I Want More Low End Power

kewlgye · September 12, 2007

I want to make an upgrade or two. I want my truck to come off the line faster than it does currently. I've already got the Superchips Flashpaq and got it for FREE so buying another tuning program isn't that appealing to me at the moment.. I was thinking cam & lifters along with new valve springs and maybe headers. My motor (5.3) has got almost 19000 on it so it should be well broke in now.. If anybody has had good luck with cams, please refer me to some specific cams and or certain set-ups. Thanks a lot!

I've also heard that shorty headers don't make that big of a gain.. any truth in this? Thanks again!

svensk · September 12, 2007

Those 305's and wheels probably aren't helping you too much.

cmoore74 · September 12, 2007

I'm pretty sure the Superchips Flashpaq does not remove GM's torque management which will hold you back off the line. Best bang for the buck would be to sell the Superchips Flashpaq on eBay and get yourself a tune that does remove the torque management. I know you said you didn't want to do this because you got it for free, but the tune is by far the most effective mod for the price.

Draenor · September 12, 2007

Those 305's and wheels probably aren't helping you too much.

+1 You may need to re-gear some.

Mark_in_Tulsa · September 12, 2007

I'm pretty sure the Superchips Flashpaq does not remove GM's torque management which will hold you back off the line. Best bang for the buck would be to sell the Superchips Flashpaq on eBay and get yourself a tune that does remove the torque management. I know you said you didn't want to do this because you got it for free, but the tune is by far the most effective mod for the price.

Yeah I agree. In fact I bet you can sell the Superchips, and buy a custom tune and still be ahead on money.

Regearing would help a lot, since you put those taller tires. Do you know what gears you have in it?

cmoore74 · September 12, 2007

I'm pretty sure the Superchips Flashpaq does not remove GM's torque management which will hold you back off the line. Best bang for the buck would be to sell the Superchips Flashpaq on eBay and get yourself a tune that does remove the torque management. I know you said you didn't want to do this because you got it for free, but the tune is by far the most effective mod for the price.

One clarification, I'm not sure it is techinically considered "torque managment" that holds you back off the line, but rather some type of throttle position protection GM progarms in. My understanding is for any throttle position between 1/2 to WOT GM has some kind of a 4 second delay for it to come on. Not exactly sure what the technical term is for this (maybe abuse mode protection???). I just inadvertantly refer to all the GM protection porgramming as "torque management".

Another vote for the tires. Go back to stock or re-gear if you're looking for improved launch. Ifyou had 4.10's to start with then maybe the tires aren't so bad, but they definitely won't help.

Also you might want to check out the comments in this recent forum on what a Wait4Me tune did relative to a Superchips Flashpaq for off-the-line and 0-60 times in the Light Duty Truck forum.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=67276

thecraft · September 12, 2007

Another vote for the tires. Go back to stock or re-gear if you're looking for improved launch. Ifyou had 4.10's to start with then maybe the tires aren't so bad, but they definitely won't help.

+1

You can check what gears you have by checking the RPO codes in the glovebox:

GU4 = 3.08 Ratio

GU5 = 3.23 Ratio

GU6 = 3.42 Ratio

GT4 = 3.73 Ratio

GT5 = 4.10 Ratio

kewlgye · September 12, 2007

Another vote for the tires. Go back to stock or re-gear if you're looking for improved launch. Ifyou had 4.10's to start with then maybe the tires aren't so bad, but they definitely won't help.

+1

You can check what gears you have by checking the RPO codes in the glovebox:

GU4 = 3.08 Ratio

GU5 = 3.23 Ratio

GU6 = 3.42 Ratio

GT4 = 3.73 Ratio

GT5 = 4.10 Ratio

I've got 3.73's. The tires and wheels are staying for sure... As for Torque managemnt, the tuner option isn't sounding to bad to me anymore. I know a lot of guys go with the wait4me tune, does this totally replace my cpu? I've heard some good things about HPtuners, mainly that you can make changes as you please... I'm not educated on anything beyone handhelds... Reducing my torque management sounds like a good start, I do feel a delay off the line, whether it's T/M or something to do with the throttle.. I'd like to the tune, then I'll see where I stand on gears... I need to keep a balance because I drive from ND to Texas at least 4 times per year. Thanks for all the help

kewlgye · September 12, 2007

I'm pretty sure the Superchips Flashpaq does not remove GM's torque management which will hold you back off the line. Best bang for the buck would be to sell the Superchips Flashpaq on eBay and get yourself a tune that does remove the torque management. I know you said you didn't want to do this because you got it for free, but the tune is by far the most effective mod for the price.

One clarification, I'm not sure it is techinically considered "torque managment" that holds you back off the line, but rather some type of throttle position protection GM progarms in. My understanding is for any throttle position between 1/2 to WOT GM has some kind of a 4 second delay for it to come on. Not exactly sure what the technical term is for this (maybe abuse mode protection???). I just inadvertantly refer to all the GM protection porgramming as "torque management".

Another vote for the tires. Go back to stock or re-gear if you're looking for improved launch. Ifyou had 4.10's to start with then maybe the tires aren't so bad, but they definitely won't help.

