The tunes can't hurt, and Justin is the best in the business. I've used him.
For $400, I'd swap the rear end. You're probably going to have to have the speedo adjusted somehow.
Shocks, use Rancho 7000 series. Worth the extra money for towing.
As far as suspension upgrades, go air bags. I had them on my last truck.
They were amazing. I literally couldn't feel the weight of a 10k# fifth wheel on a 3/4ton truck.
I'll get them again, I used a Pacbrake kit.
I've had 7 trucks I the last 15 years, and towed everything imaginable. My 02 Chevy 1500 pulled a 5000lb boat quite well, with a 3.73 gear.
Does GM also recommend not completely changing the transmission filter
and fluid?
I wouldn't get your hopes up too high about BBPerformance Tunes.
You may get some small performance change, or an extra MPG or two, but they
are what they are.
Not looking for performance. I want the AFM turned off and change the shift points. Get rid of a few other EPA nanny things as well. A 5.3 with 3:73 rear end is a strong combination but hindered by CAFE types.
Yes you are supposed to drain the pan and replace filter.
The tunes can't hurt, and Justin is the best in the business. I've used him.
For $400, I'd swap the rear end. You're probably going to have to have the speedo adjusted somehow.
Shocks, use Rancho 7000 series. Worth the extra money for towing.
As far as suspension upgrades, go air bags. I had them on my last truck.
They were amazing. I literally couldn't feel the weight of a 10k# fifth wheel on a 3/4ton truck.
I'll get them again, I used a Pacbrake kit.
I've had 7 trucks I the last 15 years, and towed everything imaginable. My 02 Chevy 1500 pulled a 5000lb boat quite well, with a 3.73 gear.
Thanks.
I just found out this thing is drinking oil. The AFM shutting fuel off to the first four cylinders causing buildup is suspect. Worst piece of engineering GM ever made. I've likely got blowby, going to the shop Monday to check rings.
Rear main housing cover is leaking as well. Engine porosity issue in the aluminum casting. I knew about that issue. GM's fix is to remove old gasket, caulk it with RTV, and use a new gasket. Pretty crappy. I'd do it myself if I had the time. Should have kept the 07 Silverado.
Yeah they would considering they make and sell new transmissions.
Well since it's a high mileage vehicle, if the clutch is worn, flushing will exacerbate any problems. I just changed it and no slippage, so I'll ride it until it fails. I don't think I have any trans problems anyway. Just the oil issue.
Honestly buff 5k is no big deal with your pickup. Push the tow haul button put the transmission in 4th or whichever gear is not OD and ride. I pull my 6800lb camper with my '07 Z71 1500 without a problem. I can run 60-65 up most hills. Long grades on hot days will get the temps up a little higher but not enough to worry.
I have pulled over the 7500 (I think) rated "limit" I was running 70mph up the interstate and had plenty of power left.
I am afraid we forget sometime that the basic and simple things brings us the most pleasure.
Dad 5-31-13
The tunes can't hurt, and Justin is the best in the business. I've used him.
For $400, I'd swap the rear end. You're probably going to have to have the speedo adjusted somehow.
Shocks, use Rancho 7000 series. Worth the extra money for towing.
As far as suspension upgrades, go air bags. I had them on my last truck.
They were amazing. I literally couldn't feel the weight of a 10k# fifth wheel on a 3/4ton truck.
I'll get them again, I used a Pacbrake kit.
I've had 7 trucks I the last 15 years, and towed everything imaginable. My 02 Chevy 1500 pulled a 5000lb boat quite well, with a 3.73 gear.
I know in a Ram, you cam change the speedo in the computer. Have to have the dealer do it.
Some tuners can program the speedo.....
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." Thomas Jefferson
BBPerformance does that, change the speedo. They send you the hardware, you drive it for a couple weeks, and they custom tune your computer. Like I said, I'm only wanting to change throttle response and shift points, and get rid of AFM.
Honestly buff 5k is no big deal with your pickup. Push the tow haul button put the transmission in 4th or whichever gear is not OD and ride. I pull my 6800lb camper with my '07 Z71 1500 without a problem. I can run 60-65 up most hills. Long grades on hot days will get the temps up a little higher but not enough to worry.
I have pulled over the 7500 (I think) rated "limit" I was running 70mph up the interstate and had plenty of power left.
