hey everyone, I have decided I want to supercharge my 05 Silverado 1500 4x4 with the l33 engine. I know there is a lot more that is needed to be done than just slapping a supercharger on there and calling it good. so I will need your guys help. I am an ASE certified tech, went to school and everything so I do know my way around a car and have or have access to just about any tool. but I am actualy going back to school for a few more classes and getting into some diesel classes, so I am on a budget. being on a budget I think it would be best to do this build in stages. so I have some time in between stages where I can save up but still drive my truck as it is my daily driver. so I need your guys help on the perfect setup for me, and how I should build it in stages.

current truck setup: 2005 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3 vin b., 3.42 gearing, stock 4l60e with corvette servo. nelson performance tuned pcm.

so for the stages, I thinking maybe in this order.
stage 1- tune (already have), headers, cai, shift kit, gauge pod w/ gauges.
stage 2- cam, diff gearing, retune
stage 3- built 4l60e or 4l80e swap, stall converter, retune
stage 4- supercharger (magnuson, vortec or whipple) retune.
stage 5- small lift, probably 2-4 inches and 33'' tires

so what do you guys think? do those stages sound like they would be good to go by? or is there more I need to add? keep in mind don't have the cash to buy all the parts at once. also as for all the parts, I would love recommendations on brands and setups, like what brand supercharger to go with? gear ratios? cam? intake? ect.. also is a built 4l60e more budget friendly than a 4l80e swap. like i said this truck is my daily driver so i need it to be the most reliable and drivable setup i can get. i don't race my truck but i don't drive it like a grandpa either, i do like to have fun with it. i also do tow some small trailers and snowmobiles, nothing huge tho. I have done tons of research on setups like this, but now that I want to slowly build up my truck, I want as much help and knowledge as I can get!

thank you all in advance for any and all help! let me know if you need any more info! this will be a long term build but I think it will pay off in the end.

 

id get some ebay headers, and wait to find a good deal on the intake, and prob cam. deff get a 4l80e. im in mine so far $1600 with a $1100 TQ converter. thats ntb... your on the right track step wise for the most part. also id de a tru-trac with your gears. you'll what a tranny cooler as well. if you want check out my build thread im pretty much running what your doing except im gunna go turbo soon...

 

My recipe for mid 11's with a blown L33.

2001 ECSB 4x4 Z71, L33 5.3, Radix, 2.8 pulley, 92mm FAST throttle body, 4" intake, VHP Trucker cam, 216/224 .551/.551 115 lsa, 1.8 Crane Gold roller rockers, 4l65E, SC3000, ARH 1 7/8 into a 4" AFE Duramax system, HPTuners 2-bar OLSD, 4.10/Tru-trac, Cal-Tracs, 3-5 drop, 11.62 at 113.31 mph.


Things I'd do differently: 4L80E.

Things I'd recommend for you, since you want a small lift and 33's: 4.56 gears.

Options: I think any of the popular PD blowers will get you there.

 

just installed my nelson tuned pcm tonight! came in the mail while I was at work. wow wat a difference! truck drives so much better and you can tell there is a little more power! A+ to Nelson Performance!

I plan on pacetter ceramic coated longtubes, off road y pipe and 3'' back exhaust as my next investment. should I get the transgo hd2 shift kit for my 4l60e till I do a 4l80e? or should the trans hold up to the tune headers and intake just fine?

also as for the 4l80e swap. how much am I looking at spending on the whole swap and parts needed? what other parts will I need? and is there any specific year 4l80e I should keep an eye out for? will I still need to put upgraded internal in it? or will it handle the power of the supercharger? I want to get the whole truck built nice and stout before I do the supercharger so I know it will handle the power when I do get a charger.

also will the 4l80e have really tall gearing compared to my 4l60e? will I need to put different gears in the 4l80e to get it to a better ratio? or is it fine as is?

thanks again!
nick

 

anyone? also I am looking to beef up my 4l60e till I can to the 80e swap, which will be a while down the road. what do you recommend doing/ replacing in the trans to beef it up? I will definatly be doing the trans go hd2 shift kit, 40k cooler, torlon check *****, new gm separator plate, 1-2 and 3-4 pinless accumulators, servo release kit, deeper trans pan. anything else I should do? should I do the trail blazer torque converter swap? or go with a higher stall? want this trans to hold up to as much power as possible without having to put in beefier internals. atleast for now

nick