Hey guys,

First post here regarding my new silverado.

It's a 03 ECSB 4x4 with a TR220, ported 706 heads (eh), cai, and tune. Guy I bought it from said it had ported "LS1" heads but obviously 706 heads are not LS1.

Looking to spend probably 5-600 bucks before winter and trying to decide the next mods. Here's my options:

1. Nice used "high end" (yank, ptc, etc) converter.

2. Nice new "high end" SS lt's.

3. New "low end" (ebay, uncoated pacesetters) lt's and used "low end" or new "low end" converter. Best bang for the buck, obviously, but least quality components.

Opinions?

Lastly, just a quick question. After most drives a get a small coolant smell near the front end of the truck. After a thorough inspection I don't see any leaking coolant around the heads or the intake. Could it be the water pump? Are they known to leak in these trucks?

 

i say stall and a trans cooler FTW

 

The water pump gaskets are known to leak but not the water pumps themselves. You will likely see antifreeze on the front of the oil pan around the crank pulley if this is the case.

 

You can get some nice converters in the $500-$600 range, just gotta know where to look.

FTI has 10" (economy) converters starting at $330 and they go up to I think 3600rpm. You can upgrade them I believe also just contact them..

Edge Racing Converters has a 9.5" a little over $500..

Guys on Ls1tech use PTC out of alabama with no problems.


I personally have never herd anything bad from FTI as they are located in my state and every dragstrip in the state has their banners, A lot of people use them here.

Never herd anything bad from Edge racing either, a lot of Mustang guys and Diesel guys use them.

A crowd of people swears by PTC on Ls1tech, but I don't personally know anyone that has one.

 

Water pumps most definitely leak in these trucks along with the gaskets. My own 05 and my buddies 05 were seal failures, not block gasket failures. Tried the cheap way on his by just installing new gaskets....... and it still ended up leaking out of the pump. It's really a pain to diagnose with the pump on the truck, and for the $150 I get new lifetime ones for, I just would install the new one.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Forgot to say that it has a local shop "built" 4L60e with a nice big trans cooler and efans also.

Probably will end up trying to find a nice name brand converter...