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Need More Power

S

Stylzz

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Mystic, CT
I have a 1996 K2500, ExCab, 8' bed, 5.7, 4.10, Auto. I use the truck to tow a trailer weighing 5K plus another 600-800 in the bed. Its a great ride going down the highway @ 75mph but as soon as I hit any grade it slows right down. I can probably prevent most of the lag if I let the tranny kick down but I try not to. My question is should I get into the throttle and alow the tranny to kick down? Also, what can I do to get a little more power so I don't have to let it kick down? Air induction, Exhaust, Chip, etc? What do you guys recomend?
 
What size tires are you running? You might need to regear. go with 4:56s. Otherwise, its the standard Intake and exhausts, but thatll only get ya a few ponies. Maybe a cam swap.
 
245/75/16. Don't want to change the gears because I only get around 9.5mpg towing.
 
If it's a ext cab long box, that is alot of truck to be moving around. I had the same truck in a big block, and did OK, but 6500# of truck is alot to move with a 350. Towing makes it even worse.

But to get more oomph out of it, do the usual. Intake, exhaust, programmer, etc....
 
Why dont you want to let the tranny find the gear it wants??? You have a computer controled engine and trans. It knows where it wants to be for best MPG and performance. Lugging it up a hill is not going to do your truck any good at all.. You are just hurting your engine and trans. When you hit a hill towing you should be pulling at least 3500-4000+ rpm thats where 350s love to run when pulling a load. Let that vortec run!
If you want more power: Headers and a good exhaust system will help a lot. K&N CAI, You can get one of those flash programmers that plug into your data port that reprogram your ECM, change your shift points, and have programs that help with towing.
10 MPG lugging around an extra 6K pound brick? Get used to it. Or buy a Dodge with a CTD.
 
What kind of Intake, Exhaust, and Programer work the best? And how much gain can I really get? What do you guys recomend?
 
Listen to Thunder.

Pulling that kind of load with a 350, you cannot expect to pull grades at 75mph without downshifting. If you don't want to downshift, get a big block or a turbo diesel.

With your current mindset you'll throw a lot of money at a problem that doesn't exist and end up with real drivetrain longevity issues.
 
First thing you should do is exhaust.
For exhaust: A Cat back system. I use Flowmaster and like their stuff. The cat back systems are fairly easy to install yourself and fit the stock hangers ECT. Edelbrock, Magnaflow, Gibson also make good Cat back systems but Flowmaster is prolly the cheapest and work good on a stock or mild engine.. Or you can have a local muffler shop build you a performance exhaust system for around the same price if you shop around. I would go with single exhaust 3" pipe and a performance muffler (Not Glasspacks) all the way back.

Programmer: Hypertech. There are a lot of other programmers out there but for a stock engine a Hypertrch will do just fine. They are easy to use. and IMO give the most for your money. They make both a hand held(cheaper) or a dash mounted model. Both do the same things.

Intake: K&N FIPK system. They are the easisest to find. And pretty much do the same thing as all the other CAI kits out there.

With those mods you will feel a nice boost in power and torque. And possibly gain up to 2 mpg. But you still cant go lugging a small block. They are built to rev. Thats where they make their power. Lugging a small block will acually cause you to burn more fuel than using a lower gear. Also you are putting undue strain on your engine and the trans may not be getting enough lubrication and cooling because it is not running at the right RPM for the load you are pulling.
 
You seem to have a diesel or big block mentality, and you're towing with a small block.

When i tow with my small blocks, i see hills coming, and try to build some momentum by getting on the gas early. Then when i hit the hill, i keep the pedal down, and start watching my temp gauge. If you have a good cooling system, you should be able to pull 3500-4000 rpm's up a hill for 20 min if need be.

My blazer has 175k on it, original motor, and it will still do this without protest.

Mine is a tbi - the vortec is even happier at higher rpm's for long period of time.

Let that sucker rev!



Thunder:
On a side note, why do you specifically say "not glasspacks"? I agree, i want to go with flowmasters on my burb, but was considering going wiht a cherry bomb for now to save a few $$$. Do you say to stay away from them based on performance concerns, or the fact that they don't last long?
 
Glass packs dont last long behind a catalytic converter. Espically when towing. plus I think they sound like crap.
 
