Been readin the posts. I have a basically stock 5.3 in my 2008 4x4 Suburban 3.73 gearing. with110k miles. I'm in California so lots of BS rules from DMV. It's a 4speed auto with tow mode. Does well in low altitude towing my 7000-7500 lb loaded toyhauller, but as soon as I climb grades like the grapevine on HwY 5 in Southern California. It shifts from 3rd 65 mph to 2nd and maybe 35-40 mph. If it goes to first pulls great to but 40mph I am afraid at 5000 rpm it will destroy the motor.
Only mods, did a cold air induction extra transmission cooler and a Hand held truck tune from my Super chips Flash PAC. Definitely more torque, but néed more to tow my toyhauller in the California mountain highways. >3500 feet at 55 on up hill climbs. Like I said, does great in 1st up to 35 mph, but when in 2nd really has no power to accelerate uphill on highways. If the highway flattens out then no problem at 55.
So I need to know What options are there for me. Want to budget about 5-7k at the most for possibly a rebuild with Cam and head work and or a supercharger upgrade. Can I install a super charger on a 110k mileage stock motor or do I need to freshen it up? If so what is the least expensive freshen up I can do?
Any recommended parts an where to buy them. I'm ok repairing and installing stuff, but definitely not a pro(I still have to redo stuff a couple of times to get it right)
Thanks
Nick

 

here is my response to your other post, in the turbo thread, with some added on now based off of new information.



Yes 110k miles is nothing.
You do NOT need a rebuild, or head work, or cam, to do what your wanting.
Cam and head work After getting blower, IF you still want more.
But at that point, I would regear before cracking open the motor.

In your budget.
Supercharger, Catch can, proper tune, done.
Call Black bear, they are site vendor.

Go with one step colder plug, NGK TR6 (ask for part #4177 and parts store), this is old school copper core, for under 12$ you get all 8. Change them every third or sixth oil change, based on how you drive.


P.s.
Add in a Vette servo, billet OD servo and the trucool trans cooler along with the brackets from the guy on this site. This will significantly help your trans, while towing up those hills and shifting under that load.
Get a ELM Obd2 module from amazon and torque app. find out what your trans temps are while towing, you may or may not need to upgrade the trans cooler.


If you want a catback, go with a stainless MBRP kit, if you want quiet while cruise and no drone.
If you want some noise and willing to spend the coin on cali legal headers. go to speed engenering for their header back kit.

Get a ELM Obd2 module from amazon and torque app. find out what your trans temps are while towing

 

Thanks for the info. Now which supercharger is best for towing? Significant difference in price for magnacharg, ProCharger, Whipple? Which is easiest to self install?

 

I agree with above, except i would do a 4l80e swap. You would have a bullet proof set up with one, and with a super charger you will need it 100%.

You can pick up a tvs2300 for roughly $4000 used. In fact heres one from a good member on here:https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...-power-546904/

 

I would say a tvs1900, 4l80e with a good tune would make a world of difference
If that's not enough put some different gears in

 

A used TVS and 4l80e would be the ticket I think. A little cam maybe with a small converter (or not) with a 1900 would sure have good power. I would want the PD blower for the low end so it wont be changing gears. The Whipple would be great too but you wont find a used one probably.

 

Texas Speed cam 212/218 @0.050" .550" Low-Lift' and correct valvesprings will "DROP IN" 50 wheel horsepower, with more torque from STALL through 6400 rpm.
Cheapest per dollar horsepower you can have. That and turn off torque management, tune the Power Enrichment you will be amazed at what that little 5.3 will do.

If that doesnt make you happy, put a Magnuson TVS1900 on.

 

Same cam in a 6.0L works well fpr towing. Put a 4L80E behind it and run 4.10 gears.

 

Gears, blower, and an 80E on standby for when that 60E says uncle.

 

If you go 4l80, youre going to need to go at least 4.10, if not 4.56. Somewhere in that blower install i would think dod delete would be in order, with either an lq9 cam or something spec'd for your setup.. if it were me i would probably go 6l80/6l90 to keep the 3.73s and still have plenty of torque in 1st and second....