Help, Performance, No Seriously Helpe Me!

Parke10 · October 18, 2007

okay im hoping everyone at this forum is more friendly and helpful than the people over at fullsizechevy.com, from what iver read here so fat it seem like everyone is.. well let me get to the point

i have 2006 GMC Sierra Classic 5.3L RCSB

im looking to mod it much as possibly but still pass the horrible CA smog and

also still be able to use it as a daily driver

as of right now im in a highschool series at the local dragstrip

and about the only rules they have is No nitrous and or super/turbo charging

so my question is what all can i add to my truck to get gains

so far ive heard these

gears,tune,thermostat,headers,y pipe,cats,mufflers,cam,intake manifold,injectors,coil packs,wires

i wanted to go with JBA headers and a borla exhaust is this a good idea or a waste of money or?

also is there truely any good hand held tuner or is a laptop/send in tuning only kind of thing?

i have 3.73's Right now would it be worth it for me to go to 4.11's?

also is there a shift kit or anything i should be looking into

my next issue is intakes.

Volant,AEM,KN? ive been leaning towards AEM Brute Force but im still undecided.

also do TB Spacers truely work?

also what about coilpack /wire upgrades?

what the use of changing the thermostat?

and i dont know if itll still be possible but id like to still be able to tow every once inawhile

if not then just ignore that idea.

Okay sorry that this is all spread out and the grammer blows, but i just typed it as it came to mind

so if anyone could help me out thatd be awesome, thanks in advance!!

Draenor · October 18, 2007

from what iver read here so fat it seem like everyone is..

What?.......You calling us all fat?

Okay sorry that this is all spread out and the grammer blows,

You should work on it.

As for the topic, I dont know what is legal/illegal in CA. As far as what I see on bolt ons(exhaust, intake), anything with the C.A.R.B. label on it, is smog legal. Other that that, get a tune either from a tuner, a hand programmer, or done yourself. Im sure some one else can chime in on smog issues and the internal modifications.

Schmids5.3l · October 18, 2007

i wanted to go with JBA headers and a borla exhaust is this a good idea or a waste of money or?
also is there truely any good hand held tuner or is a laptop/send in tuning only kind of thing?

Nelson preformance, Wheatly, and Wait4me sell tuned PCM's. IMO Handhelds aren't what your looking for, especially for 4-500 bucks. Exhaust is personal preference. Hooker Ultimate Flows, Bassanni real streets, and Flowtech Warlocks are the best flowing mufflers on the market. They don't sell kits for trucks, but you can buy the muffler and have a shop run you custom duals or whatever you want. Shorty headers aren't a great investment. Since your in Cali forget any header ideas.

i have 3.73's Right now would it be worth it for me to go to 4.11's?

Not really. The cost wouldn't be worth the gains IMO.

also is there a shift kit or anything i should be looking into

A complete tranny rebuild is ideal, but Trans go sells shift kits that are easy to install. Also look into Billet or Corvette servos, and since your drag racing look into Precision Industries or Yank Torque converters, or Trail Blazer torque converters. Anything with a 2800+rpm stall will really help shave off some time.

Volant,AEM,KN? ive been leaning towards AEM Brute Force but im still undecided.
also do TB Spacers truely work?

Outlaw, Volant, or GMPP. Not much to be gained from any CAI. Never buy a throttle body spacer, ever, for these motors. Unless you need a nitrous plate.

also what about coilpack /wire upgrades?

No

what the use of changing the thermostat?

Changing to a cooler thermostat (180* or 160*) keeps the engine cooler by opening earlier while temps are still low.

Try google searching for all this stuff too, search all the forums you can find, talk to speed shops, ect.

FYI, Cams are were it's at. Research Cams.

Parke10 · October 19, 2007

see im either leaning towards AEM or Volant i dont know why but ive heard alot of trash talk about volant and alot of high praise on the AEM

u said forget any header ideas being in cali but from what im told JBA shorties are smog legal u said they werent a great investment but theyve got to be better than stock dont they?

and you were saying run dual ehaust, ive heard alot of high praise on running 2 into 1 vs duals

whats the advantages to either one and the main reason i want borla is i want a very mild tone until

i jump on it.

Schmids5.3l · October 19, 2007

see im either leaning towards AEM or Volant i dont know why but ive heard alot of trash talk about volant and alot of high praise on the AEM

u said forget any header ideas being in cali but from what im told JBA shorties are smog legal u said they werent a great investment but theyve got to be better than stock dont they?

and you were saying run dual ehaust, ive heard alot of high praise on running 2 into 1 vs duals

whats the advantages to either one and the main reason i want borla is i want a very mild tone until

i jump on it.

Anyone trash talking Volant shouldn't give advice on cold air intakes, their probably the best on the market. Remember in the automotive world, 9 times out of 10 you get what you pay for. But AEM's set up is pretty good too.

Shortys are going to be better than stock manifolds, but for $300 I wouln't place that mod on the top of the list, there's power to be made elsewere with that money!!

2 into 1 vs duals is a preference. Either will flow good depending on muffler choice, unlike the mufflers I mentioned earlier, just about all other mufflers flow the same amount of CFM. Hooker maxflows, bassanni real streets, flowtech warlocks flow the most CFM. I think Spintechs flow pretty good too. magnaflow, flowmaster, corsa, borla ect all flow around the same, so it's personal preference with sound. Borla makes good systems, stainless steel too. I've seen dyno comparisons on almost every common muffler on the same car, they all make d**n near the same power, there might be a 7hp difference between the best flowing and the poorest flowing common mufflers, so anyone who says they lost power changing to a certain muffler alone is full of s**t basically. But yes Borla makes a good system.

CoolAir · October 19, 2007

This is is the New Volant Intake with the Volant Powercore!

http://www.autoanything.com/generic_pages/...1&p_id=1817

www.VolantPowercore.com

FYI

Schmids5.3l · October 20, 2007

Parke10 I just had a thought (bored/been drinking). If I could do all the modding over again, here's what I would do, in order also:

Budget build.

1. Cam swap. $525 + S&H. Since you and I have the same set up, this cam would put you in the 13's in the 1/4 more than likely. Thats keeping up with stock Mustang GT's. If you can do it yourself thats how much it costs. If not, it will cost a few hundred for installation. OR if you know a mechanic, buy him a case of good beer and a hundred bucks, he'll prolly help. Even mild cams make good power on these eninges. The $525 is with all new parts - cam, pushrods, springs, crank bolt, and gaskets.

2. CAI. 2 options. Outlaw or AEM. $250. OR airraid intake tube $100 K&N panel $40. Chop up the factory airbox or cut a 3" hole in the bottom and run a tube for ram air and cold air. There's plenty of motor head truck guys weith very respectable trucks doing this.

3. Cat back - Single in dual out whatever muffler, or single exhaust. If you run single, keep the factory piping. $80 for a replacement muffler or $300 for replacement muffler and dual pipes.

4. Dyno tune - $300

That will/should/better/I dont see how it wouldn't net you strong 13's. After all that look into a tranny build or atleast a shift kit and vette servos ($180) Then, if you have a G80 locking differentual from factory, look into a Detroit Tru Trac differentual or Eaton Limited slip diff. $500. G80's and 4l60's are like time bombs, some blow up factory, some blow up on 400hp motors.

All of that or save $1400 and buy a complete 100 shot nitrous kit.