I am swapping in a 6k mile 5.3 from a wrecked '04 into my '02 Z71 x-cab. Have engine already. I just want more power, good reliability, and something that I can live with easily.

Spent $75 on LS1 Efans.

Spent $95 on Nelson fan harness including shipping.

Will spend $100 on an LS1 edit tune from local member. Have fans turned on, TQ management off, etc.

Now I'm stuck on wether I should actually spend about $600 on coated PS longtubes and ORY, or go with Edelbrock shorties or similar and keep it simple.

My sig shows how hell bent I've been on the LT's & ORY. Today I'm not so sure.

I have a built tranny and True-trac already plus the Borla catback and FIPK.

My right foot keeps talking me into the LT's, I-6 TB Converter, and maybe a small cam, but eventually I re-think and tell myself to keep it simple, torquey, and as inexpensive as possible.

What would you suggest for a guy who already has a 500 RWHP (on 75 shot) Z28 and is best served with a solid DD truck? Shorties, Efans, tune, and call it done? Or does the "While I'm there might as well do a cam, Lt's, and TB TC" way of thinking make sense?

Thanks in advance, I'm not usually big on the "what should I do" threads but could use some input since I don't know what to expect from the possible mods or if they would be worth doing.

 

do the LT's they are so worth it, shortys are just wasting your money.

 

LTs, a mild cam, TB stall and a good tune will really wake up the truck.

 

I'll go against the grain here and say if you don't plan on major mods down the road then shorty's will be fine. I'm speaking from what I learned on my own truck.
A cam change and torque coverter will def wake it up and LT's will make it "sound" more powerfull.

 

You guys don't think that LT's and ORY will be a bit loud even with my fairly subdued sounding Borla?

I already have a fast vehicle, I'm not looking to go 13's or quicker with the truck. Just wake it up and give a noticeable improvement in acceleration at a relatively reasonable price.

My fear is that the snowball effect will get me caught up in a cam change, then I'll need at least LS6 springs for up to .550 lift cam. If I do the cam then I might as well get the stall convertor too. Ah, what the hell, might as well go LT's and ORY.

Then comes the tune, the fans get switched on, O2's deleted, shift points changed.

That leaves:

$360 Cam
$50 Valvesprings
$600 Coated LT's and Y
$75 Efans
$95 Fan Harness shipped
$285 TB TC
$100 Tune

That's over $1,500 tied into a truck that afterward may have an eye irritating exhaust, won't be able to be inspected when trying to sell it, and may make the one vehicle that I can easily cruise in in relative comfort and quiet a noisy and less enjoyable vehicle.

Is it worth it?

Does anyone regret some of their mods?

 

What's covering the back-side 3.73's?

 

imo just get you a used mild cam comp 212 218, tb converter, lt &ory, since your already this far you might as well as do it now

 

Watch the f/s section and you can gets some LTs and ory-pipe much cheaper than that. You can get a used cam for cheap also.

 

I have the cam, p/s coated pipes, ory, FLT Trans w/Vig 3400, Trutrac, Yukon 4.10's... no regret here.

 

Hmmm....you guys don't seem to regret your decisions. It's cool to see that there are more hotrod GM trucks than I imagined.

I have 3.73's in the rear. Soo...that led me to looking at a stall convertor.

I just bought (5 minutes ago) a TB TC. Man, being on this site causes checkbook cramps.

I'm going to look for a small cam like a 212/218 DUR .522/.529 on a 114 LSA and get LS6 springs for about $50.

Then I'll go with shorties just to keep the emissions equipment and keep me under a $450 cost.


Thanks for the input. I'll be advertising a NIB cam on this site for sale or trade for a baby cam for my truck.

CAM is XR275 HR-12 Part Number 54-426-11

ADV DUR is 275/277 DUR @.050 is 222/224

LIFT is .566/.568 LSA is 112

I'll post it in the parts for sale side. Hit me up if interested. I have pics that I will post in the for sale side tonight.