Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

I'm pretty sure K&N makes filter boxes for your truck. I used to know what their website was, but now I can't find a link. If you use non-original air filters they can't void your warranty, unless GM is supplying new filters (free), but as for the other items, you can possibly kiss the engine warranty goodbye, but I don't know how they'd handle other modifications other than air filter, and maybe filter box. You might check with either a dealer, or a GM service rep, to see exactly what is permitted, and what part(s) of the warranty go bye-bye...

I'm not sure about any other parts of the question, so I hope what I've said helps a little at least...

Another thought, might be to get a race prepared, supercharged 454. /wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif Take that computer crap out of there, and then Corvettes and Vipers would have trouble keeping up with you... /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif Unfortuneately, I think that might hurt your warranty a little.. /wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif

Tim
"The_Sandman_454"
/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif '79 Suburban 4x4 454, 6" lift, 35x12.5s & '85 GMC S15 4x4

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

I dont know of a maufacturer who wont void the warranty if you install a performance chip unless you get it from them, some even void it if you buy their chip. Its hard to go all out on a new vehicle.

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

I don't know if you watch "Trucks" on TNN but they did a story about performace on the new trucks. Seems that you can reprogram the stock computer with some device that just plugs into the interface. The way they showed the thing is it was real simple. had a LCD display that read out in plain english what you were changing. The seemed to get some real gains and did a before and after test on a dyno. The were able to change the fuel curve and shift points. The sweet thing is you can always change it back in 5 mins before heading to the dealer.

Grim-Reaper

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

The reaper is on the right track. You can't get chips for the new Chevys - you have to get the "Power Programmer" or something. It reprograms the computer. Problem is, you have to do this every time you take your truck to the dealer, because they are going to reprogram the computer with the factory's latest revisions. The reprogrammer costs about 300 bucks.

Those new Lightnings are brutal. Does anyone make a Supercharger for the new 5.3 yet? I think that's going to be your best bet to keep up with him - If I remember correctly, he's making 380 HP (according to Ford, which actually means about 340).

Marc
Contagious Racing

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

The phrase for you to memorize: The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

See the following (from Welcome to SEMA Online!
http://www.sema.org/index.html):

Attachment A: Federal Warranty Laws
http://www.sema.org/fedleg/warranty/atta.html

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

** Important excerpt: "The law means that the use of an aftermarket part
alone is not cause for denying the warranty. However, the law's protection
does not extend to aftermarket parts in situations where such parts actually
caused the damage being claimed under the warranty." **

Warranty Denial Follow-up Steps
http://www.sema.org/fedleg/warranty/warranty.html

Good luck, don't let that dealership push you around.............

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

I think Marc has it nailed here. You're going to need a huffer of your own or an LS1 to run with a blown 5.4. You can buy the LS1 (that's the 345HP all-aluminum 5.7L Corvette version of your motor) turnkey for $5,300 & then spend a bunch more to install it. One other thing to consider is that the 4L60E transmission doesn't do the best job of getting you down the drag strip. The 3.06 1st gear is almost too low & the jump to the 1.65 2nd is pretty big. I had an older carbed truck that was similarly geared to my '90 awhile back. The '90 will burn 'em off like crazy where the '80 wouldn't. But, the '80 was quicker to 60 MPH. Best results in my '90 come from about 3/4 throttle once you get rolling. Otherwise, it hangs in 1st too long & kills acceleration. Probably not as much of a problem in your higher-revving 5.3 though.

TEX

/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif Got Mud?
G.U.M.B.O. Mud Racing

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

Get the programmer, k&n air filter and dual exaust. I don't think that this will bring you to 320hp but it will help. It will maybe get 300. They claim 5-7 hp with k&n, 15, for the dual exaust, and I am not sure about the programmer for chevies but probally another 15 or 20. Remember they "claim" this but when you add all of these things you will get about 15-20 hp. If you really want to go fast get a supercharger. You will probally still get embarrassed by the lightning though. They were made for that. The motor is beefed up and they get the transmission that goes behind the powerstroke diesel. Plus they are setup to get traction. Someone stated above that ford claims 380 hp. They actually claim 360 horse power. However ford fibbed alittle, it is almost making that much on the dyno. Real world numbers the Lightning should be rated at around 400 hp. at the flywheel. the 270 hp. version 5.3 (99 model) dynoed at 190 hp when the 99 ford 260 hp 5.4 dynoed at 210 hp. So I wouldn't feel to frisky to pull up beside a naturally aspirated 5.4. Get the mods mentioned above and you should smoke every truck made today except the lightning.

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

Thanks for the correction - 360 hp it is. However, you say that that engine is actually making about 380 on the dyno, and you made the statement that with "Real world numbers, it's making about 400 hp at the flywheel."

Problem with that is, manufacturers can't rate at the flywheel anymore for advertising. They switched to SAE instead of net numbers in (I think) 1972 or so. So, if Ford is claiming 360 hp, and the engine dynos at 380, figure about 20% for parasitic drag of Transmission, etc., and that 380 "at the flywheel" quickly becomes 304 hp at the rear wheels. I'd say that Ford is overrating the engine, similar to what they have done with the new Cobras. Not to say that it's not one fast freakin' truck, because it is, for sure. However, the power IS exaggerated.

On the other hand, look at the Chevy Camaros with the LS1. The Z28 is factory rated at 315hp. I have now seen no less than 3 stock Z28s pull 320 hp at the rear wheels on a Dyno. So, Chevy is underrating their power. I have yet to see a dyno pull on the new 5.3 or 6.0, but...

That said, I'd just like to add that the limiting factor for any truck with hopes of beating a Lightning will probably be gear ratios, either in the trans. or rear end, and the computer's shift protocols - probably nice and firm in the Lightning, and slushbox "smooth" in the real trucks. Even if the "real truck" has a heavily modified engine that is making the same 380 hp (at the flywheel) as the Lightning.

Just my two cents...

By the way, I own niether a Ford or Chevy. I have two Mopars.

Marc
http://contagious-racing.8m.com

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

I went with a Gibson cat-back exhaust, AirAid cold Air kit, and JBA Headers. All of these mods added power. I got the most noticeable increase from the AirAid kit and JBA's. About the warranty. None of these products can void your warranty. The above mods cost about a grand. Below are some pages to check out.

http://www.airaid.com
http://www.jbaracing.com
http://www.gibsonperformance.com

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

No ford is actually underating the Lightning, The sae rating should be around 400 hp. They are dynoing from 330 hp at the rear wheels. Now the cobra, it is overrated. In fact Ford is taking them back and doing modifications to them to make them closer to the advertised performance. The cobra is quick but not as quick as the 320 horses it is rated at. However the lighting is moving to be a 4000 lb. truck rated at only 360 hp. If you took any other vehicle, rated at 360 hp, and added weight to make it 4000 lb. it would be alot slower than the lightning. That is why I say they are underating the Lightning, it is moving too fast to weigh that much and only have 360 hp. I totally agree with you on the cobra though.

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

Marc,Also remember different dynoes read different amounts. You really have to compare dyno readings with two different trucks on the same dyno. The ls1s put out more hp than a cobra, but I have never seen one put out the numbers you are saying

 

Re: Please advise! I\'m new on Chevy

Truth be told, I'm a little leary of any rear-wheel dyno. Too many factors. Unless you get it at the flywheel or a PTO, I don't think it's going to be consistent over varied drivetrains. Example? I remember seeing a stick-shift Chevy with a 305 & a 4-barrel (160HP) pull 178 HP on the dyno. Meanwhile the 5.3 pulls 190 HP. So, the 5.3 is less than 7% more powerful than a carbed 305? I don't think so. The rear-wheel dyno is the best we've got, but it ain't perfect. Just my $.02.

/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif Got Mud?
G.U.M.B.O. Mud Racing