Hey, I got a 2002 Sonoma SLS 4.3L with 4l60E. I was wondering what are some cheap upgrades I can do to get some more power, and maybe better mileage? I have a K&N cone filter, I guess aftermarket MAF cuz it doesn't have a screen, a flexalite fan, and Dual exhaust.

I was looking at maybe some underdrive pulleys, a TB spacer, MSD 6A ignition box, and maybe a piece of 3'' aluminum intake tube that I can put in place of that rubber intake tube?

BTW, can someone explain what a ''vette servo'' is, and what it does? Would this help my 1/4mi. ET? Is there a way to tell what my rear axle ratio is? Are there any ''free mods'' that can be done?

Thanks, I'm new to tuning EFI. I have worked with carbed motors forever.

search for the vette servo answers... They are a cheap upgrade for your tranny and they do help out a lot.

pulleys and a TB spacer will actally help out your motor quite a bit. porting and polishing those heads will get you some gains as well... Leave the plastic intake tube and maybe just change it out for a bigger one. The aluminum will heat up and raise your IAT's. (intake air temps) robbing you of a little power. what kind of exhaust do you have? shorty headers on those 4.3's help out too. just a few options... and then you always have power adders such as f/i or nitrous... keep those in mind.

I would get an MSD ingnition. You won't so much notice a power difference, but it will have better throttle response. If your budget allows you might check this out http://wynjammer.com/ALM1115/GM_S10_4.html Look at this also http://wynjammer.com/ALM1115/Als_Workbench.html It allows you to run more boost. Looks cool too.

shorty headers on those 4.3's help out too.

Thats not completly true. It has been proven that the stock exhaust manifolds flow pretty damn good compared to any aftermarket shorty header such as gibson, obx, thorley, etc. You wont notice or actually gain any real numbers with the shorties. but heddman does make a set of longtubes for the 1st gen 4.3's and they fit fine in our 2nd get s-series trucks and suv's. all you have to do is a little grinding and you're set. you WILL notice gains with the longtubes. especially with a good exhaust.

Thats not completly true. It has been proven that the stock exhaust manifolds flow pretty damn good compared to any aftermarket shorty header such as gibson, obx, thorley, etc. You wont notice or actually gain any real numbers with the shorties. but heddman does make a set of longtubes for the 1st gen 4.3's and they fit fine in our 2nd get s-series trucks and suv's. all you have to do is a little grinding and you're set. you WILL notice gains with the longtubes. especially with a good exhaust.
I've heard that if you are running tubular control arms, you don't even have to grind.

you're 100% correct

My truck is setup like this:
Manifolds-> Two pipes->converter-> Two pipes out-> exit on right rear side.

No mufflers on it at all. Its quiet and sounds pretty good.

no mufflers and its quiet? well i guess that the cat muffles it some. Hows the performance side of it? Ive hear that the dual exhaust set up with no cat and one of those dynomax Ultraflo X mufflers is killer sounding and has some really noticable gains.

I really cant compare it to stock because it was setup like this when I bought it. I was told it had magnaflows but I guess it has ultra flows. It's kinda poppy when you let it rev to 5k and let off.

Hey, there's a crescent thats riveted onto the bottom of the throttle body blade. Can I remove it? It looks to take up 1/3rd of the throttle bore. So wont removing it increase throttle response and power?

yea there is a way to remove it but ive heard that its a waste unless you are making some big HP. are you on s10forum?

remove the hump from the throttle body blade, this helps alot. I swaped out my stock 3.73 gears for 4.10's. Just about the best thing i've done to this day.

dang 4.10's. hows the mpg? i thought the stock gears were like 3.43's

Yea I am. Im: 02sonomadenali. I'm going to remove it anyway. I figure Its worth at least throttle response if no power. Plus I'm looking for a spacer, but I heard of wood spacers for carbs, does anyone make a wooden one for the 4.3? I want one but I don't know who has the best.

i get 20-21 on the highway with my 4.10's. I'm running 31" tires though, thats what ZR2's came with. In the city I get 16-18. From a dead stop, no brake. I have laid a 75+ft patch, no brake and I have a true locker in the back.

I had a 2000 S-10 4.3L 5 speed 8.5 10 bolt.

You can remove the part on the throttle body just fine, its no big deal its just some rivits. Drill the rivits out and replace it with small bolts and then epoxy the nut on. It helps with throttle response.

With no exhaust just to the y pipe, 3.08 gears on a open diff I pulled a 2.0 sixty foot and ran a 14.8 down at Red River Raceway there in Shreveport, LA. I always wanted to get headers for it but never did. Gears would have helped it out a lot. I eventually put in a ZR2 3.73 rear end in it and bought spacers for the front and threw on some SS wheels. It looked nice when I traded her in for the TA. I never made it back to the track though with the posi and the gears. She dyno'd right on 200hp and 265 ft lbs of torque to the wheels on a Mustang Dyno in Charleston SC.

My only mods

Ported throttle body
descreened maf
removed the air restrictor from the throttle body
K&N air filter
lowering blocks in the rear, lakewood tracktion bars, and i pulled out the helper bar..the flat one on the bottom.

She couldn't tow a lot but be damn if she didn't hook on the street and at the track with some nice sticky tires.


Now that my TA might be getting totaled due to an idiot at the Tire shop wrecking it. I am looking at getting a ZR2.

i have a 4.3 in my fullsize and the throttlebody actually helped a little and it gives a wierd whistle though and it gets annoying after awhile. pulleys did alot for me as well as the electric fan. with the mods below without the nx i beat a fullsize scsb 5.3 w/ a programmer, exhaust and k&N drop in