Looks for a Vortec Max truck. Same drivetrain as the SS without the body cladding and such.

 

Way back in the day I had a 96 xcab 4x4 5.7 vortec shorty headers and a hypertech tune and a CAI plus a catback.Thinking I had a good running otherwise stock truck,one day my buddy showed up driving his brand new demo a bone stock 1999 sierra xcab 4x4 5.3,which they bumped the HP the next year.We took off in a good even launch,trucks side by side and at about 60 he started pulling away,In the quarter he might of had me by 3-4 lenghts.
Not long after that I was on the LS band wagon.

 

I'm a little confused by your last statement. You do realize that all 2003, 2004, and most 2005 SS's are AWD right?

Richard

 

2005 they had a vortec max 2wheel drive,similar to ss but not

2001+ there was the 6.0 denali truck

 

I don't like awd. It saps power, saps mileage and more maintenace. I use my 4wd rarely but need it when I need it.

 

I am right there with you on the AWD
here is a pic of my 06 vortecmax,it was a leather load with the first year of max tow which was 4.10 gear 4L70E and a button to stiffen the shocks,which I wish they still did.I went maggy long tubes and cam and Yank
I recommend find one of these

 

OK, I hear ya now. I don't have any love for AWD either; that's why I bought the '06 SS. You just threw me a little with that comment about 2WD.

Richard

 

I've towed with both stock trucks and prefer the 5.7. the off idle pulling power is better than the 5.3 IMO....but the 5.3 beats the 5.7 in every other department. it also doesn't take much to put the 5.3 performance over the 5.7 in the off idle pulling power.

those old vortecs had some grunt down low and quickly fell off after that.

 

What would you suggest for more off idle power? I talked with an amateur tuner and he said with a tune and torque management off, it's night and day.

 

why not throw some gears in the mix?