How much do you realistically have to spend?
2000 chevy k1500 5.3L v8 MORE POWER
The truck does alright but i am looking for a way to get a little more power out of it. it has a cold air intake on it but is stock other then that so i was trying to get the most hp for the least $$$$$ any sugestions would be great 
thanks ahead of time
thanks ahead of time1 - 20 of 21 Posts
somehwere around 350-400 probably
Well as a rule of thumb I always use is ..if you take more air in then you need to get it out!! So an exhaust upgrade will help..like headers or have dual exhaust ran with high flow mufflers..Or you may want to purchase a programmer for your truck maybe..just a few ideas, but keep this in mind speed,nor power is cheap!! :thumbup: This of course is just my opinion!!
X2 on the last reply, Exhaust, Programmer, without tearing into the engine, (can't remember if they have it or not) ditch the manual fan and go electric contrary to belief it does waken it up a bit, junkyards can be your best friend for this mod. Ford Taurus' with the V6 have an extremely high flowing fan setup on them and there are plenty in the yards. Good luck!
i thougt about that, anyone know if you can fit long tube headers under the hood? its not the stock ifs its got a solid axle conversion and is lifted 12 inches so i thnk they may be enoff room for them now. and i am not worryed about speed i just want a little more power to get it going. where would i get a programmer? can i just buy one of the generic ones of ebay? or do i need to have one custom burned for the truck? also i was thinking of putting headers on it and running them to some flowmaster 10 series but then do i need an x pipe or can each side just get ran back alone and never cross?
i didnt even consider that, would one electric fan be enoff? or should i grab two and mouth them side by side?Guntar13 said:X2 on the last reply, Exhaust, Programmer, without tearing into the engine, (can't remember if they have it or not) ditch the manual fan and go electric contrary to belief it does waken it up a bit, junkyards can be your best friend for this mod. Ford Taurus' with the V6 have an extremely high flowing fan setup on them and there are plenty in the yards. Good luck!
no ebay junk! (unless you can find a used one that is not locked up but its a 50/50 shot). Summit racing can be your friend, also find one reading reviews you are interested in then start searching the net for the best deal on one. They will be in the 300-400+ range for a good one that is easy to use. Beware a lot of these make it so you HAVE to use premium only from then on, but there are ones that you can tune to run on 87.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PSM-70-2265/
Headers full length, there are others but this was a quick search and cheapest, shortys are even cheaper
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BLY-40410/
this is a very good programmer that i have known a lot of guys to use
Don't get too crazy with the exhaust (size wise), if your looking for torque go 2.5 inch into an x pipe then either dual mufflers or dual in dual out muffler, 3 inch i think is too big for what you have and you'll lose some possible torque gains. BTW: those headers were for your truck in stock form so they should for sure fit if its lifted that much
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PSM-70-2265/
Headers full length, there are others but this was a quick search and cheapest, shortys are even cheaper
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BLY-40410/
this is a very good programmer that i have known a lot of guys to use
Don't get too crazy with the exhaust (size wise), if your looking for torque go 2.5 inch into an x pipe then either dual mufflers or dual in dual out muffler, 3 inch i think is too big for what you have and you'll lose some possible torque gains. BTW: those headers were for your truck in stock form so they should for sure fit if its lifted that much
I would run dual to be on the safer side, just make sure to get the right kind of thermostat so that they turn off and on when needed, not just constant running. Junkyard parts for fans are a godsend they are cheap and abundant, then you just need a thermostat wiring kit, which is very cheap for what it is and you are on your way. if you get lucky at the yard you can find something with a shroud that will fit in your application.
X2 on the crazy exhaust size!! Some of the engines out there like a lil back pressure! And X100000 on the e-bay programmers, don't get me wrong some things on e-bay csan be bought and you have a great product but this goes for if you know what your looking for or at already..
As for the fans that is a good mod that I forgot about! It will help you a good bit.. You may want to pick up more than one just to be on the safe side! I suppose this is a 4x4 with the solid axle conversion so just be sure not to much deep water with this fans, electric motors and water/sand(mud) don't mix!
