New intake

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Tamcphail89

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Hey guys....gotta question on a possible new intake.

I have a LS1 swapped into my 02 Denali. It's got the 5.3 truck intake now, is it worth it to swap to a tbss intake? I know it makes more power but is it worth the several hundred to swap for all the parts then getting it tuned again?


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Tamcphail89

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I know it is a better intake overall but if I'm gonna need a new throttle body or x-link and various other parts plus a new tune....is 20-30hp worth $500+?


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iamdub

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I know it is a better intake overall but if I'm gonna need a new throttle body or x-link and various other parts plus a new tune....is 20-30hp worth $500+?


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If it's honestly a 20-30HP gain, then $500 really isn't bad. Your average daily driver cam is about 30-40HP and that'd be over $500 between the cam and associated gaskets.
 

Sam Harris

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I have read that there is no practical difference in a GMT900 5.3 intake compared with the TBSS, not sure at the LM7/L33/L59.
That’s interesting.. I’d be particularly interested in the L59 results.. [emoji16] I mean if I were going to do the intake, I’d likely also do the cam, and heads.. TB.., etc.. so I guess if I’m spending that $$, I’d probably get a FAST, and a 102mm TB., etc.. but it would be nice to know if the intake by itself would be helpful. I would definitely be interested in applying small steps if it’s feasible that it would help that way.
 

swathdiver

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That’s interesting.. I’d be particularly interested in the L59 results.. [emoji16] I mean if I were going to do the intake, I’d likely also do the cam, and heads.. TB.., etc.. so I guess if I’m spending that $$, I’d probably get a FAST, and a 102mm TB., etc.. but it would be nice to know if the intake by itself would be helpful. I would definitely be interested in applying small steps if it’s feasible that it would help that way.

Those custom intakes work at above 6000 rpms; that one with the replaceable runners is really cool but not really meant for trucks doing truck things.
 
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Tamcphail89

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I already have a cam, heads and bigger injectors. Just curious why he went with the 5.3 intake vs an ls1 or tbss


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iamdub

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I already have a cam, heads and bigger injectors. Just curious why he went with the 5.3 intake vs an ls1 or tbss


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The stock Gen3 truck intake outflows the LS1 intake. It's on-par with the LS6 intake. But, with the truck intake, the power is emphasized lower in the RPM band then tapers off at the upper RPMs. The LS6 intake has this sort of reversed.

Also, you have to do some finagling to run the car intake with truck accessories: Some slicing of the alternator bracket and relocating an idler pulley at least. I'd say this is why he went with the truck intake. Or it could be because of the fuel rail type- is your truck intake a return or returnless?

Since you have a 5.7 with a cam and heads, I'd say you're shorting yourself with the stock Gen3 intake manifold. I'd get the "TBSS" manifold. BTW, in case you didn't know, it's the standard Gen4 IM. Don't get one from an actual TBSS- that'd make the price skyrocket. Yank one from an Express 2500 at the salvage yard.
 
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Tamcphail89

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I believe I have a typical return style.

I have 42lb injectors. Would those work with a nnbs/tbss intake?


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