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The Search For Horsepower

hivoltg

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hivoltg Enthusiast

hivoltg

Posted
Posted

Talk to me about performance mods for my 04 5.3 Z71.

I already have a weld in Magnaflow and drop in K&N filter. I am in the process of figuring out which tune to get from Justin, but I know that I'm getting some sort of tune from him.

 

What else is there that will increase the power and pulling power of my truck? I'm not interested in changing gears or anything radical like FI or NO2, just bolt ons.

 

I want to get all the performance goodies first, then I'll move on to upgrading the stereo. :thumbs:

 

Thanks

Volt

fbachman Senior Enthusiast

fbachman

Posted
Posted
Talk to me about performance mods for my 04 5.3 Z71.

I already have a weld in Magnaflow and drop in K&N filter. I am in the process of figuring out which tune to get from Justin, but I know that I'm getting some sort of tune from him.

 

What else is there that will increase the power and pulling power of my truck? I'm not interested in changing gears or anything radical like FI or NO2, just bolt ons.

 

I want to get all the performance goodies first, then I'll move on to upgrading the stereo. :dunno:

 

Thanks

Volt

 

You're definately on the right track.

 

Personally, I would prefer a cold-air-intake over a K&N drop in. Many good ones out there..

 

AirRaid, GMPP, Volante. Do a search on those.

 

I have a GMPP... high price, but rode with the warranty as I got it installed by dealer when new. :thumbs:

hivoltg Enthusiast

hivoltg

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Talk to me about performance mods for my 04 5.3 Z71.

I already have a weld in Magnaflow and drop in K&N filter. I am in the process of figuring out which tune to get from Justin, but I know that I'm getting some sort of tune from him.

 

What else is there that will increase the power and pulling power of my truck? I'm not interested in changing gears or anything radical like FI or NO2, just bolt ons.

 

I want to get all the performance goodies first, then I'll move on to upgrading the stereo. :dunno:

 

Thanks

Volt

 

You're definately on the right track.

 

Personally, I would prefer a cold-air-intake over a K&N drop in. Many good ones out there..

 

AirRaid, GMPP, Volante. Do a search on those.

 

I have a GMPP... high price, but rode with the warranty as I got it installed by dealer when new. :thumbs:

 

 

 

From what I've seen, the CAI doesn't show any improvements over the drop in. That is why I went with the drop in instead of the CAI from K&N. There was some research done on this and it showed the proof on the dyno. I'll see if I can find the info again.

 

Is there any point in a throttlebody spacer or anything like that?

 

My truck won't get headers or an aftermarket cam. I'm just looking for all the bolt ons I can do to the truck. Me coming from a Mustang background gets me stumped on these GM trucks at times

 

Thanks for the help

Volt

FargoZ71 Enthusiast

FargoZ71

Posted
Posted

As Jenna stated, those are your stages, she's Stage III in that Tahoe..

 

I would personally ditch the intake tubing, keep the factory Airbox, and get a AEM dryflow or similar filter over K&N, I was searching the same things for my 03.. K&N has a following but the filters let too much dirt through and a dry cell is best imo..

 

- AirAid 200-912 MIT tube

- Black PVC do it yourself job( About 35$ can research it on here / google ) Nice setup /walk through on PerformanceTrucks.net

 

This will free up a little extra air that the silencers / baffles of the regular intake tube have..

 

You have the exhaust and tune..

 

Next thing to do w/o Headers / Cam would be to upgrade your truck to Electric fan's from a LS1.. BB Performance can tune the PCM to run them, and they also sell the Harness nessessary to hook them up..

- wont create power, but free it up.

 

A few people awnsered my thread I posted a while ago and one guy didn't have a problem running a system / Electric fans on his stock 105amp alternator our trucks have.. but you may need to upgrade to the 130amp from the 05+ truck's / aftermarket depending on your Sub's Amp..

 

Your going the same route I'm in the process of doing, hope it helped a little.

