Best Modifications

i recently got my Tax return and ran in to some money that is going into my truck but i have so many things i want to do i have a bonus coming up in 2 months that i will spend on it too. i want to know which ones are the MOST helpful in performance. Please comment on my suggestions and add numbers in mpg if you can or any notable difference or tell me if its a waste. thanks

2000 Silverado 2500 Heavy Duty 6.0

K&N replacement box w/ filter
MAF Sensor
Dual Exhaust (magnaflows or flows?)
Bed Cover

appearance wise put in order i should get
tinted windows 10%
Blackout light covers (my truck is black)
Billet grill ( should i get smoked or polished)
spray in bedliner

please post a pic with any of these mods

Well,

I can tell you what I've done to mine and how I liked it. I've got a 99 Silv 4.8L Ext Cab. The engine responded GREAT to the MAC intake (looks just like the KN FIPK but was under $200). I was very happy with the mod....it added responsiveness and a great growl when I punch it.

Today I had Flow 40 series 1in, 2out put on running straight out the back. I'm still undecided. It didn't seem to help or hurt performance. The sound is just a little louder than I was looking for, but it does sound awesome when punched, and quiet at cruise, but just too loud during normal acceleration. Maybe I'll get used to it...or maybe I'll put in the Magnaflow. :eek:

My next mod is the programmer. I'd take pics of the above, but you'll have to buy me a digital camera first! :biggrin:

2000 silverado, 4.8l,short bed, std cab,5 speed, locking rear diff with 410 gears, 285/75/16 bfg's.
I pulled the screen out of infront of the MAF stock sensor. Big difference in throttle response and over all efficiency of motor. I would recommend this to everyone, i wouldn't bother buying aftermarket maf unless you do other drastic mods and have money to burn. Currently trying to save pennies for 77-series k/n cold air charger. a must do!!!! I'm a firm believer in flowmasters but you should make sure the model of muffler you buy doesnt turn out to be more sound than you want.
Apperence wise: I have the ten percent tint (love it )but you have to have a doctors perscription for it in my state( W V). I just told my eye doctor i was sensitive to bright lights and he wrote me a script, no questions. I rino lined my bed and have been real happy with its ability to stiffen up bed and and handling of truck in general, especially 4 wheeling. Finally, personally i wouldn't black out my lights or brake lights, for the simple fact that i want to be as vissable as possable to all the grandmas and grandpas out there who can't see over their dash. Jack

I have a Victory Red 2000 Silverado 4 door extended cab with the 5.3. Mods include:Granatelli maf,JBA silver coated headers,MSD wires,S&P throttle body spacer,Flo-Pro muffler,Air-Max cold air tube with K&N,4:10 rear,tinted windows,tonneau cover,Goodmark cowl hood,hypertech tuner,billit grille and bowtie,GMC chrome side trim,lowered 2-4,sprayed-in bedliner. I'm probably forgetting other stuff. I have pics at: http://public.fotki.com/Willys33/my_trucks . I'll try to answer any questions for you. Most motor mods were on it when I bought it. Good luck with yours.

i have my flowmaster delta force 40 series ordered. can anybody give me any links where the best deal on air intakes are?

http://www.kandn.com/images/l/57-3023.jpg

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33636&item=2458391858#ebayphotohosting

this is what i am looking at

willys33, great stock drop and spears! Been thinking about a stock drop myself. What kit did you use?

Nucleus, When I got the truck, it was lowered 3-6" (3" springs,flip kit and c-notched). Looked kinda' cool but, totally impractical to haul stuff. I put 2" drop front springs in and unflipped the axle. With the Bell-Tech shackle, the ass-end was too low so I put the stock shackle back on and kept the Bell-Tech spring hanger, so the current stance is 2-2". It has a slight rake which is what I wanted. Hope I explained that ok...Thanks for your comments. BTW, this is the most comfortable, best handling truck I've ever owned.

Willys33, talk about custom! I follow what you're saying. I'm looking for a 2" drop in front and 3" out back w/o a notching it. Where and how much or the spears?

Thanks, I have an old pal that works at a Chevy-GMC dealer and he got the GMC trim for me. I think I paid about $140 for the 8 pieces. To me, I think it's a great improvement. My truck looked like a big red slab without it. I haven't decided on the wheel well trim yet....
You don't have to notch the frame for a 2-4" drop.That said, a friend has a 2003 Silverado with a 2-4" and his occasionally hits. He's putting bags on the rear to help with load carrying and that should cure the bumping too. I don't think they make a 3" shackle. I think, if you just put a 4" shackle on it, you'll end up with a 2"drop. You should check with BellTech or whatever companys' stuff you're going to use. 3" would be an ideal shackle to have, then the truck would be level. Hope my explanation makes sense. lol
Oh yeah, ask about the truck leaning to the left with front spring replacement. There's a spacer that is supposed to be installed under the left front spring. Don't forget to add that. My truck leans left 1" because I forgot about the spacer. When it warms up, I'll fix it.

