Just how hard can i push my 5.3?

Heres the question that i've been pondering..

Before i got my 99 5.3 about 3 months ago, i had a 92 TBI 350, which i bored 30 over, and put in a towing cam. I was pretty rough on that engine. I pushed it to redline countless times, pulled trailers with it frequently, litterarlly i just drove the shit out of it and NEVER had a problem out of it, minus alternators, and starters, and a couple fuel pumps.

My question is, im wondering how much abuse this 5.3 will take. It's pretty much stock except for the mods found in my signature. I dont pull much with this truck, but i do sometimes like to open it up from redlight to redlight. Are these newer engines tough enough to take getting frequently pushed hard? Has anyone had any trobule with blown head gaskets or anything? I think the truck has 50K miles on it, so i wasnt really worrried about it until i started thinking about how expensive repairs would be on the newer trucks.


Also, i was wondering about the "tow-haul" mode... When engaged, the torque-management seems to be less apparent, does this mean that on a shorter run my truck would be faster because it gets out of the hole quicker?

just wondering,
jerry

I run the 4.8L, stock gears, a 7" lift, and 315 X-Terrains. I also pull a 1500lb. boat on occasion. My only engine mod is a Hypertech programmer. If that's not "pushing it" than I don't know what is. I have to admit, I was a bit leary, but I pretty much stole the truck, so the 4.8L had to do. It pulls it all great. NO probs after 36,000 miles! BTW, I HIGHLY recommend the programmer, quick, easy, adds at least 40-50 HP, and is easily deprogrammed for those trips to GM.

wow buddy 40-50 hp? come on u know thats not true...i have one myself and its not 40-50 even if thats what they tell u.

wow buddy 40-50 hp? come on u know thats not true...i have one myself and its not 40-50 even if thats what they tell u.
Sorry "Buddy" but my Dyno reciepts prove it. Gained 42.5 with the programmer. Honestly though, my results are probably on the high side.

http://www.hypertech-inc.com/images/dynocharts/2000gm5.3L.jpg
hypertechs dyno claims 17hp gain on the 5.3 and they are probably exagerating.
u shouldnt tell people it will give them "at least 40-50hp" if ur's is a rare situation

Good advice Dad. Oh, it's a 4.8 too.

im not trying to be your dad, just dont mislead people....the high performance manufacturers do it enough.(do you work for hypertech?) and i showed the 5.3 dyno because thats the motor he was asking about so i showed him the power curve for his motor.

No, don't work for H-Tech. I figure they work for me after dropping $300.00 on the programmer! Sorry, had a bad day and was being an ass.

its all cool...i saw ur post about the transmission, and changing ur fluid makes a huge differance on the life of the clutch disks, and also the firm shift feature on the hypertech will slip the disks less, which helps ur tranny's life to.

Run the hell out of it. Mine makes a trip to the track every weekend(weather permitting), gets me home, and then drives me to work every weekday. These motors are pretty tough. I have a buddy shifting at 7000rpms on a stock bottom end 5.3L, and its still going. I've not brave enough to do it on the stock bottom, but I am going to see how it will handle an extra 100hp really soon. :biggrin: