5.3l Performance

Anyone got some verified info on increasing performance on the factory engine?  I've done the intake and exhaust, 4" lift with 33x12.5 on 17's MT's.  But as nice as this may be, a nice looking truck is useless if it can't perform.  I was told about adjusting the settings with some controller?  
Your ride is not excited, until you are.

You need to regear axle. Most 5.3's are kinda geared to tall before you install bigger tires and bigger tires make it worse. Anyone that tell you that you can tune this problem out is blowing smoke at you. Deeper axle gears are the great equalizer here and it would make it feel like you had a motor transplant. Try some 4.56's with 33 and you will not be disappointed. Do not let numbers scare you as OD is pretty tall and it will only be turning about 2100 RPM at 65 mph in OD.  

I appreciate the input Guru but i'm looking for horsepower.  
Your ride is not excited, until you are.

Why HP? Is it a race truck?  

Just figured bigger tires, bigger hills, thicker mud, etc.  Is there a way or not?  
Your ride is not excited, until you are.

Sell the truck and get one with a 6.0 HO. It will have all the power you'll need to turn 33s. The 5.3 is a good motor but messing with the computer is asking for alot of headache. You can waste the money with all the available upgrades a person could do and it won't be enough for you. Go with lower gears like Snoman says and see what that will do for you. If that isn't enough, I guess you're SOL. With the re-gearing, you'll get better mileage than what you are getting now and the motor will act like it has more power. Go with 4.56 with 33s.  

You can get a bolt on superchager for 2000 or just get a superchip msd ingntion set up. the 5.3s can push alot of power if built right  

sierrawannaB:
I appreciate the input Guru but i'm looking for horsepower.

lol......... your still gonna need the gears.......unless you bolt on a superchager your never gonna feel power gain from tuners or exhaust and such  
Solid axle chevys can't be beat!
My dream truck: 73-91 chevy 3500 crew cab srw with dana 60/14bolt, 6 inc long travel lift with KING shocks, 37 inc tires and a 24v cummins diesel, nv5600 and np205

also consider this with the gears and a super charger you will be able to spin the tires on pavement effortlessly......... .....hey on my blazer i put on some high compression corvette heads and i couldn't feel much of a power diff until i regeard for my 35 inc tires  
Solid axle chevys can't be beat!
My dream truck: 73-91 chevy 3500 crew cab srw with dana 60/14bolt, 6 inc long travel lift with KING shocks, 37 inc tires and a 24v cummins diesel, nv5600 and np205

You can roll the 35,s in that truck with 4.11 or even 4.30 you dont have to go to 4.56  

sierrawannaB:
I appreciate the input Guru but i'm looking for horsepower.

You are totally missing the point here guy.... HP is a function of torque and RPM and the 5.3 has limited displacement and makes is HP by reving up. Deeper gears make MORE hp available at any given speed because engine is reving up more and there for has more HP. Anyone that tells you that you are going to get want you want with a chip, aircleaner or exhaust is blowing smoke at you but some would like to believe this is possible so the myth continues. If you engine has/is rated at 285 HP, it is at 5200 RPM and does not have 285 HP until 5200 RPM. A 2500 RPM you will be luck if it even makes 120HP and at 2000 RPM I doubt it even makes 100 HP. This is way proper gearing helps so much to get you the HP you want. Consider this if you have 3.42 gear (which you likely have) with 33's you are turning about 1600 RPM at 65 in OD and have between 60 and 70 HP available at most at that RPM and slug like performance with no tune is going to fix. If you install 4.56's you are now cranking 2100 RPM and should have close to 100 HP available now. While this is not much, it is 30 to 40 HP more than you have now at that speed (or about a 50% increase which is a big jump) Granted you could super charge it but then you will be buying a new tranny soon because you will cook it with those gear. I never fails to amaze me the lengths some go through thinking that can tune out/away improper axle  ratio/tire size combos. They are always looking for that silver bullet to fix this but they are looking in wrong places. The need to be looking in axles and ratio changes.  

wolf9857:
You can roll the 35,s in that truck with 4.11 or even 4.30 you dont have to go to 4.56

Maybe if you want reduced performance (want family sedans waxing you) and have a 3 speed auto to but a 4.10 with 35's and a OD tranny is a terrible combo and not even a 4.56 is best combo here!!!  

I have the same truck z71 model and that truck is just fine with 4.30 and 33's it hauils more then when it was stock  

wolf9857:
I have the same truck z71 model and that truck is just fine with 4.30 and 33's it hauils more then when it was stock

No such thing as a 4.30 axle ratio for a 10 bolt.  

Wow! Can you say BLOWING SMOKE!!! 4.30's in a 8.6 10 bolt? I wonder what handicap mechanic installed those. Did he grind off a few teeth on the ring gear to come up with that number?