer some but would be worth it to me. . .

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95Sierra2500 · December 15, 2006

I don't know if the G80 can stay, but it shouldn't be a problem to swap the gears. I would suggest, however, finding a whole rear axle with the options you want from a junk yard as this would probably be cheaper in the long run.

As for more spunk, a cold air intake will help your truck breathe better, as will some exhaust work. There are headers out there for 4.3's, as well as cams, but I'm not sure if the headers are built for the '07's yet. Otherwise, to get more power you really have three options, none of which you probably want to get into: a new truck w/a larger motor (less gas mileage), nitrous (which I personally think is the cheater's way out), or heavy engine work, which would probably void your warrenty.

thecraft · December 15, 2006

You want more response, you should have got the 6.0 Vortec Max. A 200 horse motor in a 3+ ton vehicle is never going to give you enough power. Kinda defeats the purpose of a truck.

Thanks for your useless contribution to the topic, ***hole!

Anyways, I agree with 95Sierra2500. It'd be much easier if you just swap the entire rear axle with another truck that has the gears you want. Unless you do a lot of flat highway driving, I'd suggest you go with the 4.10s, they would definately wake up your 4.3L

gyusher · December 28, 2006

Thanks guys. . . As far as the bigger engine goes. . .I'd mosat likely be asking the same questions, whatever engine I'd still be looking to get more out of it. . . plus my cost was low enough to more than make up for the V6. . .Actually I like both for different reasons. I doubt seriously this truck ever sees a load and 90% of the miles will be highway miles. . .

Wingnut · January 3, 2007

I agree with finding a salvage axle, you'd be able to swap that out with hand tools. You have to bust out some expensive-fly-hustler-tools to do a gear swap. And if you don't get it right, you'll be calling out the hazmat spill team at 5th and Broadway for the greasy spot you've created there when your rear end asplodes.

And watch the insults thecraft, we try not to do that here.

gyusher · April 28, 2007

Now with 6300 miles this truck and I have grown closer. . .

Kinda funny the taillight just fell out the other morning. . . At work we have a smoking area about 10 feet from where I park. I was out there with a co-worker around 5AM when we heard a 'tink' sound and then saw the taillight just fall out and was hanging there by its wires. . .

Of course it was raining and cold for this time of year. . . I finally got her taped in place so I could go to the dealer. That was an experience in itself. . . They replaced the light alright but wanted me to pay 200 bucks for doing it. . .

Needless to say I was beside myself. . .There was not a scratch on it or on the truck anywhere. I doubt the tailgate had been lowered twice since bringing her home new. Evidently it had been over tightened and cracked the 'ears' that hold the light in place. . .I had changed no light or had no reason to tighten anything. . .

Evidently the taillight is easy to break when pulling stuff from the bed. . .If you hit it on the side it is easy to see where it could break but I had never put anything in the bed. . . They then said that maybe I hit a bump. . .HIT A BUMP. . . That taillight shouldn't come out if you hit a train much less a 'bump'. . . I had hit no 'bump'/. . .

Finally once they couldn't find how it broke they replaced it under warranty. . . some scary moments though. . .

Meanwhile now with 6000 miles she has really woke up and performs better than many of the V-8s that I have owned in the past. . .Gas mileage is 18 city/24highway. . .not the greates but OK. . .

No oil change light yet. . .I put Penz Platinum 5-30 in her at 800 miles. . .just about ready to change it and do the normal 6K service. . .

I love this truck. . .