I know I'm not overloading it. I just want a 3:73 rear end. 3:08 won't even bark the tires. Yours probably has the 3:73, or at least 3:42
I have never upgraded anything on a vehicle. Ever. My buddies call me Bone Stock. Never even put so much as a stereo system or mufflers on a truck. I want to add a few things on this one. No bling bling, just some upgrades to wring out the 5.3
Well since it's a high mileage vehicle, if the clutch is worn, flushing will exacerbate any problems. I just changed it and no slippage, so I'll ride it until it fails. I don't think I have any trans problems anyway. Just the oil issue.
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Well yeah, seeing as I've put 200000 miles on a couple different transmissions without a blip I guess the proof is in the pudding. Drive that dude til it's sitting in the middle of the highway in a pile of rubble. It's probably the cheapest option.
Hell if you want a bullet proof option, slap you an old Turbo 400 with a B&M Shift kit in it and put you a Columbia(Shiftable multi ratio) rear end with a 273/456 limited slip ratio in it. Then you would have the best of both worlds, mileage and pulling power. That will cost you $3000-$4000 but you could pull the U.S.S. Nimitz out of the water with it and still get 30 MPG.
You can drop a Turbo 400 off the Empire State Building and it wouldn't hurt it.
:jester:
Daddy, what's an enabler?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Or just swap axles for $400. Then still get better MPG than a TH400 and goofy axle. Plus the rest of pickup is still happy and works just like it is supposed too.
I am afraid we forget sometime that the basic and simple things brings us the most pleasure.
Dad 5-31-13
I know I'm not overloading it. I just want a 3:73 rear end. 3:08 won't even bark the tires. Yours probably has the 3:73, or at least 3:42
I have never upgraded anything on a vehicle. Ever. My buddies call me Bone Stock. Never even put so much as a stereo system or mufflers on a truck. I want to add a few things on this one. No bling bling, just some upgrades to wring out the 5.3
To the best of my knowledge 3.73 gears are standard in Z71 1500s.
I would not recommend intentionally overloading a pickup but having grown up in a family that used the manufacturers limits as mere suggestions it is my opinion you just aren't using enough throttle. :jester:
By all means add bits and stuff pieces to make YOUR pickup preform to YOUR expectations. Along with the tune you should look into a cat back exhaust. The 5.3L can make awesome power it just needs the chance the breathe. The stock muffler is rather restrictive. I replaced mine with a Flowmaster 40 series knockoff and that made a difference in my pickup.
More gear is almost never a bad decision. Go for it. Don't be scared of posi trac either. The oil is the only difference and it isn't that much more expensive.
I am afraid we forget sometime that the basic and simple things brings us the most pleasure.
Dad 5-31-13
I'm only joking about a TH 400 and especially a Columbia Rear. I don't even know if you could find any of that nowadays. If you're having problems with the engine hunting or running unsteady, I think you have other problems. If you want to go lower gears get a limited slip. Actually, I think they make gear ratios around 350-355. 371 373 whatever are gonno eat more gas and a 355 may just be enough to get over the hump. Shift kits can help though in any transmission. One thing about a TH 400 or a TH 350 is they don't have OD. Your engine and **** are turning 1 to 1.
I loved the days of third member rear ends. If you had a job coming up where you knew you'd be pulling something heavy you could just jack it up, pull the axels out about 4-6 inches and swap gears. I guess that was too easy for the detroit wizards, they had to complicate things.
Daddy, what's an enabler?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
The TH400s biggest problem was the lack of a lockout converter. They are pretty much bullet proof from the factory but they waste a lot of HP in heat. OD is achievable with a 3sp auto, you just have spend $2000 on a Gear Vendors bolt on unit.
Ford dropped the 9 inch in '83-84 due to cost. You can still buy a brand new one though. Strange makes them, just be prepared to bleed for it.
I am afraid we forget sometime that the basic and simple things brings us the most pleasure.
Dad 5-31-13
You can do it. With the correct tools and YouTube you could swap gear sets and carriers.
I've helped my brother in law change his. I kinda fell into mechanic work by accident. We had a lot of power equipment in the shop with running issues. One day I just decided to tear apart a carb and what do you know, I fixed it. Since then my job has me in the shop about three days out of the week.
If I had a loaner vehicle, I would already have pulled my truck engine to fix the rear housing cover myself.
