As the title says, I am thinking of buying a new Silverado. The basics that I KNOW I want are:

- V8
- automatic
- limited slip


after that the options are pretty much just "oh that’s cool I'll take this and that".

What I would like to know is:

1) is there a big difference between the 4.8 and 5.3 as far as performance (HP/TQ curves). All things being equal I would rather have the 5.3 (hell I wish I could get the 5.7 or 6 Liter instead) but I might have to take the 4.8 due to availibility (not a big deal with a Camaro sitting around ).

2) how much difference are people noticing between the 3.42s and the 3.73s as far a fuel economy goes? With my M6 in the camaro I only gained 200 or so RPM but what about with the auto? I would love to have the 3.73s but with gas prices and being a daily driver, fuel economy has to be considered.

3) is LS1Edit for trucks the same as it is for the camaro/vette version (I know I can't use the one I have and would have to buy another setup for the truck)

4) I heard that GM started using the "cylinders on demand" thing that has some lifters that can be "turned on and off" in the truck engines. Do both the 4.8 and 5.3 have this? If I start to hot rod down the road (I have my old TR224/224 that I would love to see in the truck), can I swap the gay *** lifters out for some standard Comp Rs, unplug the solenoids that activated the old lifters, and turn off the code with LS1 edit?

5) can I bolt an LS6 intake on the trucks?

6) what kind of headers can I get (does anyone make Long Tubes)?

7) do the truck Valve springs suck as much as the ones did in my Camaro?

thanks guys?

 

alright well i guess i will chime in
1) the 5.3 has alot more low end torque, the 4.8 is not a bad engine but definitely given the choice the 5.3 is a better all around option, i think in the quarter mile it is somewhere around .3-.4 tenths faster.

2) i swapped my 3:42's for 4:10's and probally lost around 1mpg, and my rpms at 70mph are right at 2000rpm, but keep in mind i have 30.8 inch tall tires. 3:73's compared to 3:42's shouldnt be a huge decrease in gas mileage, probally hardly noticable.

3) I am not a computer expert but i know that LS1Edit works on the trucks and that is how all the tuners such as nelson performance tune the pcms so i would assume it is the same but someone else with more knowledge should answer that one

4) I am almost completely sure this is not an option on current GM truck models

5) I think people have bolted on a ls6 intake onto the trucks, i think it requires the use
of electric fans in order to have enough space to mount the intake and im not sure
if it is a very cost effective mod but to each his own

6) There are a ton of headers available, shorties, mid and long tube. Most
companies that make headers for the f-bodies also make ones for the trucks

 

If you want a V8 Silverado, why not get a SS?
6.0L HO engine, AWD, 4:10 gears
With a little tuning you can get gas mileage almost as good as a stock 5.3... and run 14's in the 1/4-mile.

3) Edit is basically the same for the trucks. Some of the things in the factory tune are different than cars, but nothing you can't figure out.

5) The truck intakes are pretty good. Very close to the LS6 intake in flow numbers. I would say its not worth the trouble/expense of changing the intake (unless, of course, you want one of those "whistling" intakes from magna).

6) Popular truck headers are Arizona Speed and Marine (ASM), The Other Guys (TOG), and JBA shorties.

 

well at $40K+, I think I'll just stick with the 5.3.....hell....for that much money I could buy a V6 version and just do a big bore motor in it

 

Sell you my truck. Only, and I mean ONLY reason i'm selling is to get a diesel.

If i cant sell it, i'm keeping and lifting it. 2003 EXT cab, short bed, 4x4, 4.8 with 37k miles. All highway miles and mostly driving from home to college (1500miles round trip). Some people say "highway miles"- my truck is 95% on the highway.

Blue book is $21,500 i think. It has a dent in the $25 skid plate and one on the bed rail which is prob a $100 fix. Id sell it to you with brand new tires from the diesel (swap at lot, i just got those 33's so) and the 100k mile warantee for $20,500. Or I can prorate the warantee and you can take off that much (prob $700-$800) and swap in a 5.3 but imho another 65k miles or warantee is awesome. Id give you the 33's for another $500 as well.

Let me know if intrested

 

I know, they're not cheap. Don't pay sticker price. People are getting them for $33-35K new. I imagine some low-mileage '03's are out there for less than $30K.
Enjoy, whatever you decide.

 

If you have the money I would get a low priced SS. All the dealers here in Northern Cali are giving em away at $30k. Otherwise if you can find a nicely priced 6.0L HD 4x4 you'd be set. OR if you have the cash I'd say get and HD with a diesel

All 3 of those trucks start off slow (except the SS) and are a great platform to start off with. My buddies HD had all the same mods as i but he weighed a lil more and he spanked me everytime

 

Well I went and tested out one today and overall it’s pretty nice. I am going to go with the 5.3Liter, 4L60, the 3.73s, and the limited slip diff. The truck is supposed to just be a daily driver/carry stuff so it will be quite a while before I start doing much besides the free/cheap mods. Thanks guys

 

buy mine! (its a 4.8 but thats an easy swap!)

 

signed the papers today.....I now already own a fully loaded 5.3Liter LS