shakenfake

Unless you are doing an engine swap you aren't reaching 400 whp without boost. NA will need everything to hit 500 wheel including a new engine.

You need to write down your goals, set a budget and then double it. Saying you don't have a specific budget in mind is not good. A decent turbo set up with all the supporting mods is going to cost minimum $5,000. The turbo kit alone is $3,000. After you install your fancy turbo kit and start making some real power your transmission will explode and that will be the end of that and you'll need to do a trans swap. Looking at $3,000 for that as well. That's also if you are doing all the work yourself expect a big bill if you farm it out.

Ah starting fresh trying to make power, it wasn't long ago I was trying to shove an LS9 cam in my 5.3 lol The best advice I have for you is READ READ READ and READ some more. Richard Holdener and David Vizard are two great guys to learn from.

Facebook groups are cancer. It is the same **** every single day and those guys get so booty hurt for no reason.

RDF1

Finally found my old dyno sheets from way back when.
Stock LQ4/4L80E Rear mount 60mm turbo 5psi it made 380rwhp.
2800 rpms it made 220rwhp/410rwtq
4000 rpms 380rwhp/480rwtq.

10psi
2800rpms 272rwhp/490rwtq
4000rpms 410rwhp/520rwtq
It was choking out at 5000 rpms tho with that tiny 60mm turbo.

After that i was hooked. It ran 13.2s on 5-6psi and a 12.5 on 5-6psi and 45 shot nitrous.
Took turbo off later and the truck ran 15.2s.

Front mount S475 and Isky 215/215 turbo cam it ran 12.9s on 6psi and mid 11s on about 15psi.
I put 300,000+ miles on that setup without a single issue and towed way more than the truck was rated for.

So after outrunning all my buddys with heads/cam setups i learned a lot and towing some to the track and out running them i enjoyed racing more and more.

I told the OP that a HP number isnt really something to shoot for but picking how fast you want to go is more realistic. Say he wants to go mid 12s with room to grow i like the simplicity of a turbo setup. Can turn the power up and down easy.

Truck i did a couple years ago was a 2005 RCSB Silverado 2wd, stock 5.3 218/222 JFR cam, S475 KB Racing front mount,Alky Control Meth injection, 4L80/circle D Pro converter, 3.73s, 28" tire.
It ran low 11s spinning thru 1st and 2nd gear. Had to put some double adjustable shocks on the rear and it was able to go high 10s very easy and never got over 20psi boost.

He ended up putting a 416 in the truck with a 83mm but broke an axle, overspun engine and broke crankshaft. Put 5.3 back in and kept racing haha. he got it down to a 10.4 after changing up suspension more.
Truck still got 19-20mpg and drives it everyday. I have the torque converter locking up in 3rd and 4th at light throttle so its not just pushing on the converter cruising around drinking gas.

adriver

iTrader: (1)

Welcome. I think I said roughly the same thing 10 years ago, and have ended up doing a bunch of things that weren't what I thought I wanted. I would highly suggest you read a lot before you start spending money. That expected budget you wanted for an engine, and doubled, Now double it again for the rest of the truck if this is your daily driver.

Your factory brakes are poor at best. You need to read up and learn what these are:
Hydroboost swap
NBS SUV rear brakes
NNBS front brakes swap, The 2020+ 4 piston caliper front brakes swap, and the 2020+ 6 piston brakes swap are.

If you have already spun your tires, for when you want to have fun, and when you just want to stay on the road:
Your rear end is budget from the factory. Go read and learn the
AXN 14 bolt rear end swap (sticky)
Truetrac and other differential options.

The rear suspension is a budget, general purpose truck suspension. You should read up on
Caltracs, 3 & 4 link suspension.

You're going to want to read up on tuning, the different companies and types there are. Hptuners is probably the most popular one.

Not sure how far you've gotten so far, but one of the cheapest and easiest mods to help boost confidence is the 4 hi and 6 hi mod. That's one to read up on, and you will probably take care of that real quick.

I think I've been around all the sites for this truck, and this one is by far the most mature and has the most technical knowledge. Everyone starts somewhere don't let the clowns bring you down, just so they can try and feel better. I would suggest doing a lot of reading, and ask away on questions. I think most people who might answer them will know if its something that can be answered by searching for 30 seconds.

Ulyses

Wow this is way more than I expected, thanks for all the info. I really appreciate all the help. I got a lot to learn, I'll keep doing research and try to learn all this stuff. I think I'll be aiming at getting 13 to 14 seconds on the quarter mile with a turbo set up while keeping it daily drivable.

shakenfake

Haha I remember the days when I was going to shove an LS9 cam in my truck. Wasn't so long ago lol

@adriver This site? Mature? Psshsssshhh

adriver

iTrader: (1)

I didn't say it was mature, I said it was the MOST mature. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1.2 is still more than 1.1.

shakenfake

@adriver I know I'm just bustin your chops

RDF1

Dont feel so bad.. i just put a LS9 in a LY2 with a Holley Sniper/MSD 6014 box and twin 66s. When you tell somebody that its not going to make the power you want it to make. But they insist they saw a video on facebook that its good for 700hp..
So the customer is always right, huh?

adriver

iTrader: (1)

WHEN? That was it? oh okay... Feel free to try harder.

strutaeng

Well, at least OP is thinking about performance mods on his truck even though he's in College.

When I was in college there were 2 semester I had nothing but Maruchan noodles, living on student loans, LOL. Towards the end in '08 I got myself a summer job and purchased my 99 Silverado. Truck served me very well and I still have it; brought back to life on it's second engine/transmission. I hope one day I'll pass it on to my oldest son, who is 11 right now.