 

 

Edit : Search around but pretty sure TB spacers = 4-5 tanks of gas you wont have and no performance increases..

impalasspeed96 Enthusiast

impalasspeed96

Posted
Posted

Spacers are junk. Just like the Granatelli MAF's, I have no idea how they were ever marketed as a successful bolt on...

 

And headers are about a true of bolt on as there is lol! Not sure what other bolt on's you're looking for if you dont want to do headers or gears? Sounds like a tune is the only thing on your table.

Silverado_Monkey Enthusiast

Silverado_Monkey

Posted
Posted
Time to upgrade, 04' was the last year. bet it would be cheaper for you to trade than the mods.

 

 

What about upgrading the spark?! Are You still running the stock plugs? I'm looking to get the E3 plugs and some good wires before the winter. Also, I thought I read somewhere there somebody is making a high output ignition pack for the 5.3.

 

Has anybody else seen these? I'll look around to see if I can find them again...

 

BTW - I'm in the same boat. I want to bolt on all the upgrades I can, currently I'm running a Volant Intake, Magnaflow Cat-back, and a Black Bear tune.

 

Good Luck! :thumbs:

hivoltg Enthusiast

hivoltg

Posted
  • Author
Posted

motor swap? Um, No.

 

Just looking to get what I can out of this 5.3 without major mods. I'm just lookin for some extra pulling power.

 

The plugs might be worth looking into. I'll have to search around for info on the ignition pack.

 

Sounds like I just need the Black Bear tune and be done. :thumbs:

 

 

Thanks for the help

Silverado_Monkey Enthusiast

Silverado_Monkey

Posted
Posted
motor swap? Um, No.

 

Just looking to get what I can out of this 5.3 without major mods. I'm just lookin for some extra pulling power.

 

The plugs might be worth looking into. I'll have to search around for info on the ignition pack.

 

Sounds like I just need the Black Bear tune and be done. :thumbs:

 

 

Thanks for the help

 

 

Yeah.. Black Bear tune is going to give you the best bang for your buck. Justin did a great job on mine, and I didn't even have to switch to premium fuel...

 

Good luck!

hivoltg Enthusiast

hivoltg

Posted
  • Author
Posted
motor swap? Um, No.

 

Just looking to get what I can out of this 5.3 without major mods. I'm just lookin for some extra pulling power.

 

The plugs might be worth looking into. I'll have to search around for info on the ignition pack.

 

Sounds like I just need the Black Bear tune and be done. :thumbs:

 

 

Thanks for the help

 

 

Yeah.. Black Bear tune is going to give you the best bang for your buck. Justin did a great job on mine, and I didn't even have to switch to premium fuel...

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

Which tune did you get, the basic, scan cable, or in person? Are you happy with the version you got or do you think you should have gone a different route?

 

This is going to be my next purchase.

 

I'm wondering if I should go through the trouble of setting up a local tuning party for Justin to come to, or pay the extra money for the scan cable or is the basic mail order ECM just as good?

05silvycrew Enthusiast

05silvycrew

Posted
Posted

echoing what everyone else has already said. if you don't want to dive into the motor, then an intake, exhaust, electric fans, and a tune is abot all you can do for power.

 

everything i have read says long tube headers will dramatically help your low end pulling power. but long tubes aren't exactly bolt in. they'll have to be welded up to the cats (stock or aftermarket) and you might need some 02 sensor extensions. also from what I read, you'll definitly want to re-tune after a mod like that.

hivoltg Enthusiast

hivoltg

Posted
  • Author
Posted
echoing what everyone else has already said. if you don't want to dive into the motor, then an intake, exhaust, electric fans, and a tune is abot all you can do for power.

 

everything i have read says long tube headers will dramatically help your low end pulling power. but long tubes aren't exactly bolt in. they'll have to be welded up to the cats (stock or aftermarket) and you might need some 02 sensor extensions. also from what I read, you'll definitly want to re-tune after a mod like that.

 

 

I wonder how much that would affect the sound? Any idea which headers are the best performers, or where to shop for them?

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