Anymore Bolt Ons?

03SMURF · May 2, 2007

Well as you guys can see im new here and I just passed my test (5 posts wOOt)lol, anyways, I have the following mods and was wandering if you guys can give me some advice on what i should get next.

AEM intake

HELIX throttle body spacer

HYPERTECH programmer

GIBSON stainless steel headers

Y piped at stock muffler location w/ out muffler

I have a 3in body lift with 33x12.50 mastercraft c/t's

I dont really want to dump a lot into it cause im hoping to get a diesel in a couple years.

Heres a pic of her

Nytemare · May 2, 2007

Does the TB spacer do anything for you? Economy or power wise?

03SMURF · May 2, 2007

Does the TB spacer do anything for you? Economy or power wise?

honestly, im not really sure how much it helps. id say it makes a bigger sound difference than power difference. with the stock intake and a k&n filter, the spacer made it whistle a bit, now with the AEM it really whistles. What are you guys getting as far as MPG? I think i get around 13 pulling a 10x8 triton trailor with about 4 trikes/quads on it.

Schmids5.3l · May 2, 2007

Ditch the Gibson shortys and get some Long Tubes. Im not sure how the Hypertech works, but if you get a 160* Thermostat you can run more timing. If you can increase the timing with the Hypertech, a T-stat is a cheap bolt on. Since you have an 03 you'd have to get the T-stat housing aswell, Im pretty sure you do anyways. Total cost is around 70 bucks I think. I would get a cooler T-stat but Im tired of sending off my PCM to get retuned. You have all the basic bolt ons, everything else is expensive

For the Tranny a Zippy or Transgo HD shift kit is a great mod, and can be had for 120-220 bucks not counting installation. Thats my next move. With a shift kit the 4L60E can handle 450ft lbs of TQ, much better than the rated 370 lb ft stock. A 1900-2200 stall is also a good idea. With a shift kit you can safely remove 100% of your toque management and thats a big plus. But if you go that route you have to reprogram back to stock shift strength, because if you keep the tuned shifting and run a shift kit your gonna grenade the 4L60. Installation for a shift kit and stall converter is in the 4-700 dollar range. Might as well get a new tranny filter installed as well as new tranny fluid unless you've done that recently. If you just run a new shift kit and forget the stall, you dont have to drop the tranny (so I've read) and that should keep installation prices down, just dont let a bunch of monkeys at a shop do the install. Make sure its a reputable shop is working on your truck.

Indy · May 3, 2007

Did the '03 come with electric cooling fans? If not that's another good bolt-on. I just started installing my Flex-a-lite 282 cooling fans tonight but didn't finish the job yet.

03SMURF · May 3, 2007

Thanks guys for your imput so far! Electric fans (better mileage too) and a shift kit have been on my mind, as well as a larger mass air meter. I will also look into the cooler thermostat. I realize long tubes flow better, but that is a little more work than i want to do. As far as the shift kit install i happen to have a buddy who owns a VERY reputable trans shop, he might be able to hook me up. Anyone running aftermarket plug wires with some imput?

schmid, where abouts in ohio are you? im from marion, but am going to school at ohio state right now.

Indy · May 3, 2007

Thanks guys for your imput so far! Electric fans (better mileage too) and a shift kit have been on my mind, as well as a larger mass air meter. I will also look into the cooler thermostat. I realize long tubes flow better, but that is a little more work than i want to do. As far as the shift kit install i happen to have a buddy who owns a VERY reputable trans shop, he might be able to hook me up. Anyone running aftermarket plug wires with some imput?

schmid, where abouts in ohio are you? im from marion, but am going to school at ohio state right now.

I put on Accel plug wires last year. They seemed to improve performance but then again I was still running the 7 year old stock wires with about 65,000 miles.

Schmids5.3l · May 3, 2007

Enon, population 2,000! Its in Clark County. Im moving to Fairborn with my G/F this Summer when I get back from the 2 week Army Reserve training all the way out in California. Ive got a few buddies down at OSU, Im going to Wright State this Fall. Right now Im in Community College because I was out of school for awhile from Army stuff. It kinda made me retarded

Im not sure if the 03's came with electric fans, I dont think they did. If not, thats a good mod. From what everyone says after market Mass air sensors arent worth it. I haven't looked into a nice tranny shop yet, Im going to wait until this summer for the shift kit. My brother had a nice shop put in a Tranny & B&M shift kit in his Camaro, I'll ask him what shop it was. There aren't too many around here to choose from. A few guys on here run Taylor plug wires, I guess they are pretty top notch, I havent read any input from others besides Indy and the Accel's. The Granatelli plug wires are nice, but expensive.

04silverado1500 · May 3, 2007

on the topic of headers what are some nice ones im sure since he needs long tubes hes wondering. im interested in headers also and was wondering what is the best, hooker, headman, pace setter, gibson, dynatech, any of these good i want long tubes myself but only if there worth it i was also looking at intakes i here volant is the best but they seam real expensive anything else as good and cheape. are highflow cats worth it at all or am i going to start tripping the check engine light.

Schmids5.3l · May 3, 2007

Thorleys are good headers, their in the 550 range. Outlaw, Volant, and AEM are the best intakes for our trucks IMO. K&N's are good, but everyone complains about the filtration.

The factory cats flow good, replacing them wouldnt be very beneficial.

Nytemare · May 3, 2007

I know that the 4,8L 03's have clutch fans....I want to replace mine with electric, but they're so d**n expensive up here.

ridnlow · May 3, 2007

you can find ls1 electric fans on ebay all day long for less than 100 bucks.. thats not bad..

Nytemare · May 3, 2007

didnt know they would fit. didnt really have that uch time to really research my options

thanks for the info though man.

lawheelsdirect · May 4, 2007

didnt know they would fit. didnt really have that uch time to really research my options

thanks for the info though man.

Sounds like you are well on your way..

03SMURF · May 16, 2007

In response to a members private message (i couldnt reply cuz your inbox was full)

Mine is loudest at a certain point, around 2000-2500 rpms. I cant really hear it after that mainly cuz my exhaust gets too loud. But if im going by parked cars on a tight street with it floored i can still hear it whistle. Its deff loud though in the above rpm range.