hello, i have a 1999 chevy silverado with the 5.3 liter engine and aftermarket exhaust. I would like to add a chip different air intake, throttle body, and maybe a different camshaft. What i am wondering is if anyone has much experience with this engine and the accessories i speak of. I am wondering which brands are the best and how they differ so i can make the best choice. i dont want to lose it's streetability i just want to add more power the best and safest way for the engine. i was also maybe considering different heads. the 2 things that i am least framiliar with are the heads and the camshaft and what to expect if i change them?
thanks for your time.
j.

 

Buy Dart heads or equivalent and Crane Cams Truck Cam (from what I understand they would be the best for the 5.3). Buy a Torque Curve Throttle Body Spacer and an Cold Air Intake like Volant and maybe 180 degree thermostat. Try out some of the free mods on this site, they work pretty good too. Maybe look at headers, long tube will give you better performance but short tube fit better and require fewer mods to the exhaust. After you do all this stuff, look for a tune or a tuner. If you like to screw with things and fine tune them yourself, go with a Predator Tuner, for basic tuning get a Hypertech. If you want the best bang for the buck and what the tune to be done professionally, then get a Tune from Nelson or Wheatley (several guys have done this tune on this forum). All this should give you AT LEAST 60hp. Put on electric fans for another 15 - 17hp.

 

what he said lol... personally though, as far as an intake, im happy with the results i got from the free mod and a modular intake tube, which i got cheaper than an intake, but a few guys on here have volant intakes and they seem real happy with those

 

Sounds good, hey thanks for all the info. I was also curios how a different cam and or heads would make the engine run? as I dont want to take away its smoothness or go too agressive with the cam. Also did you mean 60hp. total gain or just for the professional tune, oh and one more thing anyones thoughts on Airaid intakes? Thanks

 

i have an airaid modular intake tube (the tube from their intakes) and i noticed a decent gain from that, and i didn't even have the filter, so i'd say its a quality product

 

what are your thoughts on a single straight pipe exhaust all the way back as this is what i have?

 

I've researched putting Z06 heads and cam in my 5.3 and, though it can be done, the cost is far too extensive for the gain. When you change heads and/or the cam the computer is no longer able to make the proper adjustments for the increased flow, a custom tune from a shop you leave your truck with will be necessary to get it right. Exhaust and intake work will be necessary with heads for the increased flow. Vortec heads give you the best bang for the buck, and although the 5.3 leaves much to be desired in the range of power, it is a very reliable engine if properly maintained. The 4L60E transmission is a crap shoot and agresively building an engine is asking for a tranny problem.

Stick to basics....get a bolt on 5-6 lbs turbo from STS.

 

a single pipe all the way back is actually better on 5.3s than running true duals... if you run true duals on the newer engines you lose too much backpressure and low-end torque

 

single pipe WITH a muffler

 

let me get this straight.... I'm currently running a single straight pipe all the way back and if i add a muffler it will add enough back pressure actually increasing hp and low end torque? one more question... what if it is a high flow muffler?