I have been lurking around here for about 2 months now. I have been keeping daily checks on here a couple times a day, trying to learn new things, etc.

I purchased my first truck 11/30/04. Always had the sport compacts for most of my life, but I thought now was the time to move up to the big boys.

I have a great truck so far.

2003 Silverado Ext. Cab long bed
4X4
5.3L
3.73 gears

From this and a few other forums I have been to decide on and completed a few mods so far from all the informative posts.

K&N FIPK
PCforless Tune
Magnaflow dual-in/single-out #12588 exhaust (to be installed in a couple weeks)


I wanted to thank everyone on the forum for a top notch informative and technical postings.

Because of these posts I am learning a lot and I started with no knowledge about my truck or it's engine. But I am now starting to go performance crazy with this truck little by little.

So my question is what's next???? What should I do to progess from here???

Turbos and superchargers are out of the question now. Not ready or able to fork out $1500+ right now, but can little by little make smaller <$1000 mods to my truck to give it the best performance.

So what do you guys suggest???? List me a few things to do and possibly what order I should do them in and I will get back to searching the forums, etc. to go on to the next step in performance.

I was thinking cam and torque converter, but I am still learning and not for sure which sizes/kind would be my best options. Still trying to search around and read the posts on them. But then I have been reading about the 4L60E trannys becoming weak and overpowered with the more mods you put on.

If you had my truck what steps would you take to move it on up in the performance realm.

Thanks to all as I continue to read all the great posts!!!

 

4.10's, 3000 stall, and a Monsterous CAM..... ok maybe not that big....TR224-551 is supposed to be a really good one.

 

Oh Transgo shift kit, Metal Accumulator Piston, Corvette Servo.... You gan get all of it from OregonPerformanceTransmissions on Ebay for around 120 shipped....

 

shift kit and torque converter, then update your tune
If you plan on hauling/towing alot I wouldnt go crazy with a higher stall speed converter

 

Headers!!!

 

Id buy that SC or TC that is around $1500! Try $4000+ but thats not what were on now! Doing the Transgo kit and servo is cool because one you are making your tranny stronger and you are able to get all your TM removed alot safer. A bigger converter would make you alot quicker and you could do the Transgo Shift kit and servo at the same time and save some $ or time. next thing would have to be a cam but if you want a somewhat big cam you really need a bigger Torque converter to make it all work right! That being said I would do the converter(TCI 3000),Transgo Shift Kit,vette servo,and get the rest of your TM removed by PCM4LESS!

 

If I was going to do a little towing every once in a while but not heavy loads, such as a fishing boat say a smaller aluminum bass boat like a Bass Tracker 175 - Boat weight w/o trailer 1000 lbs.

What should I be thinking about to do different with my mods. Would the torque converter be ok? The YANK TRUCK THRUSTER 3000 converter says that I would keep my full factory towing capacity. Which I believe in my truck is around 8,400 lbs or a little more.


Could I still do the mods you all have suggested if I do not tow maximum towing loads??.

This truck is not really a work truck, but a daily driver that would pull a small utility trailer and a fishing boat that I may purchase in the future.

What route should I go in that instance??

I want to get the maximum performance, but I do not want to NOT be able to tow anything at all anymore.

 

I would go with a stall and a trans-go. The yank TT3000 that you mentioned is a great choice, or if you are on a budget you could go with a stock torque converter out of a trailblazer that will act like a 2500 stall, and you will still be able to tow perfectly. I think that you are definately on the right track with those mods. You may want to look at some headers after that. Do you have emissions testing? If not then Pacesetter just came out with some good looking longtubes for CHEAP. TexasSpeed, and Pro-dyno both carry them(sponsors)----->

Good luck deciding