Thread on More Power??

[gtcream17]

Ok i used the search button and cant find a good thread. I know it had to be asked before.

What can i do to get more off the line power in my tahoe? I have a 07 LTZ. my buddy has a dodge ram 2500 and that thing can move. Not really looking to compete with his truck, but would like to have some more "get up" in my truck. for say taking off at lights or mergeing into the freeway. any and all help is appreciated

 

[Gambler]

The Tahoe has a lot of torque management built in which really limits your take-off ability. You can either get a custom tune (my recommendation) or a handheld programmer to remove some or all of it. Be very careful with this though, remove it all and you can do some serious damage to your vehicle.

 

[freyguy]

And be careful with the handhelds. I bought a Superchips for my wife's 07 Tahoe, and later found out that there are 7 or 8 different 5.3l's used in 07. I think you look at the 8th digit/letter of the Vin, and go to superchips forum and a guy there can pretty much tell you what your gains will be. I just happen to have the one engine that did not see any gains except for the 93 octane tune. And even then, I saw alot more pickup and awesome shifting, but the gas mileage was the same as factory. So I'll be removing it.

Check out their forums with your vin number in hand. If you want a deal on my superschips, let me know.

 

[SAUDILTZTAHOE]

The Tahoe has a lot of torque management built in which really limits your take-off ability. You can either get a custom tune (my recommendation) or a handheld programmer to remove some or all of it. Be very careful with this though, remove it all and you can do some serious damage to your vehicle.

What kind of damage?

 

[Zed 71]

How much do you want to spend? Short of going FI, the typical bolt ons would add enough to notice (little extra grunt and throttle response), but not really a whole lot hp. At a minimum, cold air intake, high flow cats, high flow exhaust, and an ECU program to tie everything together. Headers may help, but I think the cost per hp at this point may not be worth it.

I agree with Gambler, it seems like torque management is high and a programmer can reduce this. For mild reductions, not sure what the long term affect is on the transmission (more wear and tear). I definetly wouldn't remove it. I think the use of a better final drive like the 4.10 gears is also a good way to get better take off from a stand still.

Hope this helps !

 

[Black Dog]

What kind of damage?

Like basically much more torque is being applied through the drive line, so that extra... well, torque is being felt/endured by parts like the transmission, u-joints & drive shaft, differential, axles. Many of these parts, like the trans and differential, are of questionable strength and can fail if put under too much power (like anything, but relatively easier here because these are not heavy duty parts). Torque Management softens or mitigates that load from being too excessive. In a high torque application you can feel the "twist" caused by resistance to the power as it is fighting to overcome that resistance, and within that struggle is where parts can break. So GM created a "cushion" to protect against failure. I personally would've preferred a 4L80E with a 14 bolt to solve that... But anyway these tunes can remove Torque Management, I think commonly guys will take out like 75% or so, leaving some there. To me that sounds about right; taking it all away is asking for trouble, while much less would make it harder to achieve your goals. However, if I was a lead-foot I would consider removing less; as I drive fairly moderately most of the time, I think I would be okay with the 75% removal. You just don't want to be jarring the drive line and keeping it on the verge of stressed failure. Sorry for the book, but I hope it helps. Would actually love to hear ZX's take on the subject. ZX, you out there?

 

[SAUDILTZTAHOE]

Thanks for your reply Black Dog.

I asked because i am trying to get my PCM reprogrammed without any TM. The only reason i am trying to do so is when the out side temp gets over 100 here the throttle response becomes so weak like for example while driving and trying to change lanes i have to give it 3/4 of throttle before it shifts out of OD and when it does it down shifts to second. So basicly there's no part throttle response or part throttle response sucks.

 

[Gambler]

The torque management won't have anything to do with that. The torque management just affects how much power the engine reduces when changing gears, not how much throttle it takes to change gears. But still, a handheld programmer or custom tune will let you adjust those shift points to your liking.

 

[JennaBear]

The Big 3: exhaust, intake and tune

I just put a new cam, headers, cat converters and tranny cooler on and went from 31-32lbs of air (AEM, Magna catback, tune) to 36lbs of air. Rule of thumb being 10hp per lb of air extra. I still have a shift kit, vette servo and efans waiting for install and I hope to see some more gains after that. This things definitely has some get up now!

 

[Gambler]

The Big 3: exhaust, intake and tune

I just put a new cam, headers, cat converters and tranny cooler on and went from 31-32lbs of air (AEM, Magna catback, tune) to 36lbs of air. Rule of thumb being 10hp per lb of air extra. I still have a shift kit, vette servo and efans waiting for install and I hope to see some more gains after that. This things definitely has some get up now!

Big 3, LOL. I was just reading about all your mods on GMFS yesterday. Looks like you guys did a good job with that! Let us know how it is when you get the rest of the parts installed (when the arm grows back :lol.

 

[JennaBear]

Everything will go in once the e-fan plugs come in.

 

[gtcream17]

Wow thanks for all the responses so far. I thought I was gonna get flamed with “how to use the search button”. So from what im reading a Professional Tune, Intake, and Exhaust will give me more power than I have. Now the hard part is going to find a place where I can install all these parts. Living down in Key West, not much tuning shops here. Tons of Boat marinas/shops though. Have to go up to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Anyone know of a good Shop up that way?

I will be searching the forums now to see which would be the best setup. As far as intake, exhaust, tune.

 

[JennaBear]

You should be able to install your intake on your own no problem. I installed my catback exhaust but any exhaust shop should be able to get that done for you at a decent price. You could also just have a Meineke install a muffler to your current pipes. I personally try to install all my own stuff, so as to not have to pay for the hefty labor prices.

 

[Zed 71]

JennaBear, it looks like you got ~40 hp from intake, cams, headers, high flow cats and exhaust, and tune. What is your cost per hp? I would have thought with cams and headers, there would have been more gains. Before and after dynos would have been cool.

Gtcream, yeah I agree with JennaBear; intake will be easy to install and you should be able to get a custom exhaust installed for less than a pre-manufactured setup. As far as tune, the handhelds are a good option. I think a dyno tune is overkill (for the Tahoe and your expected use).

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Gambler]

I think people think tunes cost more than they really do. They are about half what a handheld costs... Well, depending where you go anyway.

 

[JennaBear]

JennaBear, it looks like you got ~40 hp from intake, cams, headers, high flow cats and exhaust, and tune. What is your cost per hp? I would have thought with cams and headers, there would have been more gains. Before and after dynos would have been cool.

QUOTE]

Not quite sure you mean by cost per hp?

My Tahoe has never been on a dyno, but the numbers were off of just the air intake alone (without WOT). I am waiting to get my shift kit and servo in before I open it all the way up. I also installed new lifter springs, so making sure they are cycled properly.

 

[ZX1100F1]

40hp from an air intake alone?
Don't believe everything that you read.

 

[JennaBear]

No the calculations of the amount of air that was being processed through the engine, not the CAI. I am not that gullible. We were monitoring the engine using EFILive.

 

[oneshot]

Trust JennaBear, she knows what she is talking about. Plus her other half Justin runs BlackBear Performance and tunes our PCMs all the time. He did my old 04 Tahoe and it was night and day different. I have a vette now and plan on having him tune my car. Then comes the wifes new to her 07 tahoe.

 

[Ickulus]

QUOTE=Gambler;73210]I think people think tunes cost more than they really do. They are about half what a handheld costs... Well, depending where you go anyway.[/QUOTE]

:iagree:[

Not to mention that the tune is made for YOUR vehicle, whereas a programmer is a cookie cutter answer for all Tahoes......