I have an 02 silverado with the 5.3. I am looking to get more power out of it. The power goal will be about 400-450RWHP. I don't necessarily have a certain amount of money I'm looking to spend as it will be something I do over time and I know It won't be cheap. The motor doesn't have a whole lot done to it. Just a CAI, tune and exhaust. The transmission was recently rebuilt and has a vette servo and a billet 1-2 accumulator. I'm not really looking for any forced induction of any kind. Any ideas on what type of things I should start looking into?

 

is this a daily driver? a blower or turbo is the easiest way to get those power numbers and keep a comfortable daily driven truck

 

It is a daily driver. I drive about 2 hours a day on the highway. If I did one of those would I have to get anything else to go along with it? Or what would be my options be if I didn't go with one of those

 

You'd need a ton of mods to hit 450rwhp on a NA motor, more cubic inches would make it alot easier for sure.

A simple turbo kit or blower kit would make that power without a problem. You'd need a fuel system to handle it, like a single 450 pump, 60lb/hr injectors. Then a 2 bar map sensor along with other things to go along with a boosted motor.

Even if you decide to upgrade the camshaft with maybe a set of headers and a intake you'll need to upgrade your fuel injectors anyway. Factory 24lb/hr injectors will be maxed out super fast.

 

About what would be the price of all those things. And what would the Install time be? What would my mileage look like. I'm currently getting about 18-19 highway. I understand it won't be great but as i drive 2 hours a day at least I don't want it to drop to crap

 

A larger engine with mods would reduce mileage as it would require more fuel and your foot would play a role.

A turbo or supercharger with a stock motor should keep it the same outside of boost with a good tune and you keeping your foot out of it.

Even a cam swap with headers with a good tune should net you the same MPG if not better if the tune is really nice.


Your ability to turn a wrench would be a time factor. The TVS blowers say like 8-10 hours of install time in the manuals. A turbo kit maybe around the same if you can wrench good and nothing gives you problems. Cam swaps maybe the same amount of time or longer if you are cleaning everything, installing a bunch of other new parts at the same time. Give yourself a long weekend to do anything like these is always a good idea.

 

Alright thanks. One last question. How would my tranny with those mods hold up to that? What else would have to be done to it?

 

If you're running a bone stock 4l60e then...no. It will quit with more HP/TQ pushing through it. Will either need to chase the mythical built 4l60e or just save your $ and find a decent 4l80e donor and do the swap. JMTC...

 

Easiest way to get 400-450rwhp out of a 5.3 is either boost or nitrous.
I've done as much as you can to a stock bottom end 5.3 with Heads, Cam, Intake, Exhaust and with all those mods im only at 355rwhp and 340rwtq.

That being said, nitrous and on a 100 Shot it was 497rwhp and 477rwtq on a very hot 102 degree day in AZ.

You want a reliable 450 rwhp dailey driver, Get a 6.0 LQ4 or LQ9 truck block or even the lighter ls2. Either way with same mods as my 5.3 it'll be able 70 to 100 rwhp difference.

Now if you go to a 6.0, you can kiss that 60e goodbye. Even after being "built" i've broke mine twice. Currently doing my 80e swap, would higley rec. doing that.

But after all said and done, my heavy old 300k ECSB 5.3 still out runs those old 4.6 motors, and most cars and trucks on the road, Hell even goes up against a H/C/E Silverado SS, the AWD is what got me off the line but he only pulled half a truck on me, so all depends on what set up you run, but N/A 5.3 with 400 rwhp is hard..

 

The best most reliable way would be to add displacement one way or another with a mild cam.
I would either get a 6.0l or build your 5.3 into an iron 5.7.
Then get a good set of 243s either stock or ported, mild cam, and efan conversion. Headers of course. Youd be right there. Prob a mild converter also. Nothing too crazy.