Powering Up An 04 2500 6.0

ripcard · September 12, 2008

We have a 2004 Silverado 2500 Crew. We've had it since new. Only 37,000 k on it. Probably 60% of that mileage towing. Usually just a small enclosed snowmobile trailer or a small house trailer. Late last summer we upsized the camping trailer. 30ft fifth wheel. Very heavy trailer. Stayed within an hour and a half of home and very few hills until just recently.

We took it to Fundy National Park for a week. Beautiful spot by the way. The truck struggled on the hills of southern New Brunswick. Two instances of a mild overheat on a couple of the longer climbs is what bothered me most. It recovered very quickly but still... Also required 2nd gear just to maintain enough speed so I didn't have to put the hazard lights on to crawl up the hill like a fully loaded semi.

The truck has the 3.73 gears so I'm going to go to 4.10 but I don't think it will be enough. Not sure though.

The truck has a performance intake filter with stock airbox & exhaust. We have one of the handheld tuners and it is set for premium. We run the premium fuel and even add Octane boost when only 91 is available. The tuner calls for 93. It makes little difference with the tune in or back to stock when towing around home.

Noticed a slight misfire the other day so I changed the wires & plugs.

We love the truck and are not interested in investing in a new one. So going to a diesel isn't going to happen anytime soon. Would like to take the rig to Dakota next summer but I won't chance it unless I can resolve this issue.

I am wondering about supercharging. I know there are kits out there for cars. So I'm starting my research here.

Has anyone tried this on a 6.0l truck? What brand? How much? Driveability issues? Reliability issues? Can the drive line take it?

A google turned up this:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...A:IT&ih=005

But not much else. Not sure of the quality here. Seems to not include a few necessary items(injectors and a remap or tuner).

If I have to deal across the border I will but if someone knows of a company in the Great White North that would be preferable.

TIA for any info or opinions.

merlin5577 · September 13, 2008

The 4.10 gears should help out some (remember the front axle too if its 4wd), and a supercharger will certainly give you a power boost, but there are a lot of other things (i.e. transmission, suspension) that need to be considered before adding that much power, not to mention the expense of those modifications. IMO, you would be much better off adding a complete exhaust (headers, cats, and cat-back), a cold air intake, and a camshaft designed for towing. These modifications (along with the 4.10 gears) and an appropriate tune will get you to your goals and save you a considerable amont of money. As a side note, I would suggest investing in a larger transmission cooler and or larger transmission pan to shed some of that built up heat from towing. I hope this helps, Good luck.

2000DV4.8 · September 13, 2008

The 4.10 gears should help out some (remember the front axle too if its 4wd), and a supercharger will certainly give you a power boost, but there are a lot of other things (i.e. transmission, suspension) that need to be considered before adding that much power, not to mention the expense of those modifications. IMO, you would be much better off adding a complete exhaust (headers, cats, and cat-back), a cold air intake, and a camshaft designed for towing. These modifications (along with the 4.10 gears) and an appropriate tune will get you to your goals and save you a considerable amont of money. As a side note, I would suggest investing in a larger transmission cooler and or larger transmission pan to shed some of that built up heat from towing. I hope this helps, Good luck.

+1 on everything, but especially on the tune. A custom tune from a reputable tuner can really wake up a truck.

Kodiak450 · September 13, 2008

You will see a great difference with 4:10's, especially towing up inclines. Did your 04 come with a HD trailer towing package?

ripcard · September 13, 2008

Thanks for the responses guys.

Yes, our truck has the trailering package. While the tranny temp was slightly higher than normal on those couple of big hills where the eng temps went up, it seemed to me that it was the engine roaring in second gear that was generating the heat. The eng temp gauge was all over the place depending on whether I was going up or cruising down the inclines. I was quite surprised by the rate of change. The tranny gauge was much more gradual and less extreme in its swings.

Good suggestion on the cam. Hadn't thought of that. The truck is a 4WD. What's involved here with the ratio change? I tend to avoid exhaust changes as we just don't like a loud exhaust that resonates. If it were only slightly louder than normal and there was a real benefit I would consider it though. I thought the truck already had a cold air intake stock.