Even the $35 turbo mufflers from Autozone are better than glasspacks. Glasspacks are ghey. The cheap turbo mufflers are by no means Flowmaster, but they still sound decent, and let the motor breath.

Low RPM's and high load with an auto tranny is bad. It stresses it a lot and will eventually fry it. If you do a lot of towing I would recommend a tranny temp guage. They're cheap and can potentially save you a lot of $$.

You can push all of the power you want out of the engine and still fry the tranny towing. Think about a B&M shift kit. It's something you can install while you're installing the temp guage. Never get a "high performance" tranny filter. My dad installed one on his '95 diesel and learned that they don't let enough fluid through because they filter too good.
 
Guys thanks for the imput. I guess I've always thaught downshifting was bad for the tranny. I just have to drive differently and most of my problem should go away. When I do let it downshift I really don't have any problem making the hills. Granted I'm not going to be pulling out and passing anyone on a hill but I can make it up without loosing much speed. Seeing I already need a new muffler I will probably get a cat back system. While I'm at it I'll get an intake to.
Even if it doesn't get more power it should sound cool. :D

Thanks again
 
Stylzz said:
Guys thanks for the imput. I guess I've always thaught downshifting was bad for the tranny. I just have to drive differently and most of my problem should go away. When I do let it downshift I really don't have any problem making the hills. Granted I'm not going to be pulling out and passing anyone on a hill but I can make it up without loosing much speed. Seeing I already need a new muffler I will probably get a cat back system. While I'm at it I'll get an intake to.
Even if it doesn't get more power it should sound cool. :D

Thanks again
Click to expand...

Good call. Don't be afraid to use that truck as it is meant to be used! I'm a big fan of maintaining and not abusing trucks, but when it comes to their purpose, i'll keep the pedal to the floor if it gets the job done without any absurd abuse.
 
I think you will be very happy with a Cat back system. The older Voretc exhaust did not flow very well. After you get better exhaust installed it will bring a smile to your face.
The intake will help a little too. Between the 2 you should see around 20 or a little more Hp 20 +ftlbs torque.
If you have more than 80,000 miles on your Cat convertor. You might want to think about a new high flow cat.
 
you could always punch out your cat and get the fool sensors from summitracing. Or just get rid of all of the unnecessary smog equipment all together...

*Note* I do not condone punching out a cat or removing the smog equipment from any street legal vehicle... Just a thought...
 
Cowboy_80 said:
you could always punch out your cat and get the fool sensors from summitracing. Or just get rid of all of the unnecessary smog equipment all together...

*Note* I do not condone punching out a cat or removing the smog equipment from any street legal vehicle... Just a thought...
Click to expand...

I would punch out the cat but we have emissions testing in CT. If you fail and don't get it fixed in 30 days the state pulls your registration. Found the Exhaust kit for $235 and the Intake for $231. I have to wait a few weeks because I bought too many racing parts this week.
 
first lots of states run obdII plug emissions testing now. so do not punch the cats. and gm dosnt use the big ball style restrictive cats anymore. so dont punch them out.

second i have a crew cab 96 1ton with 4.10 and 245/75/16 tires and a 10k trailer. she does good in flat towing. i have a vac and trans temp gauge setup. in my driving empty and full i have found better vac = fuel milage in 3rd rather than 4th gear. so if trailer is on. use 3 speeds not 4th gear.

i swaped out my stock cat back with a high flow muffler and 3" pipe to the bumper. sounds good and flows great. i could feel it empty even. i have stock intake but k&n filter in stock box.

also i installed a b&m shift improver kit to the 4l80-e and set it on stage 2 and left it there. what a diffrence to the shifts over stock. empty its there. and full 10k trailer load its 10x better than stock slopy shifts. http://www.towrig.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1123

a good ac delco parts tune up will make a diffrence to the way it runs also. ask 84cucv :haha::doah::eek1:

keep the vortec runnin for the hills and she will pull o.k. but nothan can beat a cummins in my book.
 
Yeah, let that tranny shift. I have a supercharged tbi 454 with 4l80e and when I am about to hit a long steep hill I shift into 3rd when towing big loads just to keep my speed up. I definitely am in the shift your auto trans camp.
 
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