Next performance upgrade

[Tahoe7689]

I have an 03 tahoe 5.3L with a K&N FIPK, and high flow cats. I want to get more out of my truck, but I am kind of stuck on what to do next with out breaking the bank. I had throttle body spacer or headers in mind. Any suggestions/ tips would be appreciated. (Do I need an exhaust system to help my truck "breathe" or will the high flow cats take care of all of that?)

 

[JennaBear]

TBS is a waste of money. I would go with headers and a cam. Your cats arent doing too much, as the stock cats have a really good flow. They actually outflow stock cats on a Viper.

Yes a better flowing exhaust will help, but your computer needs to be reprogrammed to take advantage of your intake/exhaust. You have a ton of air coming in, and a possibility of a ton of air out, but nothing to tell her engine to use the air faster.

 

[Tahoe7689]

cool, but I have heard things like tuning will damage your engine, its not meant to be changed or the factory would have done it,...etc. I know nothing about it but its just what I have heard.

 

[JennaBear]

All depends on the tune. From the factory it is tuned for what the manufacturer believes you drive your vehicle like.

 

[Tahoe7689]

do you have any recommendations on headers or cam?

 

[JennaBear]

Depends on what you are looking to get out of them. I would stay away from shorties, as they are all essentially the same as the stockers. If you are using your Tahoe as a DD I would stay in the 206-208 range with 112-114LSA.

 

[Tahoe7689]

I have looked at the banks torque tubes, but I guess those would be the "shorties" you were talking about. What exactly will the headers do to the sound of the vehicle and any places to get good headers?

 

[JennaBear]

Depends on which headers you go with. They will more than likely make your intake sound a bit throatier. I put my headers on with my cam so it is hard to tell where the noise change was.

 

[Polecat]

look at Pacesetters, long tubes, and I like this cam for my 4.8
http://www.compcams.com/Cam_Specs/CamDetails.aspx?csid=1084&sb=2

 

[Tahoe7689]

cool, thanks I think I will go with headers first then cam.