Best all around mods

Hey all I'm pretty new to the forum and just wanted to ask everyone what they feel are the best all around mods for a truck. I've got an '02 ext. cab Z-71 with the 5.3L. So far the only thing I've done to it is to change out the air filter with the K&N filter in the factory air box. I know there are many of you who swear by the nelson tune and I'm looking into that. I'm no mechanic by any means so I've sent Allan an email asking him to break down barny style what his tune would do for my truck but if any of you can answer that for me while I'm waiting for his reply that would be cool. Right now I'm sitting on the factory rubber but I want to change them and put some 33's underneath her but I can't with the stock suspension. I'm looking into the ford keys I read about in another thread to see if they would give me the clearance I need for the 33's. I would also like to put a dual exhaust on it but I don't want to lose my spare tire in the process anybody have a solution for that? Anyways.....let me know what you think but please keep in mind that I get lost quite easily in mech jargon lol. This is a great forum and I'm having a blast going through learning all kinds of stuff I didn't know before.

The best bolt on I can think of are obviously a new intake and exhaust. I have a 4.8, and have a flowmaster 40 series exhaust, but I didn't have to remove the spare tire for it. I also have a K&N FIPK which is awesome. I'm also looking into a Nelson tune, seems to be one of the best out there. I also have a question on headers. Does anyone have some shorty headers? Do they make a noticeable difference. I've heard shorties can be one of the worst investments. What's your :2cents: ?

a better cam is relatively inexpensive and you can maintain a smooth idle and good mileage with a slightly modified cam and get a lot more torque and horsepower than with the stock cam. obviously there is a loss of fuel mileage and it isnt as smooth as stock, but it isnt completely horrible on the gas mileage and whatnot

I hear a Z06 cam is a good and inexpensive cam upgrade

No doubt, the three biggies, exhaust, intake and tune!!! Go from there, shop around, hang around here and go from there!!! Nice truck!!!

Right now I'm sitting on the factory rubber but I want to change them and put some 33's underneath her but I can't with the stock suspension. .


Have a look at my truck in my sig , that is stock suspension and those are 33's. They are 255/85/16 BFG MT's and when new are 33.3" tall and they fit without rubbing at all although i did crank my torsin bars a bit just to level it out a touch.

Have a look at my truck in my sig , that is stock suspension and those are 33's. They are 255/85/16 BFG MT's and when new are 33.3" tall and they fit without rubbing at all although i did crank my torsin bars a bit just to level it out a touch.

That's really interesting to hear. I'm not doubting you but I've been told by 4 different tire stores that I could not put 33's on it the way that it sits and no they weren't trying to sell me a lift kit. Looking at your truck the front end on it sits MUCH higher than mine does. I'll have pics of mine up soon maybe it'll clarify things a little. If it's true you just made me a happy man!!!!

I started with all the basic easy stuff. First I had the exhaust done, increased pipe size, flowmaster 40 series to 3.5 inch stainless tips, then I did the intake, Volant cool air intake w/enclosed box. then I got a stage 2 chip from jet(thinking about changing that for a Nelson tune). That should free up a few extra horses, also putting electric fans on will help.

Big cam, ported,polished,milled heads, higher torque converter, long tube headers, nitrous.....the usual mods.

Big cam, ported,polished,milled heads, higher torque converter, long tube headers, nitrous.....the usual mods.

Where can I find some longtube headers for my 04? Do they even make them for that year?

WOuld getting electric fans help MPG? Can anyone tell me of a websote that sells a kit to put in electric fans ? I have a 5.3 2wd ext cab (2001) silverado.

Elect fans gain 12 rwhp and appx 1/2 to 1 mpg.

You can buy a kit and pay for the controller and fans. Or if you get a Nelson tune he sells a harness and programs the PCM to turn on. Then you can buy a cheap set of LS1 fans and build a simple strap to hold the fans in. They work great.

I have a Nelson Harness and LS1 fans with straps for sale as I took them off my '01 before I traded it in. Email me if you are interested.

WOuld getting electric fans help MPG? Can anyone tell me of a websote that sells a kit to put in electric fans ? I have a 5.3 2wd ext cab (2001) silverado.

I have a '01 2500 silverado 6.0 ext cab 4x4. i started out only getting 11-13 mpg then i installed flex-a-lite dual electric fans and now i get 13.5-15 mpg my best was 16.9 mpg.... I also enjoyed the extra get up and go that came with the savings at the pump. hope this helped.

Elect fans gain 12 rwhp and appx 1/2 to 1 mpg.

You can buy a kit and pay for the controller and fans. Or if you get a Nelson tune he sells a harness and programs the PCM to turn on. Then you can buy a cheap set of LS1 fans and build a simple strap to hold the fans in. They work great.

I have a Nelson Harness and LS1 fans with straps for sale as I took them off my '01 before I traded it in. Email me if you are interested.

what are you wanting for the fans and the harness.??

Have an interested party already for the LS1 fans and harness.

But I still have a set of new '05 GM stock 16" fans for sale. Email me if you are interested. They fit the 34" radiator. I liked the elect fans but really wanted the stock GM part look. Never got the conversion done before the trade.