Low cost upgrades/modification??

I also have the 5.3L and I probably ave around 340 per tank. Most of my driving stands around 45-60 mph, up and down the hills of Colorado. If I'm getting on the horses which happens I'll run about 300 on a tank, but with gas prices where they are around here I try to limit it as much as possible

I have the 5.3, and I drive like a bat out of hell most of the time... Where I live there isn't even a stoplight the town is so small, so most of my driving is crusing back roads. I usually average about the same even if i get a call in the middle of the night and have to run 80+ to the FD.

Hey how did you post your Pic????

I uploaded it to my gallery, then inserted a link to it in my signature..very simple. :)

Are those Mickey Thompsons on your truck??

Wow you guys only get 3xx miles? I get around 500 miles per tank. Ok, I have the 35 gallon tank. We get about 16-17mpg (city 25% highway 75%) and we try to keep it between 70-75mph on the highway. The we there is my wife, she drives it like I do, and we switch off the vehicles so one doesn't get too many miles (I drive 110 miles round trip to work).

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/bananasmile.gif (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&s=#)Well with the addition of the 70 Series FM, Torza top & k&n I'm at over 400 with a 4.8 , 26 gal tank.

:bananadie

Are those Mickey Thompsons on your truck??

No, its not Mickey's. Its Cooper A/T's 285/75/16. So far I really like them. Im partial to mud tires, which is what I'll get next, but for an all-terrain, they've been really good so far.

I'll tell ya man, I want some '03 taillights really bad for some reason here lately. I thought at first they were horrible looking, but now I'm starting to really like them. E-bay is too expensive ($100+). I'd also like some factory fender flares that I can paint to match, or either leave black.

No, its not Mickey's. Its Cooper A/T's 285/75/16. So far I really like them. Im partial to mud tires, which is what I'll get next, but for an all-terrain, they've been really good so far.

I'll tell ya man, I want some '03 taillights really bad for some reason here lately. I thought at first they were horrible looking, but now I'm starting to really like them. E-bay is too expensive ($100+). I'd also like some factory fender flares that I can paint to match, or either leave black.

Have you had any problems balancing the 285's? I'm also running 285, BFG/AT. I have one tire that has 5 ounce weight on one side of the rim and I think that is why at around 45 I have a little bound in the truck. I'm going to rebalance them this weekend to see if it changes but i might have to mount the tire again on the rim.

3 of them only used about 1 oz of weight, maybe a little more, then I had one that used about 3½ oz. I am a firm believer in getting tires trued right when purchased, but I didnt have time with this set, and I can tell a difference. They do ride smooth though.

The only thing that i'm not sure about the 03 tail lights are how dim they are at night or if the weather sux. They do look good though!!!

What is the best chip to use for the 5.3

a User Named MacD997 said that the "superchip" works well. on page 4 of this Thread, he gives a number where it can be ordered.
Anyone who has a "superchip" let me know how it works..
Thanks, Jimmy

I have a Hypertech, and I can't stand to drive without it installed anymore. Truck just feels kinda weak without it. I bought it about 3 days after buying my truck and I love it so far. Unless I can find something that just blows it away, I wouldn't get rid of it for nothing.

Who here has done the Escalade door handles? If so, please tell me the kind of work it entails, and all the specifics. Oh, and most important, does it look good? Thanks.

One of my friends has a truck that looks identical to mine except its a extended cab 2wd and he installed the Escalade handles. He claims you have to take the inside door panel off to install it, and if he said it was easy, it really must be. He's not the best at working on things if ya knowhatimean.

Is it possible to exchange a 5.3 with a Duramax? I'm sure it would cost plenty but @ 40 to 50 cents per gallon from diesel to the 85oct what the hell it adds up.

Just like sonny said I also noticed an instant change. If you look at all the after market intakes they don't have the screen. The big thing if you do decided to take it out just be sure NOT TO HIT the cold and hot sensors. If you look at a K&N replacement filter all it is, is one big screen


______________
hey, could you explain wat you meant by be sure not to hit the cold and hot sensors...? i don't understand what that means. ;)

[QUOTE=juma33] (5) get a K&N cone filter, rubber pipe couplers from home depot, and build a intake like on the corvette - short, right off the intake (50). cold air quick gives a big punch. probably worth 10 hp at least. Its 20 on a caprice, verified by dyno. (6) the throttle position sensor can often be fine tuned to give better throttle response. need a multimeter to get the voltage at idle then set it to spec by drilling out one screw hole of the sensor and rotate to get the precise voltage, then tighten the screw. [QUOTE-juma33]

all of this sounds very interesting and very helpful. but could you please explain how to "build an intake likeon the corvett"...?
also elaborate on "drilling out one screw hold of the sensor and rotate to get the precise voltage & tighten screw"?

I dont have that much room in front of my intake when i was installing my FIPK2 I noticed that it just cleared the fan when it comes off the throttle body and makes the turn towards the airbox. Maybe if you changed out your fan and trimmed the shroud.. you still need room to mount your MAF Sensor.. I dont see it working on the 4.8 - 5.3 Silverados. I could be wrong but I just dont see the available space needed For the filter and MAF.
-Jimmy

2 of the major mods that were under $50. If you look in at your mass flow sensor, you will see a medal screen. CHevy places a restrictor plate in their trucks to regulate the amount of HP " I believe " The medal plate by the mass flow sensor is a restrictor plate. I removed it and noticed an instant difference on excelleration and gas milage. Cost of mod. $0.000 and I get on ave. 18 mpg in city and 22 on highway when it use to be 14/18. These are the type of mods I'm looking for...
Would that be a metal plate or a metal screen? Thank you.

Its a Screen inside your MAF.. its about a 1/4 inch thick and with a flat head screwdriver you can gently push it out on the outer edges. make sure you dont hit the tiny sensors running across the inside of the MAF!!!!

Its a Screen inside your MAF.. its about a 1/4 inch thick and with a flat head screwdriver you can gently push it out on the outer edges. make sure you dont hit the tiny sensors running across the inside of the MAF!!!!
Thanx.
My friend has a 2000 with a 5.3 in it and mine is a 98 with a 5.7. Mine has less miles on it then his. His is all stock. Mine has an exhaust system and intake and I took the screen out today. He came over and we raced our trucks. I took him right off the line then he passed me and pulled me! I thought that might have been the case. I heard the 327 were quick.

Hey does anyone know how to adjust the parking brake cable so that it is firm? and so that the parking brakes actually work

What is a good exhaust system to go with?
Go to http://www.magnaflow.com