Magnacharger

I started looking into a magnacharger for my silverado. I have a few questions for u guys.
What is the difference between a "Z" engine and a non Z engine, second, short of swappin out my trans what can I do to beef it up to handle the extra power. Last but not least is this a good or bad idea? The truck has 53K

Thanks

I started looking into a magnacharger for my silverado. I have a few questions for u guys.
What is the difference between a "Z" engine and a non Z engine, second, short of swappin out my trans what can I do to beef it up to handle the extra power. Last but not least is this a good or bad idea? The truck has 53K

Thanks

Do you mean like "Z" engine as in Z71? If so, there is absolutely no difference in the engine from every other gm truck. Buy a large external trans cooler. The stock one is tiny and doesn't really help that much when the truck is making more than stock power. Also, a transgo kit and corvette servo can help the tranny shift more firm and save it a few more miles.
The miles on the truck really isn't a factor. The magnacharger Radix is a great power adder, but is really one of the most expensive on the market. It does require some skill to install, because you'll be removing your intake manifold and relocating several things. I guess the main question is what do you want to do with the truck? Everyday driver with an occasional race? Offroading? Just let me know what intentions you have, or goals, for the truck and that will help determine which route to take to get there.

Do you mean like "Z" engine as in Z71? If so, there is absolutely no difference in the engine from every other gm truck. Buy a large external trans cooler. The stock one is tiny and doesn't really help that much when the truck is making more than stock power. Also, a transgo kit and corvette servo can help the tranny shift more firm and save it a few more miles.
The miles on the truck really isn't a factor. The magnacharger Radix is a great power adder, but is really one of the most expensive on the market. It does require some skill to install, because you'll be removing your intake manifold and relocating several things. I guess the main question is what do you want to do with the truck? Everyday driver with an occasional race? Offroading? Just let me know what intentions you have, or goals, for the truck and that will help determine which route to take to get there.

I found out what a Z engine is, Flexfuel engine... Yea I know what I would be getting into installing a Magnacharger, I just like an intercooled roost style supercharger opposed to a procharger system. The truck is a daily driver with a trip to the track a couple times a summer. Im just tired of these 10hp upgrades. My truck runs high 15's in the 1/4mile with a 3.73 rear, i would like to be in the high 13's to low 14's if possible with a daily driver with a 4L60. What do u think about cam and/or heads instead. Vette servo is already on order, do you have to pull the trans to install the transgo kit? I ve been talkin to Nelson Performance about a tuned PCM.. My friends always say I should have bought a GTO instead of my truck:grinno:

I found out what a Z engine is, Flexfuel engine... Yea I know what I would be getting into installing a Magnacharger, I just like an intercooled roost style supercharger opposed to a procharger system. The truck is a daily driver with a trip to the track a couple times a summer. Im just tired of these 10hp upgrades. My truck runs high 15's in the 1/4mile with a 3.73 rear, i would like to be in the high 13's to low 14's if possible with a daily driver with a 4L60. What do u think about cam and/or heads instead. Vette servo is already on order, do you have to pull the trans to install the transgo kit? I ve been talkin to Nelson Performance about a tuned PCM.. My friends always say I should have bought a GTO instead of my truck:grinno:

It's very easy to get your truck into the high 13s/low 14s with a good head/cam/bolton setup. As far as the transgo kit, I would recommend taking it to a trans shop to get it installed. They do not have to drop the trans, just the pan and the valve body. It's a very particular job getting into these trannies, and usually better left to the professionals. Also, for the money of a magnacharger, you can do a 6.0L with cam/heads and run bottom 13s/high 12s. One upgrade you'll definately want to do is go with a new torque converter. Several companies(Yank, Fuddle,etc.) offer higher stall converters that keep the tow rating for trucks that are used for towing as well as performance. Most stock trucks see a .5 drop in 1/4 et with just the changing of the stock converter. The 5.3L is a very capable engine with the right cam/heads/converter and can easily do what you want it to do.

My friends used to rag me all the time about getting a car instead of working on the truck. When my truck went 11.80s, they finally shut up. I got my camaro just to commute to work and back and the truck is the race toy. Go figure that crap out. :lol:

It's very easy to get your truck into the high 13s/low 14s with a good head/cam/bolton setup. As far as the transgo kit, I would recommend taking it to a trans shop to get it installed. They do not have to drop the trans, just the pan and the valve body. It's a very particular job getting into these trannies, and usually better left to the professionals. Also, for the money of a magnacharger, you can do a 6.0L with cam/heads and run bottom 13s/high 12s. One upgrade you'll definately want to do is go with a new torque converter. Several companies(Yank, Fuddle,etc.) offer higher stall converters that keep the tow rating for trucks that are used for towing as well as performance. Most stock trucks see a .5 drop in 1/4 et with just the changing of the stock converter. The 5.3L is a very capable engine with the right cam/heads/converter and can easily do what you want it to do.

My friends used to rag me all the time about getting a car instead of working on the truck. When my truck went 11.80s, they finally shut up. I got my camaro just to commute to work and back and the truck is the race toy. Go figure that crap out. :lol:

OK im going to pick your brain alittle, im thinking a 224 cam from ts is the way to go and a 3000 stall converter, any ideas about a head setup.

** saw some vids on your truck... that thing is bad ass **

OK im going to pick your brain alittle, im thinking a 224 cam from ts is the way to go and a 3000 stall converter, any ideas about a head setup.

** saw some vids on your truck... that thing is bad ass **

The 224 is the most popular cam selection out their for the ls-based engines. It's been proven time and time again, and its a fairly easy cam to tune for. The 3000 stall will be perfect for the 224. Just make sure you get one that's built for the weight of a truck. I've been through 3 different converters that were designed with the ls1 fbodies in mind, and they just didn't hold up in the truck. I have a fuddle 3200 truck performance converter in the truck now, and I've had zero problems out of it.
You can go several different ways with the heads. I'm running a set of ported/polished/milled 317 heads(come stock on the 6.0L). I'm thinking about stepping up to a good set of worked over 243 heads(come stock on the ls6 motors). They will bump up the compression ratio a tad over the heads I'm currently running.
The main choice between them is if you plan on having a motor with a power adder, or a really good all motor setup. If going with a blower, get the worked 6.0L heads. If going with a motor-only setup, go for the ls6 heads to get that compression ratio up a tad.

Whichever head you choose, be sure to use the Comp 918 springs to support that tr224 cam. Their lift is good for .600" and they are very affordable.