New here.. kind of clueless so looking for some ideas. i have a 2003 silverado 1500 ECSB Z71, leveled on 33" toyo m/t's. i drive it every day. truck currently has the original 5.3/60e/3.73's with 275k miles and a blackbear tune. So when that goes out i want some power. Obviously not looking for great track times or anything with it being leveled on mud tires and all... just want some more get up and go than this stock other than a tune 5.3. i dont really tow but if i do it is about 2000 pounds of 4wheelers, at most. I can probably scoop up a lq4/9 and 80e for cheap... but i dont know what i want. Once again needs to be able to be driven everyday. i feel boost may be out of the question because of money.

 

There is no replacement for displacement. Find a good 6.0 motor when your ready to swap motors. Heck, if my 5.3 ever gives up the ghost, I'll get me a 408 (6.7 liter) stroker short block from Texas Speed.

TSP 408 C.I.D. Street Racer LQ9 Short-Block

 

I think a 6.0/4L80e combo would be in your best interest. Throw a smallish cam 216/220 would be a good idea. You will want to add horsepower and torque without sacrificing any bottom end. Also I think if you plan to keep your 33's then 4.30 gears would help a lot to get that big boy rolling. Either way with that many miles you are going to have some serious wear on many parts already.

 

^^^ i second that cam, and gears in the back will always help the "seat of the pants" feel.

 

4.30's wouldnt be too much? i do a decent bit of highway driving too. will be keeping 33's.heres the truck

 

you know you want do, just do it man!

 

You could compromise with 4.10 gears, that's what I have in my Tahoe and it does fine on the highway.

 

Well i guess another question is.... How much power an I looking at losing with the 80e? And what gains will I see with maybe a stock lq9, long tubes, Volant, a good tune, 80e with some kind of converter and 4.10 gears

 

Stock 5.3 vs. stock 6.0 is probably about 40-50 hp difference.

 

I replaced my 5.3 with an lq9 6.0 with the mods u listed its a big power gain would do great for waking your truck up.