How to get 700hp (2017 Denali)

[DQ Dave]

Hey all,

looking for some thoughts on what you would do to achieve 700hp on my 2017 Denali? It’s my daily driver now and I’m use to having 500+ hp cars. Kids have changed that so looking for some input in what you’d do or people with experience with this.

headers
Cam
Scharger or turbo?
Exhaust
Lifters etc.

lmk what you’d do as I’m toying around with the idea of this.

move looked into sending to lincnfelter but I don’t want to drive it 10hrs to leave it for a couple weeks / month for 16k. Granted it comes with a 3/36. Not sure if playing with 700hp or around there is worth just doing that.

thanks all, appreciate.
Dave

 

[gat0r]

since yours is a 2017, you dont have to wait for manufacturers like 21+ owners

do you want crank or wheel HP? & what is your budget?

do a search for Norcal SS threads, he has a Esky w/ your power goals.
w/ a 6.2L its much easier to get those HP #s
a few other users here are chasing some sweet HP as well

option A1)
CAI, whipple, 1 7/8 LTs, catback

option A2)
if you want more, update for forged rotating assembly, DoD delete/stage2(or bigger) cam, upgraded valve springs, upgrade fuel system(LT4 or better),

option B)
armageddon TT kit
search the google for soccer mom tahoe

 

[swathdiver]

Hey all,

looking for some thoughts on what you would do to achieve 700hp on my 2017 Denali? It’s my daily driver now and I’m use to having 500+ hp cars. Kids have changed that so looking for some input in what you’d do or people with experience with this.

headers
Cam
Scharger or turbo?
Exhaust
Lifters etc.

lmk what you’d do as I’m toying around with the idea of this.

move looked into sending to lincnfelter but I don’t want to drive it 10hrs to leave it for a couple weeks / month for 16k. Granted it comes with a 3/36. Not sure if playing with 700hp or around there is worth just doing that.

thanks all, appreciate.
Dave

Dave, Lingenfelter can probably do it faster and you keep the warranty to boot. Not a bad deal in my book.

Supercharging is good for about 125 horses on a 6.2 or thereabouts and you could probably bust that 700 number with a good cam and a 4" crankshaft for more cubic inches. Couple of the guys on here have 427s with forced induction.

 

[Fifty]

Everything depends on which state...

cali and ny are hard to make much power in.... sadly....

 

[hcvone]

I used to mod my suv's to equal my cars performance, but for my last truck I purchased a Callaway Tahoe, while it only has about 600 hp, it's way fun to drive, great in the snow and bad weather so I don't have to drive my other cars, and it has full warranty that gets transfered to the next owner, so pleased I would buy another one in a second

 

[1BADI5]

since yours is a 2017, you dont have to wait for manufacturers like 21+ owners

do you want crank or wheel HP? & what is your budget?

do a search for Norcal SS threads, he has a Esky w/ your power goals.
w/ a 6.2L its much easier to get those HP #s
a few other users here are chasing some sweet HP as well

option A1)
CAI, whipple, 1 7/8 LTs, catback

option A2)
if you want more, update for forged rotating assembly, DoD delete/stage2(or bigger) cam, upgraded valve springs, upgrade fuel system(LT4 or better),

option B)
armageddon TT kit
search the google for soccer mom tahoe

I like how you think.

A combination of options A1 and A2 would definitely get you to your goal.

A guy local to me is a guy that did a Whipple (7psi), full exhaust, alkycontrol kit and tune and he put down 600whp. This combo was stock internals and stock cam.

600whp = 720-750 crank based on 20-25% drivetrain loss

 

[1BADI5]

Also, Callaway and Lingerfinger (LOL) are both WELL known for being way over priced and under deliver for the money to HP ratio.

 

[George B]

Also, Callaway and Lingerfinger (LOL) are both WELL known for being way over priced and under deliver for the money to HP ratio.

Lingerfinger reminds me of the fifi/magnolia joke..

 

[CMoore711]

Weapon X Motorsports is about an hour drive south of me. I don’t have any personal experience with them, but I’ve heard nothing but good things and have friends with various LS/LT powered vehicles that have had good experiences.

