Recommendations

[GPPV]

How's it going everyone I'm new to this forum. I just bought a 09 Chevy Tahoe ppv 5.3 vortec that has a TSP chopacabra cam in it. I'm looking to add more HP to it trying to figure out what type of headers I should get for more gains. Also looking to do the plugs and wires any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Doubeleive]

you wont get any respectable gains from any plugs or wires but head's sure. plug & wire money would better spent on having the intake ported or a 6.2l intake is a straight bolt on to the 5.3l and if it is not tuned already that is a small but seperate gain all on it's own
@iamdub @swathdiver

 

[GPPV]

you wont get any respectable gains from any plugs or wires but head's sure. plug & wire money would better spent on having the intake ported or a 6.2l intake is a straight bolt on to the 5.3l and if it is not tuned already that is a small but seperate gain all on it's own
@iamdub @swathdiver

So intake is that replacing the throttle body with a 6.2? I do have it tuned the guy I bought it from put a tune on it but didn't really know much about tunes went to a friend and he fine tuned it. So plugs and wires would be a waist of money brother. Again new to this and want to get this fast it's a project truck in the works.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Longtube headers, sorry, don't know what vendor to recommend - yet - but
Longtube headers typically release more power than midlength or shortys.

What axle gear does your PPV have now?
I typically recommend 4.10 for 4L60E, or 3.73 for 6L80E.
You will notice the difference, especially after tuning for the new gears.

 

[Doubeleive]

So intake is that replacing the throttle body with a 6.2? I do have it tuned the guy I bought it from put a tune on it but didn't really know much about tunes went to a friend and he fine tuned it. So plugs and wires would be a waist of money brother. Again new to this and want to get this fast it's a project truck in the works.

ya if you changed the intake it would need a matching throttle body, the Hitachi ls7 ones are like $150 all day long plug-n-play
(not just the throttle body alone) it won't fit a 5.3l intake

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

You are already receiving sage advice from the knowledgeable folks on this Forum.

It would also be helpful to know what your budget is for this performance improvement. You can do just about anything, if you have the cash. If you don't, knowing how much you can spend will help us to provide you with useful recommendations.

 

[GPPV]

Longtube headers, sorry, don't know what vendor to recommend - yet - but
Longtube headers typically release more power than midlength or shortys.

What axle gear does your PPV have now?
I typically recommend 4.10 for 4L60E, or 3.73 for 6L80E.
You will notice the difference, especially after tuning for the new gears.

It has the 4L60E ok I was looking at long tubes thinking that's what I would want to get. Thank you

 

[GPPV]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

You are already receiving sage advice from the knowledgeable folks on this Forum.

It would also be helpful to know what your budget is for this performance improvement. You can do just about anything, if you have the cash. If you don't, knowing how much you can spend will help us to provide you with useful recommendations.

Thank you I will post pics of my truck soon

 

[swathdiver]

How's it going everyone I'm new to this forum. I just bought a 09 Chevy Tahoe ppv 5.3 vortec that has a TSP chopacabra cam in it. I'm looking to add more HP to it trying to figure out what type of headers I should get for more gains. Also looking to do the plugs and wires any help would be greatly appreciated

There was a fella on here a few years ago that used Amazon parts to make his Tahoe faster. Look up the posts by @badandyturbo. He's not on here anymore, sold the truck and is playing with twin turbo Fords now. I and others on this here forum have personally witnessed the performance gains, long tubes were good for about 25 rear wheel horsepower through the traps in the quarter mile. Gears would be a good mod too if you have tires that hook.

That cam is massive for a 5.3, traded all your low end torque and give some back up above 4,000+ rpms for more horsepower.

My 5.3 puts down an average of 315 rear wheel horsepower through the traps in the quarter mile. It was originally rated for 310 SAE Net horsepower at the flex plate. Its only modifications are a Magnaflow Y-Pipe and Cats and a BlackBear Performance tune.

 

[GPPV]

There was a fella on here a few years ago that used Amazon parts to make his Tahoe faster. Look up the posts by @badandyturbo. He's not on here anymore, sold the truck and is playing with twin turbo Fords now. I and others on this here forum have personally witnessed the performance gains, long tubes were good for about 25 rear wheel horsepower through the traps in the quarter mile. Gears would be a good mod too if you have tires that hook.

That cam is massive for a 5.3, traded all your low end torque and give some back up above 4,000+ rpms for more horsepower.

My 5.3 puts down an average of 315 rear wheel horsepower through the traps in the quarter mile. It was originally rated for 310 SAE Net horsepower at the flex plate. Its only modifications are a Magnaflow Y-Pipe and Cats and a BlackBear Performance tune.

So would you say intake manifold, upgraded throttle body and headers would help out more for that?

 

[swathdiver]

So would you say intake manifold, upgraded throttle body and headers would help out more for that?

If memory serves, the FAST LSX intake with the longest runners and largest throttle body gave a 5.3 about 10 RWHP. That's a lot of money to spend for 10 horses. There's a semi-active member on here running around with that intake on a 5.3, ask him.

 

[Marky Dissod]

... the FAST LSX intake manifold with the longest runners and largest throttle body gave a 5.3L about 10 RWHP.
That's a lot of money to spend for 10 horses.

And those are horses at PEAK RpM, very likely well over 5600RpM.
It's why my next 6.0L will use a trucky intake manifold, and whichever pope hat intake port heads get as close to 10.9:1 scr without going over. (Does any tuner have da bawlz to tune a 6.0L OVER 10.9:1 scr?)
Power UNDER 4000RpM is more important than peak RpM power.

 

[Charlie207]

A turbo kit alone would probably cost similar to all the other parts you'd need to upgrade to make meaningful power, and still add way more power compared to the price of new heads, valve springs, pistons, LT headers, a tune, and all the hardware needed to hold it together.

 

[Trey Hardy]

How's it going everyone I'm new to this forum. I just bought a 09 Chevy Tahoe ppv 5.3 vortec that has a TSP chopacabra cam in it. I'm looking to add more HP to it trying to figure out what type of headers I should get for more gains. Also looking to do the plugs and wires any help would be greatly appreciated

I’ve had great luck with my speed engineering Longtubes I have their 1 7/8” with the full 3” exhaust x pipe duel corsas to 7” axle dumps and it sounds great and really helped out in power especially after the tune. I’ve never seen the benefits of all the money for a nice intake I’ve personally had decent gains by doing nothing but home porting the stock throttle body and intake
I also took the stock 243 heads and had them ported and milled down a hair with new springs retainers and a valve job and the truck just ripped to be on a 9” lift and 37s it would just get down even with the stock 3.73 gears in her

It was a basic build
5.3 with the ported and worked 243 heads
Ls7 beehive springs with titanium retainers
Valve Job and milled the heads
Bigger hardened tsp pushrods
All new gaskets
1 7/8” Longtubes full 3” exhaust no cats
K&n cold air intake
And a bad ass tune
The next step for more umph is gears it’s the best bang for your buck imo

Nothing but Longtubes and exhaust with some gears and a bad ass tune and you would have a pretty stout machine