New To Us 'hoe

colosilverado · August 25, 2007

We got a used '05 Tahoe for the wife and I know the power curves on the 5.3 in it are different than my '99 Silvy. It just seems to lack power in areas that my Silvy doesn't.

The mileage is worse as well, but she drives differently than I do.

If I disconnect the battery and have her drive like a bat outta hell, will that change anything? Or does the computer adjust for that anyway? Maybe I need to have her tranny flashed? She was following me up the interstate and when we were going up a certain hill, the Hoe was downshifting and my truck wasn't. My truck has always impressed me with its power going up long grades and not downshifting and hers doesn't. I assume that is mostly tranny?

We have the same gears, engine size (different curves I know) and she is lighter based on published specs.

Also, if i disconnect that battery, will I FUBAR her factory radio?

Overall, I love the Hoe (not calling my wife a Hoe...lol...although I love her too) and it is sooo much better than he freakin' POS Camry that I hated with a passion. I hope that this GM product is as good as my truck. That is why we went GM again this time and the Tahoe/Yukon lines seem to be well regarded. I just wish it had a little more power in some areas.

I'll try to read up as well, but if someone is bored, feel free to chime in.

Silverado 6.0 · August 25, 2007

Do they have the same gear ratio?

That would be one thing to check. Also don't forget that the Tahoe is a heavier vehicle. Ours has excellent power, we are very satisfied with it even when towing. Do you have any problems with hard starting? Our gas mileage went down for a period of time, it ended up needing a fuel pressure regulator.

HTH

cc1999 · August 26, 2007

Also is your 99 Silverado the older body 89-99' with the 350 or is it the later body style with the 5.3 like the Tahoe 99-07'. The 350s had more low end torque than the 5.3s ,gear ratio's could be the same but the power curves of the 350 vs 5.3 were quite different.

colosilverado · August 26, 2007

Also is your 99 Silverado the older body 89-99' with the 350 or is it the later body style with the 5.3 like the Tahoe 99-07'. The 350s had more low end torque than the 5.3s ,gear ratio's could be the same but the power curves of the 350 vs 5.3 were quite different.

Mine is the NBS with the 5.3 and I believe that they both have the 3.73's. I guess I will doublecheck the codes for the axle, because when i think about it, I checked for the G80, but not the ratio. Anyone know the codes offhand?..lol.

According to Edmunds, my truck outweighs the Tahoe.

pwall · August 26, 2007

Check out: http://www.wiu.edu/users/muwtj1/gq1-j55.txt

It'll list the codes for the differential (and other stuff).

You'll find the codes for your truck inside the glove box.

For a 3.42, the code is: GU6

For a 3.73, the code is: GT4

colosilverado · August 26, 2007

Check out: http://www.wiu.edu/users/muwtj1/gq1-j55.txt
It'll list the codes for the differential (and other stuff).

You'll find the codes for your truck inside the glove box.

For a 3.42, the code is: GU6

For a 3.73, the code is: GT4

B'ah, there's part of the problem. I thought I had checked the ratio, but it was my truck that I had checked the ratio on years ago and I only checked for the G80 recently on the Tahoe. It has the dang 3.42's, so that is at least part of the problem.

Thanks Patrick and 6.0 for jogging my memory on the fact that I didn't check what I thought I had! Thanks also to Patrick for that code page, that is sweet to have!

mhraracing · August 26, 2007

The 3.42's make a huge difference in performance. My wife's 04 Z-71 has the 3.73's and my inlaws have an 05 Z-71 with the 3.42's and there is a HUGE difference.

I drove theirs last week and there was no comparison whatsoever. Even on little hills, it was downshifting all the time where mine wouldn't even think about it.

thecraft · August 26, 2007

What size tires are you running? I have 3.42's and it never downshifts going up the hills around here.

colosilverado · August 27, 2007

What size tires are you running? I have 3.42's and it never downshifts going up the hills around here.

They are the standard size, I believe....265/70R17 or something like that.

Between the different power curve on that engine versus mine and the gears, I imagine that is it. I know that Tahoe makes more horsepower in some places according to specs and it is lighter, but it doesn't have the power off the line for sure. That is probably mostly gears and the fact that I think my engine has more power available at lower RPMs. The hills must be the gears...they need to be steeper. I wish it had the 3.73s.

thecraft · August 27, 2007

What size tires are you running? I have 3.42's and it never downshifts going up the hills around here.

They are the standard size, I believe....265/70R17 or something like that.

Between the different power curve on that engine versus mine and the gears, I imagine that is it. I know that Tahoe makes more horsepower in some places according to specs and it is lighter, but it doesn't have the power off the line for sure. That is probably mostly gears and the fact that I think my engine has more power available at lower RPMs. The hills must be the gears...they need to be steeper. I wish it had the 3.73s.

Yeah, 3.42's are going to be slow with 31.6" tires. 3.73's would be a good all-around gear for those.

C & A s Dad · August 27, 2007

Shoot, that is why I really like my 4.10s. They help so much that I smoked a Traiblazer SS like Wingnut's yesterday. Well, everyone should be able to dream a little.

colosilverado · August 27, 2007

Shoot, that is why I really like my 4.10s. They help so much that I smoked a Traiblazer SS like Wingnut's yesterday. Well, everyone should be able to dream a little.

I beat Wingy's Trailblazer with 500 pounds of ballast in my truck and one eyebrow tied behind my back.