TwentyPints

Hey, just signed up... just got my 04 silverado, and i'm lovin it! its a 4.8 L, short box, reg cab. does anyone have any suggestions for some simple performance improvements i can make. i just picked up a k&n filter but didnt' put it in yet. was thinkin about a magnaflow muffler maybe? any imput from you guys would help... just a newbie here. lol

thanks!

airtight_python

Complete intake and exhaust kits will definately improve performance. K&N and Flowmaster have nice reputations. Intake might give 10-15 HP and exhaust 15-20 HP. Other cheap mods would include a performance mass airflow sensor and a 160 or 180 degree thermostat to get cooler air into the intake. Look at superchips or power programmers. If you've got the money look into a supercharger. If you want to improve appearance and handling slap a cowl inducted hood and a 3"/4" drop kit on it. Have fun with it! Wish I had the 4.8 or 5.3. Damn.

TwentyPints

thanks for the tips... do you know if any of those upgrades will void my warranty? was already looking at the k&n intake kit, it goes for around $400 (canadian $$). i was thinking of a magnaflow muffler maybe. do you know how these are, or any other ones you can reccomend? kinda on a low budget for now...still payin for the truck lol. im definately happy with the short box/reg cab. glad i got it and not the long box.

airtight_python

I have heard that on '04 models GM will void your warranty for using free flow filters such as K&N. I'm not sure about any of the other mods. Check into that K&N. If you never find out just keep a plain ol' filter to stick in it when you take it in for service. They'll never know unless you put the entire FIPK in it. Then I guess they'd figure huh.

blackbok

This subject was much talked about at the Subaru forum I used to be on. The "warranty void" is ridiculous. How are they going to void my entire warranty for one thing, such as an air filter? First off, I (we) are entitled to use any air filter sold to fit our trucks in it's stock housing. It is a disposable piece of equiptment. As long as it has been engineered for our specific application, there is nothing inherently wrong with using it. Unless GM provides us with FREE air filters for life, I can use whichever one I want. Second, how do you void the entire car's warranty based on an engine component. So I have my car for a month and take it in for a knock in the engine bay. They see my K&N, tell me my warranty is hereby voided and I go home and cry. A week later my transmission blows. Or my tire falls off. Or my radio craps out. Do they cite the K&N as a cause of these things? Voiding an entire warranty is ludacris. If they chose to void a specific component, that I suppose is up to them. But again, it is an air filter. Are there restrictions on fuel and oil filters too? what about spark plugs?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to put you (brandon_rip84) down for the void comment, I just hate when these car manufacturers say crap like this and think it's gonna fly.

Rant over.

airtight_python

Yes, this is ridiculous but I'm not positive on it. Just heard about it and thought I'd let the guy know. Just in case ya know. I've got an '02 and plan on putting K&N on probably next week anyway. No big deal what GM says about anything.

GMMerlin

Well here is my 2 cents..(you can give me my change later)..The automaker has designed the vehicle a certain way and they pretty much have the say so on weather or not they will warranty any defect caused by an aftermarket installed part.
Here is the senerio...you install a K&N filter on your truck and over oil it.
The SES light comes on and you take it to the dealer to have it fixed under warranty...the Tech ( a damm goodlooking guy named Merlin) determines that the oil residue from the filter has contaminated the MAF sensor and the MAF will have to be replaced..
Was the MAF sensor a factory defect?
Should GM pay the dealer to replace a part that was contaminated by oil from your K&N filter?
Now I am not knocking K&N products..I use them on my vehicles.

So....the dealer tells you they are not going to warranty the repair..you get pissed off, cuss out the dealer, run home, jump on the trusty Dell and slam the dealer and GM here on AF..
The truth of the matter is that the dealer knows that GM is not going to reimburse them for replaceing the MAF because the failure was not a factory defect and that the dealer will have to absorb the cost of fixing your vehicle because GM will not pay them...so the dealer loses money.
GM tells the dealer how much they will pay them for a warranty repair...GM pays so much for parts and so much for labor..thats it. (which means that usually GM pays less for a part then a dealer can buy same part from another dealer)...kind of like me walking into your place of business and telling you I know that you make $10 an hour, but I am only going to pay you $7 an hour while you take care of me...does that sound fair to you? Or better yet..you are going to work for me, but I'm not going to pay you at all..you will have to pay yourself...

Bottom line if the failure is a direct result of a factory defect, the repair is warranty..if the failure is not a direct result of a factory defect because you installed an aftermarket part..you pay

__________________
Why do you never have enough time or money to do the job right the first time, but enough time and money to do it again?
Got all the certifications
25 years ASE Certified Master Technician
GM WCT
Yea..I work at a DEALERSHIP....got a problem with that?

blackbok

Absolutley. I have no problem with that. If I screw it up, and they can prove that, it's my problem. It's the total warranty void that irks me. Again, it's like saying they're not going to fix a broken seat bracket at 10,000 miles because I put in a K&N.

vnotaro

Here's two more cents on the subject.

Your entire vehicle warranty should not be voided just because of an aftermarket price. A GM Tech at a dealership once told me that the warranty will only be voided if it can be shown that the aftermarket product caused the problem! So if you've added an aftermarket intake system and a set of headers and then your rear end blows, the warranty should still be in effect. Most dealerships won't tell you this! Of course, you may have to go back and forth with the service manager over this, but it does make sense!

GMMerlin

OK, but if you add "go fast goodies" to your vehicle and the dealer or GM finds evidence of the vehicle not being used as designed..then the failure is once again not a result of a factory defect but customer induced failure.. not a warranty repair.
Addition of aftermarket parts does not void the entire bumper to bumper warranty, but warranty coverage can be denied if the aftermarket installation resulted in the failure of a factory system or part.

__________________
Why do you never have enough time or money to do the job right the first time, but enough time and money to do it again?
Got all the certifications
25 years ASE Certified Master Technician
GM WCT
Yea..I work at a DEALERSHIP....got a problem with that?

CRUZING93

What if you put in a 40 series set of flowmasters that sound really good. Is the warranty voided?

I got a 04 Silverado 5.3 V8, LOVE my new baby!