Brand New Truck Owner

[smackin]

Brand New Truck Owner, so go easy on me lol!

I just traded in my BMW 2000 328i. For a new 07 GMC sierra 1500 classic reg cab reg bed.

Everything is really basic in it. It has the 4.3l

I would like to know if I should think about putting in a bigger engine or just modify the one I have.

Its a great truck and I dont know where to start on the modding. I hope you guys could point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

[Chestah]

It's all up to you. If I were you I would see what other people have done on their trucks to pick and choose what you want to modify.

 

It's never cost effective to swap out an engine in a brand new truck. You are left with a new engine that you won't get your money back for, and no warranty that you paid for when you bought your truck. It would be more feasible to save some money and sell your existing truck for one with the engine you want to swap in. Good luck.

[Zembonez]

Swapping in another engine would be a bear. I say SUPERCHARGER!

 

Oh.. welcome to the forum.

[Nytemare]

Yes...welcome.

 

The 4.3L has loads of potential. I mean its not gonna produce gobs of HP and TQ...but it will be just as capable of sitting you back in your seat with a couple thousand in mods as a small V8.

CAI and Exhaust....almost a must;

Tune (hand held or mail order your preference, hand held is super easy to bring back to stock settings for warranty work without grief, but a mail order is just a matter of swapping back to your old ecm);

This will wake up your truck beyond your belief.

 

 

As for styling, thats a personal thing, what looks good to me and you could be totally different ends of the spectrum.

 

Hope this helps get you started.

[smackin]

Yes...welcome.

 

The 4.3L has loads of potential. I mean its not gonna produce gobs of HP and TQ...but it will be just as capable of sitting you back in your seat with a couple thousand in mods as a small V8.

CAI and Exhaust....almost a must;

Tune (hand held or mail order your preference, hand held is super easy to bring back to stock settings for warranty work without grief, but a mail order is just a matter of swapping back to your old ecm);

This will wake up your truck beyond your belief.

 

 

As for styling, thats a personal thing, what looks good to me and you could be totally different ends of the spectrum.

 

Hope this helps get you started.

 

Wow, see on my BMW I did all the thing like exhaust chip and CAI... and they maybe added 10-15hp and it was way to much money for that little amount of HP/TQ.

But I did check out K&N and they claim to add a little over 8hp just off of their CAI...so thats good

Are there any kind of CAI, Chips, or Exhaust you guys can reccommend?

Thanks!

[98 Z71 SLT]

The way you are talking...sounds like you sort-of regret your new V6 truck. Should have sat down with the dealer, and did a "locate" for an actual V8 Classic pickup. There are a few around still...

[Chestah]

Wow, see on my BMW I did all the thing like exhaust chip and CAI... and they maybe added 10-15hp and it was way to much money for that little amount of HP/TQ.

But I did check out K&N and they claim to add a little over 8hp just off of their CAI...so thats good

Are there any kind of CAI, Chips, or Exhaust you guys can reccommend?

Thanks!

 

 

Be wary of manufacturers horsepower ratings. The best bang for the buck modification for a Vortec engine is a PCM tune.

[TEE]

Trade it in on one with the 5.3...won't be any diff in gas mileage and it'll cost some seriuos $ to change.

Cheaper to trade...might not get beat to death.

[dietz4ibanez]

I had a 96 with a 4.3 2wd ext. cab. It was a good truck! But now since I have had other trucks with all of them being V8s I would never buy anything else than a V8. But it all depends on what you really need it for especially since your last vehicle was a car do you think that you will have to do any heavy hauling?

[smackin]

I had a 96 with a 4.3 2wd ext. cab. It was a good truck! But now since I have had other trucks with all of them being V8s I would never buy anything else than a V8. But it all depends on what you really need it for especially since your last vehicle was a car do you think that you will have to do any heavy hauling?

 

No i will never use it for hauling...Maybe my harley but thats about it... All I wanted was a brand new great looking truck. But I was hoping for a little more Get up and go....

I guess I will see how it goes after exhaust and CAI

Apart from poor throttle, I love my truck... alot more then my car I had

[1999 Tahoe 4x4]

I must say I'd rather would have gone with a bigger engine the first place. As far as numbers and economics go, you won't get a bigger engine in there for the amount that you saved when you bought the 4.3. I'd say you pretty much made your choice then. Starting with the install of a bigger engine can easily turn into a bottomless pit. If you decide that you can't live with the 4.3, then I think you shoud just trade the whole truck for something bigger. At least you'll know what you spend and what you get.