Hope I'm in the right forum....

When I stumbled onto this site, I found myself not knowing crap. Since I have been tweakin my Hoe, I just felt that I wasn’t reaching that power threshold that I was looking for. Started exploring superchargers and decided on a Whipple until a friend suggested looking into purchasing new heads and cam. Bout half the price? So, while searching the internet, I find you guys….It’ll take a few weeks of reading your posts to get the hang of things, i.e. – lsa, GenIII(got that one)…cam degrees, and so on. So, beat me gently when I ask stupid questions…

So, here’s where I am –
02 Tahoe – 5.3L – 4WD
K&N Series 77
Airaid TB Spacer
Cat back duals - Magnaflo with internal “X” pipe (single unit)
Superchips handheld
Running 93 Oct fuel
20” wheels
Eibach Anti-Sway Bars
KYB MonoMax

Here’s where I want to be –
Be able to break the tires loose
Increase throttle response – wanna feel like I’m moving forward when I hit the gas - I want that bobble heads in the passenger seat thing.....
Increase MPG?
Enjoy the chase when given the opportunity…(dang rice burners!)
Wanna beat my boss when we race (He’s got an 03 Yukon 2WD and he leaves me in 3rd - tired of being he has close to the same set up I do.)

I know this 6K# beast won’t be a screamer like some of your rides but I know it can do better than where I am right now. I like the idea of a new cam, heads and a Nelson PCM but my knowledge just ain’t there yet…so any suggestions, teachings and otherwise slapping around would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

I wouldnt bother wit Heads right now.

do this-

TrailBlazer v6 Torque Converter, stall speed of aprox. 2700rpm
MagnaCharger Radix
GT2-3 cam
918 valvesprings
hardened pushrods
Nelson tune
Longtube heades


.....you'll have a screamer!

But if experience wise you arent ready for tha cam, you can put that off for a while. The Radix is an easy less than 1 day install, and if you go with Dynatech Supermaxx headers they will bolt right up. The TC is a little more difficult but if done at the same time as the Radix, it will be easier(intake manifold removed)

And a new PCM is cake, you got two bolts and a clip to work with lol.

 

thats a good parts list for sure.... make sure your wallet is ready for it though.... chances are, if you were looking towards heads already, you've got a little scratch laying around. .... there's no reason why your 'hoe cant be damn fast...

 

those hoes can be fast with a little FI, spend your money wisely on what you know you want, decide between SC, heads, and cam combination do your research while talking with manufacturers that little list of parts will probably run you a pretty penny like say 6 grand and thats with you installing everything

 

Thanks for your replies!... Looks like there's a couple of camps of thought on getting there. Cam & heads or SC...or both. I'm leaning on the first for cost. I can always come back and bolt on an SC. That way I can see the performance increase mod by mod... Thanks and I'll keep you posted.

 

yea, cost wise and in the end you will probably end up with all of the above like many on here, cam and heads woudl be a GREAT start to any engine

 

SC = ~100rwhp & similar torque for $4800 (installed urself)
Cam & Heads = ~75-100hp (argueably) & torque for $2000 to sky's the limit. I'd buy the cam and port the 5.3 heads to save cash. Or even cheaper is to just drop a new 6.0L ($3500 new) or used ($1000-$2000) and then u got a platform to crush ur boss. Easiest way to break loose cheap tho is a custom tune instead of the mail order (maybe $500-600 v $400 for Nelson) and then get rid of the 20's and go back to stock. Those big rims and tires weigh a ton (unless u have custom billet wheels I guess). Check all the guys here that race and notice not many make the runs on big rims and tires. It takes quite a bit of torq to get AWD breakin' loose. If u stay NA, get some long tube headers ($1000-1200) and high flow cats, bigger TB, and Granitelli MAF (or u can gut the stock MAF by removing the fine screen to increase flo). Lastly and easiest/cheapest of all put a 75 shot of NoS and ull crush him (about$1000-1200 installed). R/

 

firstly, you can get some nice Lt's and ORY for 500 not 1000 and alot of people oppose the Granatelli because its very hard to tune for and dont recommend descreening in favor of a vette MAF sensor instead even though i did and havent had a problem, and your nos you could easily do yourself with a kit for 450. a 6.0l would be an awesome platform to start anew from though, for the price of a SC you could get a new engine and cam it and probably have more power than you wanted. not to mention more possibilities for FI later