At 160 K you are going to get into the wide variety of maintenance and failure issues from suspension parts, to transmission plus hoses radiator, seals, gaskets, etc.
Just start considering how much you are throwing into optional parts on a vehicle that is going to have some extensive repairs, regardless of what you do.
D
"A patriot is mocked, scorned and hated; yet when his cause succeeds, all men will join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
At 160 K you are going to get into the wide variety of maintenance and failure issues from suspension parts, to transmission plus hoses radiator, seals, gaskets, etc.
Just start considering how much you are throwing into optional parts on a vehicle that is going to have some extensive repairs, regardless of what you do.
D
That is not always true. I have a similar pickup to buffco, mine is an '07 1500 Z71. I bought it almost three years ago with ~125k. Just a couple days ago I rolled over 188k. So far I have replaced the rear drive shaft U joints and the alternator. I had the transfer case apart once to fix a design flaw and need to replace the shocks. Other than oils and a battery my pickup has been trouble free.
I don't abuse my equipment but I am not afraid to use all its potential either. So it hasn't been babied.
I am afraid we forget sometime that the basic and simple things brings us the most pleasure.
Dad 5-31-13
The TH400s biggest problem was the lack of a lockout converter. They are pretty much bullet proof from the factory but they waste a lot of HP in heat. OD is achievable with a 3sp auto, you just have spend $2000 on a Gear Vendors bolt on unit.
Ford dropped the 9 inch in '83-84 due to cost. You can still buy a brand new one though. Strange makes them, just be prepared to bleed for it.
This is very true, like about 50 HP on average. If you were making a lot of HP in the first place they were the deal back in the day. But an old street clunker never realized its potential with one. TH 350, the newer ones robbed about 25-30 HP, but weren't as strong.
I built a 57 Chevy with a 350 bored .030 and TRW 11:1 pistons, a 715 cfm Rochester Quadrajet, crower Hyd. Cam(can't remember the lift or duration but it wasn't all that hot with the .355 gears,(though it was well streetable) and a TH 400. It ran ok. I never did put 202 heads on it designed for tractor gears and to run at and due to the 72 CC 1.94" intake valve heads it only had about 9.5 static compression ratio (Still better than the stock engine). It would still rev more than it should and I blew a couple generators up before I put an alternator on it. The windings in an old style Generator get too damn heavy at 7-8 grand. I got screwed on that cam. The guy lied about what it was. That cam was designed for RPMS over 5,000. And with my ratios it was way slow off the line. At the time I was funds limited. I should have put the .373 third member in it.
It had .355 gears in it. I had a set of 373s but never put them in. I couldn't afford the gas back then.
Daddy, what's an enabler?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
My car has 231,000 on it. It's due for a timing belt change in 70,000. , It's a Diesel VW Jetta, 2006 model. Runs like I top. Yeah it's a VW but if you change the oil regulary and maintain a good lub schedual a Chevy or a Ford will do the same thing.
Daddy, what's an enabler?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Replies
Bogging was too harsh a term. Hesitating before downshifting (as it does from the factory) was the correct terminology.
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
For $400, I'd swap the rear end. You're probably going to have to have the speedo adjusted somehow.
Shocks, use Rancho 7000 series. Worth the extra money for towing.
As far as suspension upgrades, go air bags. I had them on my last truck.
They were amazing. I literally couldn't feel the weight of a 10k# fifth wheel on a 3/4ton truck.
I'll get them again, I used a Pacbrake kit.
I've had 7 trucks I the last 15 years, and towed everything imaginable. My 02 Chevy 1500 pulled a 5000lb boat quite well, with a 3.73 gear.
Yes you are supposed to drain the pan and replace filter.
I just found out this thing is drinking oil. The AFM shutting fuel off to the first four cylinders causing buildup is suspect. Worst piece of engineering GM ever made. I've likely got blowby, going to the shop Monday to check rings.
Rear main housing cover is leaking as well. Engine porosity issue in the aluminum casting. I knew about that issue. GM's fix is to remove old gasket, caulk it with RTV, and use a new gasket. Pretty crappy. I'd do it myself if I had the time. Should have kept the 07 Silverado.
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Yeah they would considering they make and sell new transmissions.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
The six speed version.
Dad 5-31-13
I've towed about 5K with my Tacoma, which is far less beefy in all aspects than a 1/2 ton, and I had no issues besides terrible gas mileage.
