Guys, I know you get questions like mine all the time, I have read a few on here today lol. I have a mechanically stock 2001 Z-71 LT silverado with the 5.3 and 4L60E. Yes, it has 155,000 miles on it, BUT, I might add that I've run Mobil 1 in this thing its whole life and have taken VERY good care of it and always stayed on top of the maintenance. I've done about all I want to do as far as looks on the truck, and am ready to do some performance mods. Being on FSC and GMfullsize for over 6 years, I've read all the tune and bolt on articles. So I'm pretty familiar with the truck world.

I do know a pretty good bit about motors and hands on things in general, and everything on my truck I've done. This truck will be paid off in 8 months. That will leave me about $500 a month extra to throw into it for performance. lately Ive been spending about a grand on it every month, on top of the note. So eventually I'd like a LQ9 6.0 and built 4L80E but for now, Id like to spice it up a bit. I have an 85 silverado DD with a 350 I just rebuilt so if I blow this thing up it can sit till I can fix it.

I searched youtube for "cammed 5.3" and it seems that guys are just putting a good mild cam, good stall and springs and longtube headers...not much else. The sound is amazing! Sounds like my stepdads racecars with that lope. I want that sound! Yes, performance is a goal but man what would people think pullin up to you at a light and that things sittin there lopin like that! Some say you can get away without a stall, but I'm willing to spend the money to keep the power. I have the factory 3.73's in it.

Ok Ill end this long post. I want to know what a good size cam would be, where it wouldnt blow out my drivetrain, what a good stall would be to go with the cam, and anything else I'd have to change. lifters, etc. I'm going to buy a set of LT headers and get a tune when all of this is in. Help me out guys! Heres some pics of the truck...yes, I got rid of the green bowtie lol.

 

One more thing.....If I didnt clarify enough, this truck is a daily driver. It has no reciever hitch anymore so no pulling trailers. I want a good solid street truck.....I'm kinda worried about the converter...dont wanna hurt the tranny. But since Id have to pull the tranny out to install the 'verter.....should I also do some type of vette servo or shift kit? I really need help lol

 

I'm pretty happy with my choices on cam/converter.

 

you run yours daily? What kinda sound you get outta that cam? ALso, what is the best coating to get on LT headers?

 

This is the sound I was goin for....lol. Says hes runnin out of a cut-out. How exactly does that work? I know I have a lot of questions... Heres the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVk4PHA0ThI

heres his info....is that too much for my application? I know nothing of cams...

Its a 226/226 584/584 112+4 lsa cam.

Its running through Pacesetter LT's/ORY and out of a cut-out

 

That would be luke03 on here. Thats his truck

 

tryin to buy this guys exhaust....could I make it fit my 4x4 extended cab?

https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...d.php?t=461019

 

You don't want a truck like Lukes hahaha nah his sounds great, heard it in person.

I do drive mine daily.

 

Think of the cut-out as a valve that you can open either electrically or by unscrewing the cap on it, that allows you to bypass the mufflers. It normally gets welded into the Y pipe right after the 2 intermediate pipes merge into one, so when you open it, it's almost like open headers, but you can still close it and it will then flow through the mufflers...so basically, it's loud when you want it, and quiet when you dont.

The problem with pointing you in the right direction of a cam and maybe stall is I fear the tranny is going to be your weak link here. the 60E isn't known for being very durable stock, and take one that's 10 years old and has 150k miles on it, and I'm worried you're one WOT pass away from spitting parts all over the ground, especially if you get a cam and start beating on it. How is it working for you? do you feel it slipping or hanging in a gear? You don't need to step up to an FLT level 7, but you should probably have it rebuilt while changing the converter. Check the input shaft splines, roller thrust bearings between the input shaft and sun gear, the roller bearing on the rear planetary gear. Anyone that works with trannies should be able to see the areas that could fail. Past that you should run an external cooler, maybe get a deeper pan, and change fluid religiously.

All that being said, the 226/226 cam is pretty big in a 5.3 that you plan on DD. Just be aware the higher the cam/stall you go, the way you drive your truck is going to change. If I was picking a cam for your truck, I think something along the lines of 216/223, .580 112 LSA with a 3000-3200 stall would work just a little bit better, keep your powerband somewhat low-midrange, lope like you want it to and not need a transbrake just to take off from stop lights. I'd rather be disappointed by a cam that's too small, than one that's too big, especially for my first cam swap.

 

Man that answered a lot of questions, I really appreciate the time you spent writing that up. Ill be honest. In my first post I mentioned that I always stayed on top of maintenance. Well, on everything BUT the tranny. I never serviced that thing until 150,000 miles, which I've always heard is bad. (Kinda like the if it aint broke dont fix it stuff-after youve waited that long). I pulled the plug and drained the fluid, then dropped the pan, cleaned the magnet (wasnt bad) and installed new filter and gasket, refilled with new fluid. Now, I'm having problems, but before you say bingo, let me give you some history.

3 years ago the fuel pump went out. I pulled the bed and replaced it in the yard. Never had anymore problems with it until about 6 months ago....Truck gets harder and harder to start. Ive always kept the fuel filter changed but did so again the about 3 weeks ago. That same day I changed my plugs with AC Delco plugs and also changed wires because I broke one and had to buy em as a set at O'reillys. I had hoped all that would make it fire off like its supposed to, but didnt solve anything.

I need to get the fuel pressure checked, and if its bad Ill replace the pump again. Lately (after I serviced the tranny) the truck has started to run like crap, only like every other time I drive it. Ill crank it, let off the key, hit it again and itll fire up, but when you go to take off itll act like its missing, and spit and sputter. thats not what sounds like a tranny prob to me. Thats fuel. Then, when at highway speeds, it acts sluggish, so I get pissed and floor it, and suddenly I'm at 6,000 RPM at 80 mph and the thing wont shift....so I let off and it backfires a few times lol. Then, sometimes Ill get in it and it acts fine, no bad sputtering, shifts perfect.

Doesnt sound like a tranny problem to me, rather that the fuel pressure isnt getting high enough and everything goes to crap after that. If it was a transmission mechanical problem, it would act like that everytime I drive it right?

Other than that, no, no problems with the tranny. No slipping, no nothing. It has to be fuel related problems.

I have no problem buying a transcooler, or beefing up the tranny when its out for the stall.