Ok guys. I just bought an 05 Z71. Reg Cab Short Bed. 5.3L I have made the call that I am going to go street with the truck. Is it realistic to think this truck can be pretty quick, even though its a 4x4? Seems to have pretty good power stock. My question is what should my recipe be? This bad boy is stock right now with exception of a one chamber flowmaster I welded in that was "laying around" mostly for some sound. Maybe give me advice on what order of bolt ons to buy.(Things under $500 for now)...Thanks for the help. Great Site! John

 

Oh yea....also have 3:42 gears ..Locking rear diff.

 

Change out the ring gears on front and rear, but that would cost more than $500.

 

get a good tune from a reputable tuner

 

instead of changing out the gears, i would put a yank converter in there. it will pull out the hole like it had gears but once the converter locks-up in overdrive it still gets good gas mileage. anyway, i say just start out with little stuff like a cold air intake, underdrive pulleys, and a custom tune.

 

Ok thanks guy. Any advice on "best" cold air..I know there are like a million of em. ..... another Q,,,,I have a hard time seeing 5.3 truck parts for sale...but plenty of 5.7 F - Body stuff. Will, say F-Body underdrive pulley's work? Or a Corvette cold air that just clamps right on the TB? How much of the LS1 Motors "outer parts" the same (TB,Heads,Intake,etc.) Thanks Again guys.

 

hey im new to this truck thing aswell, when it comes to intake i dont think the vette stuff is gona work you really are going to have to try to find truck specific parts. as far is intake and TB if see some pics of guys running fast 90/90 setups not sure if that its a simple swap or what. hope that info helps.

 

I would get a MAC Performance air intake and a tune from WAIT4ME Performance. Good plaec to start for only around $350.

 

Im not sure about the underdrive pulley but I am sure that stuff like thermostats and intake manifolds and such like that will bolt up with little or no modification. Also if you can find a good used cam, you can really make that "bad boy" scream. You will need a tune(I would go with a Nelson Tune), a yank converter would be nice, and definately a cold air or ram air of some sort...I made mine. Anyways good luck with your build and have fun

 

I have a 2000 rcsb 4x4, Im in mid 15's now, and looking for 13's on the motor, so yes they can be quick.