best headers/exhaust/chips 5.3 ?

[2002sierraz71]

I just recently got an 02 gmc sierra z71 stepside with 5.3, great truck i love it. Now I just need some more performance. Im looking for the best headers, exhaust, intake and programmer. Ive had some people tell me to go with long tube headers and others to go with shorties, which is better for street applications. I want some freakin torque when i hit the peddle. Whats the beest way to get this without serious alterations and bucks. thanks for any advice.

[BOFH-Z71]

First, Welcome to the board..

 

Second, STOP YELLING...... (Turn down your Font Point )

 

Third, I'm new to teh 5.3, just got in to a Z71 from a WS6.

 

[042500HD]

Just wanted to say welcome to the board man. And sorry but i dont have any info for ya. Im looking for the same kind of performance.

[99Silver6.0]

I just recently got an 02 gmc sierra z71 stepside with 5.3, great truck i love it.  Now I just need some more performance.  Im looking for the best headers, exhaust, intake and programmer.  Ive had some people tell me to go with long tube headers and others to go with shorties, which is better for street applications.  I want some freakin torque when i hit the peddle.  Whats the beest way to get this without serious alterations and bucks.  thanks for any advice.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Long tubes are the only way to go if you want performance. For what shorties cost and what long tubes will net you, shorts just are NOT worth it. Look around and you will see it for yourself man. They cost alot but dont gain you much. Long tubes might get you around 10-20 horse. TOG(The Other Guys) makes an awesome set of headers. As does Arizona Speed & Marine but their coatings suck. Thorley also makes a good long tube and affordable too at $429 bucks. Thorleys are also availible coated too but not sure on the price of them.

 

If you want off the line power/torque I think a Yank or TCI 2600-3000 stall converter is your answer!! You wanna talk about a hell of a launch. Yank converters arent cheap but they are high quality. Their customer service does suck balls. I have not dealt directly with them but my friend has and he said its bad. Its a 1 man operatoin from what I hear. I myself bought a TCI Street Fighter 3000. Affordable and they make a good product. Although I wont have the towing capacity of the Yank TT3000. But that dont matter to me. Exhaust, there is a much debated topic. Im prone to Borla products. If I didnt have Borla I probably would have gotten Magnaflow. Good tone and good power. Flowmaster wil get you nose plain and simple. Maybe a whole 3HP on the dyno if that.

 

Programming, your best bet would be a Nelson or Westers custom tune. You call them up and tell them what you got, how its setup and what you want to accomplish. They will tailor a tune accordingly. The handhelds do not even compare to what a custom tune will do for your truck. Period!

 

Choices are almost endless. Depends on how much you want to spend in the long run. Theres always forced induction, cams, heads, gears, the 6.0, etc. etc.

[2002sierraz71]

Thanks for all the good advice, if you guys could choose the most important upgrades what would they be.

[02denali]

intake-exhaust-nelson tune.

[piratebaseball]

I'd go with the edelbrock shorty ceramic headers. I bought a set for my truck and are happy with the gains I received. For exhaust, I'd go with the corsa. And for chips, I'd actually have a custom tune done by Nelson Performance (www.nelsonperformance.com) and make sure to have torque management removed when you do this. Hope this helps.