"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and speed is the economy of motion" - Scott Jedlinski
I have pulled over the 7500 (I think) rated "limit" I was running 70mph up the interstate and had plenty of power left.
Dad 5-31-13
I know in a Ram, you cam change the speedo in the computer. Have to have the dealer do it.
Some tuners can program the speedo.....
I have never upgraded anything on a vehicle. Ever. My buddies call me Bone Stock. Never even put so much as a stereo system or mufflers on a truck. I want to add a few things on this one. No bling bling, just some upgrades to wring out the 5.3
Well yeah, seeing as I've put 200000 miles on a couple different transmissions without a blip I guess the proof is in the pudding. Drive that dude til it's sitting in the middle of the highway in a pile of rubble. It's probably the cheapest option.
Hell if you want a bullet proof option, slap you an old Turbo 400 with a B&M Shift kit in it and put you a Columbia(Shiftable multi ratio) rear end with a 273/456 limited slip ratio in it. Then you would have the best of both worlds, mileage and pulling power. That will cost you $3000-$4000 but you could pull the U.S.S. Nimitz out of the water with it and still get 30 MPG.
You can drop a Turbo 400 off the Empire State Building and it wouldn't hurt it.
:jester:
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Dad 5-31-13
To the best of my knowledge 3.73 gears are standard in Z71 1500s.
I would not recommend intentionally overloading a pickup but having grown up in a family that used the manufacturers limits as mere suggestions it is my opinion you just aren't using enough throttle. :jester:
By all means add bits and stuff pieces to make YOUR pickup preform to YOUR expectations. Along with the tune you should look into a cat back exhaust. The 5.3L can make awesome power it just needs the chance the breathe. The stock muffler is rather restrictive. I replaced mine with a Flowmaster 40 series knockoff and that made a difference in my pickup.
More gear is almost never a bad decision. Go for it. Don't be scared of posi trac either. The oil is the only difference and it isn't that much more expensive.
Dad 5-31-13
I loved the days of third member rear ends. If you had a job coming up where you knew you'd be pulling something heavy you could just jack it up, pull the axels out about 4-6 inches and swap gears. I guess that was too easy for the detroit wizards, they had to complicate things.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Ford dropped the 9 inch in '83-84 due to cost. You can still buy a brand new one though. Strange makes them, just be prepared to bleed for it.
Dad 5-31-13
You can do it. With the correct tools and YouTube you could swap gear sets and carriers.
Dad 5-31-13
If I had a loaner vehicle, I would already have pulled my truck engine to fix the rear housing cover myself.
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
At 160 K you are going to get into the wide variety of maintenance and failure issues from suspension parts, to transmission plus hoses radiator, seals, gaskets, etc.
Just start considering how much you are throwing into optional parts on a vehicle that is going to have some extensive repairs, regardless of what you do.
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
That is not always true. I have a similar pickup to buffco, mine is an '07 1500 Z71. I bought it almost three years ago with ~125k. Just a couple days ago I rolled over 188k. So far I have replaced the rear drive shaft U joints and the alternator. I had the transfer case apart once to fix a design flaw and need to replace the shocks. Other than oils and a battery my pickup has been trouble free.
I don't abuse my equipment but I am not afraid to use all its potential either. So it hasn't been babied.
Dad 5-31-13
This is very true, like about 50 HP on average. If you were making a lot of HP in the first place they were the deal back in the day. But an old street clunker never realized its potential with one. TH 350, the newer ones robbed about 25-30 HP, but weren't as strong.
I built a 57 Chevy with a 350 bored .030 and TRW 11:1 pistons, a 715 cfm Rochester Quadrajet, crower Hyd. Cam(can't remember the lift or duration but it wasn't all that hot with the .355 gears,(though it was well streetable) and a TH 400. It ran ok. I never did put 202 heads on it designed for tractor gears and to run at and due to the 72 CC 1.94" intake valve heads it only had about 9.5 static compression ratio (Still better than the stock engine). It would still rev more than it should and I blew a couple generators up before I put an alternator on it. The windings in an old style Generator get too damn heavy at 7-8 grand. I got screwed on that cam. The guy lied about what it was. That cam was designed for RPMS over 5,000. And with my ratios it was way slow off the line. At the time I was funds limited. I should have put the .373 third member in it.
It had .355 gears in it. I had a set of 373s but never put them in. I couldn't afford the gas back then.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.