500 crank hp is doable, idk why sometimes people act like that's so hard. With a badass set of heads like some trickflows with a small chamber to get the compression up and a mid to upper 220 duration cam. Google the 5.3 l33 they built over on pro touring that made 499hp at the crank with trickflow heads and their 220/224 cam and a shitty ls2 intake.

 

Well im trying to stay away from forced induction. But who knows i might change my mind down the road. Actually i planned on swappin to 4.10s in the rear. I plan on puttin the RC leveling kit and 33s on it. Had good experience with that kit before. I know 500chp is doable but the only thing that converns me is drivability. With adding a stall thats where im ignorant at. I know a lot of people use them but dint u derstand exactly what it does. This truck will be a dd mild offroader work type truck. Dont really do much towing. I just want a good street truck with some pep and 500hp is a goal but if i gotta dial those numbers down so be it.

Off topic but has anybody had any experience with the truck flow products or speed engineering products?

 

If you going with 33x12.50 then might want to consider 4.30's,
I'm kinda where ur at, still planning my build I got an 2008 Silverado 5.3, I'd like 400-500HP (crank)
I'm debating 4.10 or 4.30's I also plan on doing a 2" level with 285's (32.7") I beifly considered 4.56's
so far the truck is just exhaust, mail order tune, corvette servo and Circle D 2800 stall converter, I absolutely love the stall converter, Its just a 2800 so not too high, truck still drives near stock when I'm not on the gas, but mash it and I can get Mustang's off the line now, also spins tires so much more now

 

My plans are CAI, performance TB, port polish heads, mild cam, long tube headers, custom tune, and 75 or 100shot nitrous , and already got stall converter.
I've thought about decking heads slighty to bump compression but idk if i wanna increase compression if I ever run nitrous. I'd hope to make about 450hp on motor and little over 500hp on NX

 

See thats another thing im not sure i want to do about heads. Buy a new set or just get the current ones ported. There was a top end kit from trick flow that claims to hit 455hp but i know how advertised numbers go. I know just basic mods can really wake the 5.3 up. My 03 was pretty peppy after exhaust cai and headers. Didnt have a tune. Tried hypertech but that thing sucked. Also mine had 3.73 gears. I just want to do this build the right way first time around. Im in the army so i dont make a lot haha

 

The link previously posted wasn't working, just fixed it - check it out. 484 at the crank, looks easy to duplicate. I would skip the FAST intake substitute a TBSS intake. Spend that money elsewhere.

 

Thanks for the input guys. Got some good info. But just curious i think i asked before has anyone had experience with speed engineering products? Also if im able to get this much horsepower what size headers should i use 1 3/4 or 1 7/8?

 

1.75" should suffice, 1.875" might produce slightly more peak. But, will shift the power curve higher in the band. Sacrificing some low end.

I am about to install a set of Speed Engineering headers on my truck this week. They look nice for the price, hoping the fit is good.

 

Let me know what you think about them ive been really curious

 

I put them on this morning, they went in fairly easy. I replaced my engine mounts with brand new GM mounts. I have good clearance everywhere.