Mods are in sig. I'm going to install my headers...soon. Then I'll get Nelson's tuning as soon as there is another group purchase.

What should I do in the mean time? Or should I just save money for a 6.0/4l80e swap and not fk around.

I was going to get electric fans, underdrive pulleys, bbk tbody, shift kit, direct hits/ngk, better exhaust pipes, z06 mass air, etc. but I'm realizing that these things are probably just bs and won't do crap for me.

What should I do? Just work on little stereo/appearance mods until I can take the plunge for more cubes?

 

I didn't really do any mods to my 5.3 (just the very basics & mods that will transfer over for the swap).
If you are short on cash, but still have some to spend....I would just invest in mods that will transfer over to the 6.0/4L80E.

-First and foremost, I would get Nelson's Tune.....it will help you now, and he will also retune your pcm for the swap (which is a must) because I think its like unlimited tunes or something.....you just have to pay a flat fee to have him ship you a pre-programmed pcm.

-2nd, I would invest in ceramic coated Long Tube Headers instead of the shorties (these will also transfer over to the 6.0)...its a difference between about a 5hp gain or 25-30hp

-You might as well get a 160 thermostat as well (will transfer)

-43lb. injectors (you wont notice any performance from these, but will be needed later on if you keep modding like cam, headers, FI--screw the 30lb.ones, just go for the 43s) will transfer

-Nitrous will always transfer over and best bang for the buck...can be setup to not stress the motor (I'd say 100-125 shot if you wanna be near absolutely safe)

-Cant think of anything else at the moment, but I'm sure there is a lot more

 

hey bmbutler has gotten you in the right direction. hey butler give me a hollar if you need any help. i wanna see that truck. then i will know to stay away from it.

 

Oh yeah, things you will want to wait on that won't transfer over to a 6.0 / 4L80E are:
-Stall (I got a Yank 2800 Converter) for 4L80 (4L60 & 4L80 are different bolt pattern)
-HD2 Transgo Shift Kit (will not work in 4L60)
-Cam (I say you cant switch only because you can put a more aggresive cam in a 6.0 than a 5.3 to have near the same added effect....although, realistically, they are interchangeable....basically the same motor)
I am going with Comp #54-426-11 (222-224, .567 lift, LSA112)



You may have been joking, but if you'd like, come stop by the shop and check it out. We're doing the cam package and dropping the new motor/trans in the truck tonight.....tomorrow, we plan on hookin' everything back up in the motor compartment and making the crossbrace for the 4L80. Most of the parts we were waiting on finally just came in this morning (ie: cam package, stall, misc. things)...what a coincidence!

Just shoot me an email...the shop its at is near downtown right off of 45....I come from La Porte though.

Cya!
-Brandon

 

So put that cam you mentioned in teh 5.3L. It'll work fine. I have a 226/.535/112 in mine and it's great. I make decent power (mostly up top) now that I have tuning (didn't have it when I dynod'). Only problem is your lack of a TQ converter might hurt ya

Have you thought about just slapping a blower or turbo on the thing? Even the 6.0L isn't going to do that much unless you slap a power adder on it. I was gonna go your route but opted to do a power adder on my 5.3L till I blow it up THEN I am gonna do a clean rebuild and add more boost. I guess since everyone is swapping motors I kinda wanted to buck the trend and stay smaller cubes and just boost the hell out of it al'a Grand National style LOL.

 

Don't waste your money on the direct hits. I had it on my truck. It did not improve the gas mileage or the performance. It was completely worthless.

 

I am not at all a cam guru...I heavily rely on others to tell me what cam I should go with. I was told the one in my sig would go good with my setup and the nitrous.....cams aren't hard to change though....if I don't like it, it'll be swapped again. I was just told the 6.0's can take a slightly more aggresive cam than the 5.3s. And yes, a stall would almost be a must for the cam.....in which the stall for the 4L60 would not transfer over to the 4L80.....BUMMER!

PUT a power adder on a 5.3, then what?

If you do a motor swap from 5.3 to 6.0 with all the goodies & bolt-ons, then you can add a supercharger & kill a charged 5.3! That's my plan at least.

When the time & money comes though, I may change my mind to another 6.0 block and build it from scratch with bore with forged internals, etc., then add the supercharger & nitrous combo!
Of course, then I'd also have to build the 4L80 up to spec!

 

Spray it!!!