Stock '03 5.3 Burb - Performance Upgrades?

[Enema Combatant]

Hi all!

(1st Post! Thanks for a great forum, btw.)

I have a stock (but seemingly fast) 2003 Suburban 5.3 1500 4x4. I love this truck. Unfortunately, I'd like to be like these guys:

• $25K worth of upgrades:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmZe1J4_59Y
  
  
  
• $10K worth of upgrades:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXEomi1HjFk

While I can't afford $25K -- I'm willing to learn about what *is* possible to upgrade my baby. First and foremost, here is what I think I know about performance upgrades. Feel free to tear me a new one.

1. Superchargers: Whipple, about $7K installed, 120HP additional. Sounds cool.
   
   
2. Nitrous: About $1K installed, ~100HP additional (safe), more with engine buildouts (forged pistons, etc). Sounds cool.
   
   
3. Cam, lifters, pistons: Obviously not going this route, because it involves some tear down, and I want to avoid that.
   
   
4. Exhaust, Intake, Headers: Definitely on my agenda.
   
   
5. Chip/Computer: Confused here. I've heard of programmers, and then I've heard of chips. Which is better? Do you do both? What about in-vehicle computer control, via laptop, etc?
   
   
6. Turbo: Don't think this is applicable.

Things that concern me are the nitrous (which I know you don't abuse) and the overall increased torque and HP to the drive train. This is not a vehicle designed for dragging, and thus, I know if I put strain on it beyond engineering thresholds, I run the high risk of pretzel-ing my driveshaft or exploding my ujoint, or worse.

I guess the question really is, at what point of increases of the other performance components do you have to consider upgrading the drivetrain (from the transmission down to the axle)?

Last but not least, of course I want good tires for hookup and excellent brakes, so those will of course come in last. I know that's going to cost me another $2500, but that's another story.


Can anyone recommend a site to read more, or owners that have done this or your own experiences? Am I just crazy? I admit, I would have to install a valet switch so the wife doesn't launch the burby like the space shuttle.

[MT-2500]

The first thing is you will need to draw a line if you want to keep it for a daily driver or make a race car for the track out of it.
A lot of the high performance upgrades to big HP will not be street legal or work good for normal driving.

Also do you really want to do things like that to a big body suburban?
How many of them do you see on the race track or drag strip?
MT

[Enema Combatant]

Originally Posted by MT-2500

The first thing is you will need to draw a line if you want to keep it for a daily driver or make a race car for the track out of it.
A lot of the high performance upgrades to big HP will not be street legal or work good for normal driving.

I guess I want the BEST performance possible without overly screwing up the ride, fuel economy or overall driving abilities. And I really don't know what things would make it street-illegal... is there a place to reference? I'm not talking about dumped headers or anything like that emissions-wise, but you're saying that 500HP is illegal? Or the fact that emissions are blasted ... I guess that makes sense.

If I planned to tow, or do light off roading, would any of these mods negatively impact the truck? Further, while I knew that some things were horrendous on fuel economies, I have heard and was told that superchargers, exhaust and ignition/computer changes can INCREASE fuel economy.

I guess I'm still in the learning phases here. Thanks for the reply.

[MT-2500]

http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/caa203.txt

http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/caa205.txt

I did not say 500 HP was illegal.
But the mods some people do to get it may be.
A lot of places have emission inspections and anytime you operate it on a federal highway you are subject to federal EPA laws and regulations.
One of them I just posted a link to.
It is hard to get more power without using more gas.
Good Luck
MT

[MT-2500]

Here is a little info on getting HP that may be interesting.
http://www.batauto.com/Forums/index....ic,1921.0.html

[Enema Combatant]

Originally Posted by MT-2500

The first thing is you will need to draw a line if you want to keep it for a daily driver ... MT

Ok, I'll keep it daily driver. Here's what I'm considering:

• A chip, programmer or 'power module' -- however, I don't know what ones offer the best bang-for-buck options.
• A supercharger - whipple most likely. Anyone recommend any others?
• A serious exhaust system -- any recommendations?
• Iridium plugs, a good air intake system (but doesn't the SC require it's own rig?)
• And last but not least, a small NO2 system. This will probably come much, much later.
• Rounding that off will be an upgrade in brakes (performance disc all the way around, with good tires to fit)

There. With that (minus the nitrous) I'm probably still street-legal, and I've managed to boost my performance by 150-200 horses, a good amount.

Is there anything I'm missing? I'm going to run this all by the local performance shop, and probably get two and three opinions and read much more. But I'm looking for more people to weight in that have experience in these areas.

Thanks in advance.