Can you guys recomend a reputable tuner? How is this done, ECU exchange or do I have to bring the truck in somewhere? Where should I look for a cam?

2000DV4.8 · September 13, 2008

Can't help you with the cam, but since it's a 4wd, when you change the rear over to 4.10s, you'll have to do the front differential too.

And do a search on here for 'custom tune', you'll find a shit-ton to read, and also check out www.blackbearperformance.com and read the FAQ section, it should answer most of your questions.

merlin5577 · September 13, 2008

Thanks for the responses guys.

Yes, our truck has the trailering package. While the tranny temp was slightly higher than normal on those couple of big hills where the eng temps went up, it seemed to me that it was the engine roaring in second gear that was generating the heat. The eng temp gauge was all over the place depending on whether I was going up or cruising down the inclines. I was quite surprised by the rate of change. The tranny gauge was much more gradual and less extreme in its swings.

Good suggestion on the cam. Hadn't thought of that. The truck is a 4WD. What's involved here with the ratio change? I tend to avoid exhaust changes as we just don't like a loud exhaust that resonates. If it were only slightly louder than normal and there was a real benefit I would consider it though. I thought the truck already had a cold air intake stock.

Can you guys recomend a reputable tuner? How is this done, ECU exchange or do I have to bring the truck in somewhere? Where should I look for a cam?

Wow, ok, one question at a time and I hope I dont miss anything. Gear ratio changes are pretty straight forward remove and replace. Most companies have complete kits that include everything you need, check out online stores like summitracing.com or jegs.com. A complete exhuast will help out in a number of ways, increase performance and help shed off engine heat. A lot of companies make a number of great kits that arent much louder then stock. Just a suggestion but stainless steel is a whole lot more durable then aluminized steel. The truck comes with an air intake, but it is designed for noise, cost, and a number of other things in mind. Performance is not one of them. A true cold air intake will really wake up the truck. Cam + Tuner; For your application I would go with Crane, the make a number of different cams for towing and also offer a complete tuner designed to work with the new camshaft. While you performing the swap, now is a good time to add a 180* thermostat. This will help cool the truck off, prevent temp fluctuations and not harm cold weather operations. Check out different online parts stores for pricing and availability. I hope I covered everything. Good luck.

ripcard · September 14, 2008

Thanks a bunch guys for the help. I appreciate the time taken to answer all my questions. I'll go off now and do some research. I knew this was the right place to start.

merlin5577 · September 14, 2008

Thanks a bunch guys for the help. I appreciate the time taken to answer all my questions. I'll go off now and do some research. I knew this was the right place to start.

Glad I could help. Any other question feel free to ask.

Good luck.

wellinghurst · September 15, 2008

as said, 4.10s will help a ton. In 2003 3.73s were not even available. I guess they help a little with unloaded highway mpgs.

A supercharger will certainly help, but for way less money you can big time gains by adding a Z06 cam (or another similarly rated cam)/springs, long tube headers, and a custom tune (all for about $1500 installed if you pay someone else to do it).

I love my custom tune. Cam and springs are next for me.

merlin5577 · September 15, 2008

as said, 4.10s will help a ton. In 2003 3.73s were not even available. I guess they help a little with unloaded highway mpgs.
A supercharger will certainly help, but for way less money you can big time gains by adding a Z06 cam (or another similarly rated cam)/springs, long tube headers, and a custom tune (all for about $1500 installed if you pay someone else to do it).

I love my custom tune. Cam and springs are next for me.

Hey Stratosman, Great minds think alike huh?

wellinghurst · September 16, 2008

as said, 4.10s will help a ton. In 2003 3.73s were not even available. I guess they help a little with unloaded highway mpgs.
A supercharger will certainly help, but for way less money you can big time gains by adding a Z06 cam (or another similarly rated cam)/springs, long tube headers, and a custom tune (all for about $1500 installed if you pay someone else to do it).

I love my custom tune. Cam and springs are next for me.