Also you might want to check out the comments in this recent forum on what a Wait4Me tune did relative to a Superchips Flashpaq for off-the-line and 0-60 times in the Light Duty Truck forum.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=67276

BTW, how do I contact Jesse? I'm reading that he's the man to talk to about the Wait4Me tune. I'm in the desert right now so getting this ordered and having it by the time I get back sounds like a plan. Everyone seems more than pleased with their custom tune.

omegafiler · September 12, 2007

Just google Wait4Me and you'll find his site as well as plenty of good things regarding his tune. And if you wanted go into the engine, such as cam, you'll definately want a custom tune for those specific mods.

kewlgye · September 12, 2007

Just google Wait4Me and you'll find his site as well as plenty of good things regarding his tune. And if you wanted go into the engine, such as cam, you'll definately want a custom tune for those specific mods.

Thanks! His website is blocked over here... I put in a request to have it un-blocked.. it usually takes 5 days so I uess I'll have to wait a little while. I've got until December so no biggie I guess. I'm pretty anxious to see what this tune can do... I'm assuming he's got the options of the tunes listed on his site?

Westlotorn · September 13, 2007

I feel for your bottom end loss. I had a Denali with the 320 HP 6.0L and 3.42 gears. I now have a Tahoe 295 HP and 4.10 gears.

The Tahoe comes off the line better with the smaller motor and 4.10 gears. Both had 265 tires.

The 4.10s are better in town driving for power and mileage.

The 3.42s were great on high speed frwy driving. 85mph +.

At 75mph or below the Denali would get 16.5 to 17 mpg.

At 75 mph or below the Tahoe with 4.10s gets 16 to 16.5. I prefer the driveablitly in the Tahoe and recommend a lower gear set.

The Tahoe also holds overdrive much better than the Denali. It does Tach 2,200 at 70 where the Denali only tach's 1800 at 70.

kewlgye · September 13, 2007

I feel for your bottom end loss. I had a Denali with the 320 HP 6.0L and 3.42 gears. I now have a Tahoe 295 HP and 4.10 gears.
The Tahoe comes off the line better with the smaller motor and 4.10 gears. Both had 265 tires.

The 4.10s are better in town driving for power and mileage.

The 3.42s were great on high speed frwy driving. 85mph +.

At 75mph or below the Denali would get 16.5 to 17 mpg.

At 75 mph or below the Tahoe with 4.10s gets 16 to 16.5. I prefer the driveablitly in the Tahoe and recommend a lower gear set.

The Tahoe also holds overdrive much better than the Denali. It does Tach 2,200 at 70 where the Denali only tach's 1800 at 70.

Thank You for the information. I also am willing to swap to 4.10s. But I'm wondering if I would get similar results with doing a cam upgrade. Eventually I'll do both. But which one to do first. I've already got my mind made up on the tune... whether it's HPtuners or Wait4 Me. I think gears would be a little more costly than the cam... I know I've got to swap both front and rear ring and pinions..so that with labor will probably run me $800-$1000...Does that sound about right? And should I have the dealer do it? Thanks again, yall have been very helpful!

Nytemare · September 13, 2007

In order to get the low end pull your after, that kind of cam upgrade will no doubt make your truck much less drivable, and useless for towing.

Get a tune, mail order or custom dyno tune, with some removed TQ management (or all of it if you get a shift kit installed).

re-gear to 4.10 or 4.56 if you just want to be quick not fast, at 60mph you'll probably be hitting 2500rpm with those though.

for the best low end response leave your exhaust stock, and get a dry flow filter element for your stock intake.

Or you can say screw it all and go blown. Supercharger and a shift kit with a custom tune would be tits man. You wouldn't need to re-gear, you'd keep your nice low revs at highway speeds and you'd still jump and run on demand.

cmoore74 · September 13, 2007

I feel for your bottom end loss. I had a Denali with the 320 HP 6.0L and 3.42 gears. I now have a Tahoe 295 HP and 4.10 gears.
The Tahoe comes off the line better with the smaller motor and 4.10 gears. Both had 265 tires.

The 4.10s are better in town driving for power and mileage.

The 3.42s were great on high speed frwy driving. 85mph +.

At 75mph or below the Denali would get 16.5 to 17 mpg.

At 75 mph or below the Tahoe with 4.10s gets 16 to 16.5. I prefer the driveablitly in the Tahoe and recommend a lower gear set.

The Tahoe also holds overdrive much better than the Denali. It does Tach 2,200 at 70 where the Denali only tach's 1800 at 70.

Thank You for the information. I also am willing to swap to 4.10s. But I'm wondering if I would get similar results with doing a cam upgrade. Eventually I'll do both. But which one to do first. I've already got my mind made up on the tune... whether it's HPtuners or Wait4 Me. I think gears would be a little more costly than the cam... I know I've got to swap both front and rear ring and pinions..so that with labor will probably run me $800-$1000...Does that sound about right? And should I have the dealer do it? Thanks again, yall have been very helpful!

I've heard gears (if you have them done) are closer to $2k front and rear. Cam is a big job too (not sure price). Why not just try the tune first and see if that gets you to where you want. If you still want to change the gears, cam, blown, etc the tuners will do free adjustments to the software for your additional mods (you just pay for shipping).

To contact Wait4Me:

e-mail [email protected]

phone 574-267-3630

There are other tuners out there (Wester's, PCM For Less, etc.) and I'm not saying they are the best, but Wait4Me is popular here with many satisified customers.

Good luck.