Not saying to send your truck there but this video here has a general list of their “recipe” if you will on how they achieved 750whp with the 6.2L L86:

 

[swathdiver]

Ugh, why didn't I think of this option sooner, Duraburb!

 

[Rocket Man]

Lots of options, it just takes money and time. If you want it to take less time it takes more money.

 

[1BADI5]

Bottomline tho........if you want reliable power, its not going to be cheap. The one part or component you cheap out on, will bite you in the ass. I dealt with this last week and valve springs.

 

[avalonandl]

I would stick a whipple on it. You will really notice it.
You will slso need to upgrade the brakes. Stopping 5400 lbs is not easy.

 

[Rocket Man]

I would stick a whipple on it. You will really notice it.
You will slso need to upgrade the brakes. Stopping 5400 lbs is not easy.

That’s one of the reasons I went with a full Wilwood kit with 16” front/ 14” rear rotors. ****** stops good now. That was after the Whipple lol.

 

[sabasigh]

Is there anything available yet for the 2020 with new ECU?

 

[Rocket Man]

Is there anything available yet for the 2020 with new ECU?

I heard they can’t even be tuned yet. The OS is locked.

 

[RThomasII]

Is there anything available yet for the 2020 with new ECU?

I've got a 2020 Esky and I had the same question(s). Here's what I was told....

Reached out to Blackbear and the answer was "no".

Reached out to Vengeance Racing and also a local tuner/dyno shop near me in Maryland and both said "yes".

Reached out to Callaway and they quoted me $25k for the full Callaway engine and suspension upgrade.

Reached out Armageddon Turbo (with my credit card in hand) about their 2015 and up twin turbo kit and they told me that the kit doesn't fit the 2020 model year. They would sell me the parts but I had to do the retrofit myself. They also tried to sell me a Whipple.

Reached out to Whipple and they advised me to wait for the 3.0 coming out later this summer.

Kooks also said that they are raising their prices effective May 1, 2021.

 

[fozzi58]

I've got a 2020 Esky and I had the same question(s). Here's what I was told....

Reached out to Blackbear and the answer was "no".

Reached out to Vengeance Racing and also a local tuner/dyno shop near me in Maryland and both said "yes".

Reached out to Callaway and they quoted me $25k for the full Callaway engine and suspension upgrade.

Reached out Armageddon Turbo (with my credit card in hand) about their 2015 and up twin turbo kit and they told me that the kit doesn't fit the 2020 model year. They would sell me the parts but I had to do the retrofit myself. They also tried to sell me a Whipple.

Reached out to Whipple and they advised me to wait for the 3.0 coming out later this summer.

Kooks also said that they are raising their prices effective May 1, 2021.

The 2020's for some reason are locked as are the new body styles. Some of the interwebz are stating its because GM is supposedly dropping their SC on the big SUVs next year as an option (e.g. Escalade "Blackwing") So they arent allowing the aftermarket to unlock or crack the ECUs at this point. I couldnt get details out of my research but that was the gist of it. I'm not sure why the ECUs are locked on the 2020's though cause its the same setup as 2017~2019.

I would go Whipple and full exhaust. You wont need a CAI cause the intercooler is part of the Whipple kit.

 

[sealandsky]

I've got a 2020 Esky and I had the same question(s). Here's what I was told....

Reached out to Blackbear and the answer was "no".

Reached out to Vengeance Racing and also a local tuner/dyno shop near me in Maryland and both said "yes".

Reached out to Callaway and they quoted me $25k for the full Callaway engine and suspension upgrade.

Reached out Armageddon Turbo (with my credit card in hand) about their 2015 and up twin turbo kit and they told me that the kit doesn't fit the 2020 model year. They would sell me the parts but I had to do the retrofit myself. They also tried to sell me a Whipple.

Reached out to Whipple and they advised me to wait for the 3.0 coming out later this summer.

Kooks also said that they are raising their prices effective May 1, 2021.

Try Edelbrock: https://www.edelbrock.com/e-force-supercharger-for-2014-2018-gm-truck-suv-6-2l-15664.html

 

[gat0r]

given OPs HP goals... Edelbrock is not the supercharger he wants

wait for whipple/magnuson & tuners