Hey Stratosman, Great minds think alike huh?

I hear that a lot!

merlin5577 · September 16, 2008

as said, 4.10s will help a ton. In 2003 3.73s were not even available. I guess they help a little with unloaded highway mpgs.
A supercharger will certainly help, but for way less money you can big time gains by adding a Z06 cam (or another similarly rated cam)/springs, long tube headers, and a custom tune (all for about $1500 installed if you pay someone else to do it).

I love my custom tune. Cam and springs are next for me.

Hey Stratosman, Great minds think alike huh?

I hear that a lot!

ripcard · September 16, 2008

So, after doing a little digging. Here is what I know and don't know so far.

To get a stainless exhaust system for my particular truck it looks like I have all kinds of choices as long as I want a Gibson Performance Dual Sport SS Cat Back. The only model in their line recomended for towing and fitment with a fifth wheel hitch. None of the other brands seem to make one for a 2004 Silverado 2500 6.0 4WD Crew Cab short box. This is probably just fine as it seems like one of the least noisy ones anyway. $634.12 at Performance Center. A little more at Summit.

K&N 77 Series High-Flow Intake around $293 at a couple of places.

I had no luck locating a gear change kit of anykind.

As for cams, there seems to be lot's out there but I've no idea which one is best.

Stratosman, is a Z06 cam a gm cam from a vette or something else? I called a friend of mine who is into custom car building and he says he can let me have a cam out of a 6.0 Escalade motor he is building up for a project car of his. He is putting an aftermarket cam in it. He is not sure of the specs but he is going to look into the difference between it and my stock cam to see if this even is worthwhile. That motor is rated for another 45 ponies over mine but it also has higher compression.

I like what I read at (and about) Black Bear Performance so I will most likely go with them for my tune.

The more I think about what is involved in the gear ratio, change the less I'm intersted in it. I think I'll try the intake, exhaust, thermostat, cam and tune before making any final drive changes.

Again, thanks guys for all the suggestions.

wellinghurst · September 16, 2008

So, after doing a little digging. Here is what I know and don't know so far.

To get a stainless exhaust system for my particular truck it looks like I have all kinds of choices as long as I want a Gibson Performance Dual Sport SS Cat Back. The only model in their line recomended for towing and fitment with a fifth wheel hitch. None of the other brands seem to make one for a 2004 Silverado 2500 6.0 4WD Crew Cab short box. This is probably just fine as it seems like one of the least noisy ones anyway. $634.12 at Performance Center. A little more at Summit.

K&N 77 Series High-Flow Intake around $293 at a couple of places.

I had no luck locating a gear change kit of anykind.

As for cams, there seems to be lot's out there but I've no idea which one is best.

Stratosman, is a Z06 cam a gm cam from a vette or something else? I called a friend of mine who is into custom car building and he says he can let me have a cam out of a 6.0 Escalade motor he is building up for a project car of his. He is putting an aftermarket cam in it. He is not sure of the specs but he is going to look into the difference between it and my stock cam to see if this even is worthwhile. That motor is rated for another 45 ponies over mine but it also has higher compression.

I like what I read at (and about) Black Bear Performance so I will most likely go with them for my tune.

The more I think about what is involved in the gear ratio, change the less I'm intersted in it. I think I'll try the intake, exhaust, thermostat, cam and tune before making any final drive changes.

Again, thanks guys for all the suggestions.

I will first admit I can't tell you any specifics on cams...

For my experience reading a few different truck forums and speaking with my brother (who is a tech and can do all this stuff)and Justin at Black Bear (who have no incentive to do anything but make my truck more powerful), a new intake really for the most part only makes it noisier up front, the stock exhaust from the cat back is pretty good (only the exhaust manifolds are restrictive), and a cam from a Z06 (yes, the Corvette) works well in combination with the headers and custom tune. When I asked Justin what specifically I should look at next, he said long tube headers and a cam---then a re-tune.

Of course others will agree or disagree, but I think an intake and cat-back exhaust are nice, but unnecessary. They look good and sound good, but for the cost, the power gains appear very minimal.