RPO Performance Upgrade Package (RFN)

[Sgt1411]

At Police Fleet Expo last week in Birmingham AL I was speaking to some GM Engineers about the feasibility of adding the RPO Performance Upgrade Package to my Tahoe High Country 6.2L.

The Performance Upgrade Package has two parts, OEM Cold Air Intake and Corsa Cat Back Exhaust

K53 is the RPO code for the Performance Air Intake System

1. Included and only available with (RFN) Performance Upgrade Package, LPO.

Performance Upgrade Package
All Features Included With Performance Upgrade Package:
·
Performance Air Intake System

• Cat-Back Performance Exhaust
• Sport pedal cover kit on Premier and High Country
• May require additional optional equipment

The Engineers told me that while you can add the parts, the problem is my 6.2L doesn't have the engine calibration for those upgrades as its calibrated differently at Kerr Industries who do the ship through modifications after assembly. They stated I would have to locate a dealer who was willing to have the Performance Upgrade package RPO added to my build and from then on if my truck got updates it would pull the correct calibrations to the engine as if it was built from the factory like that with the Performance Upgrade Package.

Before I go through the hassle of getting the parts I wanted to know if anyone has done this and just how complicated is it?

Will the dealers gladly help getting the new calibrations or is it too much of a hassle for the dealership and ultimately the vehicle owner so don't bother?

 

[BacDoc]

What did you end up doing?

I have a High Country and looked at the performance package but most of the drivers I talked with didn’t notice much difference with the cold air intake as far as performance goes and it is pricey.

As far as the performance exhaust goes, I like the Borla sound as it’s not very aggressive but I heard you can get similar sound just by changing out the muffler and removing the resonators depending on how loud your preference is.

The Brembo performance brake package has the most “performance” of all the other options.

 

[ReaperHWK]

I have those performance package on my truck(cold air and Borla, and pedals). If I didn't have it, I'd probably just buy a Corsa/borla myself, buy a nicer cold air kit and call it a day. As far as a tune I don't see how these little mods will affect anything myself. I surprised GM had a tune change for it.

IMO the factory cold air kit looks like ass compared to some others like AfE, etc.

Track Series Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake System w/Pro 5R Filter

Large Five Layer Performance Air Filter: This 9” tall 360-degree radial flow air filter features a 5" flange and our pre-oiled Pro 5R media with five layers of progressively finer cotton gauze media for maximum performance. It provides your engine with the largest amount of high-flowing air and...

afepower.com

I have a carbon fiber aFe on my hellcat and it’s nasty. I do like that they include dyno charts and they are with factory tune.

 

[Sgt1411]

What did you end up doing?

I have a High Country and looked at the performance package but most of the drivers I talked with didn’t notice much difference with the cold air intake as far as performance goes and it is pricey.

As far as the performance exhaust goes, I like the Borla sound as it’s not very aggressive but I heard you can get similar sound just by changing out the muffler and removing the resonators depending on how loud your preference is.

The Brembo performance brake package has the most “performance” of all the other options.

I decided to bail on the idea. My dealership didn't seem too interested in assisting me in finding the correct calibration, they pretended they didn't understand what I needed and said it would be difficult maintaining the correct calibration every time they pushed out a new one. Apparently those are not OTA. I figured I would hold this Tahoe until the new engines come out in 27 model year and maybe buy one with the factory Performance Packages in 2027.