As for the fans that is a good mod that I forgot about! It will help you a good bit.. You may want to pick up more than one just to be on the safe side! I suppose this is a 4x4 with the solid axle conversion so just be sure not to much deep water with this fans, electric motors and water/sand(mud) don't mix!
were do i get the thermostat to turn them off from? and thanks for the help so far?
You can get an aftermarket type thermostat from any of your local auto parts stores fairly cheap.. also call around and check the prices for new aftermarket fans also.. sometimes you can get a better price from the autoparts than you can from your local salvage yard...jmo
Are you loking for simply more power or do you want better acceleration?
If you want better acceleration, swap in a performance TC and enjoy.
Skip the programmers and get a custom PCM tune from a respectable company.
peace
Hog
If you want better acceleration, swap in a performance TC and enjoy.
Skip the programmers and get a custom PCM tune from a respectable company.
peace
Hog
If it's SFA and lifted 12", then we pretty much know the tires are much bigger than stock. With a 5.3 in a 1500, it's most likely 3.42's or 3.73's unless you changed them and that is too much tire for that gear. figuring you have at least 35's, you need at least a 4.10 on the high end ( remember, higher geared is a lower number ), 4.56 is a good idea if your running 37"+ or want a little extra performance.. But if it remains stock geared, no engine upgrade is going to do much of anything
Hogg said:Are you loking for simply more power or do you want better acceleration?
If you want better acceleration, swap in a performance TC and enjoy.
Skip the programmers and get a custom PCM tune from a respectable company.
peace
Hog
TC?
and where could i get the pcm tune? any idea on a price?
its got 36 inch tires and 411 gears witch i thing is a good gear for the tires. i just want a little more pep out of it. and if the mods give me better gas mileage then thats just an added plus.matt167 said:If it's SFA and lifted 12", then we pretty much know the tires are much bigger than stock. With a 5.3 in a 1500, it's most likely 3.42's or 3.73's unless you changed them and that is too much tire for that gear. figuring you have at least 35's, you need at least a 4.10 on the high end ( remember, higher geared is a lower number ), 4.56 is a good idea if your running 37"+ or want a little extra performance.. But if it remains stock geared, no engine upgrade is going to do much of anything
www.pcmforless.com
They can tune for any mod you can throw at your truck and they are really good people!
They can tune for any mod you can throw at your truck and they are really good people!
i am running 36 inch tires and have 411 gears and it does well i think its a good gear for the tires i just want a little more pepmatt167 said:If it's SFA and lifted 12", then we pretty much know the tires are much bigger than stock. With a 5.3 in a 1500, it's most likely 3.42's or 3.73's unless you changed them and that is too much tire for that gear. figuring you have at least 35's, you need at least a 4.10 on the high end ( remember, higher geared is a lower number ), 4.56 is a good idea if your running 37"+ or want a little extra performance.. But if it remains stock geared, no engine upgrade is going to do much of anything
my bad, i thought i forgot to hit the "submit reply" buttonmusclecarsrock68 said:i am running 36 inch tires and have 411 gears and it does well i think its a good gear for the tires i just want a little more pep
Guntar13 said:no ebay junk! (unless you can find a used one that is not locked up but its a 50/50 shot). Summit racing can be your friend, also find one reading reviews you are interested in then start searching the net for the best deal on one. They will be in the 300-400+ range for a good one that is easy to use. Beware a lot of these make it so you HAVE to use premium only from then on, but there are ones that you can tune to run on 87.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PSM-70-2265/
Headers full length, there are others but this was a quick search and cheapest, shortys are even cheaper
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BLY-40410/
this is a very good programmer that i have known a lot of guys to use
Don't get too crazy with the exhaust (size wise), if your looking for torque go 2.5 inch into an x pipe then either dual mufflers or dual in dual out muffler, 3 inch i think is too big for what you have and you'll lose some possible torque gains. BTW: those headers were for your truck in stock form so they should for sure fit if its lifted that much
i am going to try and save a little money on the headers since used ones should flow just as good as new ones. but will headers off other sbc's fit on my truck? i assume i will have room but i didnt know if the bolt holes or ports were ever changed?
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
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