Hey, thanks for the advice. Does your friend have a flip kit out back or just shackles?

He has hangers and shackles on his. No flip. Hope I was able to help you make some decisions on doing some mods.

[QUOTE=jumpingjack66]2000 silverado, 4.8l,short bed, std cab,5 speed, locking rear diff with 410 gears, 285/75/16 bfg's.
[I]I[B] pulled the screen out of infront of the MAF stock sensor.

What is the MAF sensor, what does the screen do, and where is it found? Any negative connotations to removing the screen?
Thanks, Tim

Check this out - http://www.sshotrods.com/performance/gmtruck/
It shows everything you need to know about the MAF screen. I have a 97 1500 Z71 with ALOT of miles on it, and after I did this mod I could really tell a difference in the throttle response. It is a very nice free mod. So far I personally have'nt found any negetive side affects. :naughty:

Did removing the screen affect the mileage?
Thanks, Tim

Well, to tell you the truth, I'm not for sure. I used to get about 12 mpg, but about three weeks after I removed the screen, I added a throttle body spacer, and I didn't do a check in between. I now get about 13.5 to 14 mpg, but I can't honestly say if it was the spacer or the screen removal.

Thanks, Willys33.

removing the screen is silly. the screen is there to keep debrit from hiting the sensor and for no other reason. the spacer does nothing for a power gain. if you have enough money or can get enough money I reccomend you get a supercharger I just added one to my 2002 silverado and got the dyno done and added 147 HP. so you can waste your money or invest it the right way and blow all these guys away like I will.

removing the screen is silly. the screen is there to keep debrit from hiting the sensor and for no other reason. the spacer does nothing for a power gain. if you have enough money or can get enough money I reccomend you get a supercharger I just added one to my 2002 silverado and got the dyno done and added 147 HP. so you can waste your money or invest it the right way and blow all these guys away like I will.
If you cant remove your screen because of fear from debris entering your intake tract, then you have other MAJOR PROBLEMS to worry about! My filter and pre-filter do a damn fine job, and if particles get through that are small enough to fit through the screen on the MAF(which has big holes) then I should worry about the filter!
I beg to differ on the spacer issue too. We have conducted rear wheel dynos on the spacers and have found a slight power increase and a definite throttle response difference... though I dont like the whistle they produce!

From visiting other forums for several years now (www.impalassforum.com, www.miata.net), the general consensus is that removing the MAF screen does something for awhile, then the computer learns to adjust and it goes back to where it started. The main reason for the 'screen' is not to prevent foreign object damage, but to straighten out the airflow somewhat before it hits the wire. The turbulence found in an unscreened MAF causes fluctuations in the MAF readings. The screen DOES reduce the airflow capacity of the MAF by some small amount, but it provides greater benefit by smoothing out the airflow into the MAF to improve the consistency of the readings. All that said, it doesn't really hurt that much either way, so if you've already gutted your MAF it's probably not worth getting a new one.

The 'screen' material I've seen in a few MAFs is a sort of honeycomb material that is 3/4-1" thick. If it's anything like the honeycomb stuff we got some samples of once, it is high-dollar whizbang stuff. OEMs wouldn't spend that kind of cash for something that didn't provide significant benefit.

Just one more data point...

c.

very true what you said cc rider. I have never felt any difference from the screen being pulled to whe it was still in, but I figure that it wouldnt hurt either way.

k quick question....when the throttle body spacer was installed did u use the gaskets that came with it or did u get ones from another source???

THE ONES THAT CAME WITH IT. Why?

i heard that the ones that came with it can cause a high idle, is this false then???

Posted by cheby_boi - 10-16-2004 at 09:32 AM
i heard that the ones that came with it can cause a high idle, is this false then???


I just installed an Airaid TBI spacer on my 94 silverado. I used the gaskets included and had no problem with it causing a high idle, however; the instructions state you may need to adjust your pedal linkage.:smokin:

Did anyone have problem with the fuel line? I had to remove the fuel line clamp on the tranny to install the spacer, and now that the spacer is installed I cannot get the fuel line clamp back on. Any Ideas?:screwy:

i have an 87 w/tbi, and i had the same prob. with the fuel lines when i installed my helix tbi spacer. i eventually slightly bent the lines enough to fit with the clamp in place.