2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions

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2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions

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Chevrolet Forum >> Chevy Trucks, Vans & SUV's >> Silverado >> 2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions

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2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions - 3/11/2008 10:09:30 PM

nateratm

Posts: 8
Joined: 9/27/2007
Status: offline

Which CAI do you recommend? I was looking at this K&N air charger kit: http://www.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=63-3058
What do you think?

I'm also thinking about getting a flowmaster, but i'm kind of at lost for what I'm looking for. I don't want a really loud sound, but a nice agressive sound would be nice. Any recommendations?

I've also heard about custom tuners and such, but I don't think I'll be getting to that anytime soon.

So are these the basics of performance upgrades? What else should I do, or is there anything I'm missing? Thanks.

Post #: 1

RE: 2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions - 3/12/2008 3:56:38 AM

Mcguinness

Posts: 60
Joined: 2/12/2008
Status: offline

The first 2 you mentioned are usually were everyone starts and are good choices,I have a K&N air intake exactly like the one you are looking at GREAT!!!!As far as muffler i chalk that up to preference,I too was worried about loud but once i got a taste of the sound of power i couldn't stop and am glad i went as far as i did .
I started with a flow 50 wayyy too quiet,and then a super 40 still wayyy to quiet but a bit better and then an original 40 series and this was almost the cake but still wanted to hear it at low idle /revs so i looked up an old friend from the high school days and went with my single chamber Cherry Bomb Extreme,Now it is loud the loudest i've heard but when you drive at normal speeds and without booting it it is not overwhelming but you always know it's there with a nice resonant hum,so please don't do like me and be afraid of going to loud and then saying wow this isn't loud at all i would say if you want aggresive sound get what i have it is a 3 inch in 2.5 inch out dual cherry bomb extreme single chamber and i have 4 inch tips on it and it's great!!!!!!!!!
You sound just like i did when i started,i mean some people explian the likeness of the sound in the cab like it's gonna blow your head off but it's not,i just like to hear my motor at all times and can now.
Don't be afraid go for it!!!!

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2007 Chevrolet Silverado EXT.CAB. LT3 Z71 K&N CAI, Cherry Bomb Extreme single chamber

(in reply to nateratm)

Post #: 2

RE: 2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions - 3/12/2008 5:36:57 AM

northey87

Posts: 855
Joined: 10/17/2007
Status: offline

K&N are good but check out S&B filters before you decide: www.sbfilters.com
and check out http://www.thetruthaboutfilters.com/ for some very helpful info.
I have a flowmaster 70 bigblock series muffler and love it, but I would suggest for you a 50 series, sounds great when you step on the gas but quiter while at idle and while cruising 60/70/80 mph.

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''''95 1500 Silverado, 350, flowmaster Force II exhuast, S&B CAI.

Get your votes in for the August ROTM!! http://snappoll.com/poll/279825.php

(in reply to Mcguinness)

Post #: 3

RE: 2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions - 3/12/2008 2:22:29 PM

Viperx15

Posts: 3
Joined: 3/12/2008
Status: offline

I just recently put a Super 44 on my 2004 Silverado. 4.8l V8. Sounds great. Not too loud in the cab and hasa nice deep agressive tone.

(in reply to northey87)

Post #: 4

RE: 2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions - 3/12/2008 2:40:56 PM

northey87

Posts: 855
Joined: 10/17/2007
Status: offline

I guess what the big difference is the newer chevy's have way better noise reduction material that make the cab alot less noisy, as opposed to older one (like my "95) which I can hear almost every little noise in the cab. Therefore, for me a 50 or 70 series muffler sound just fine from inside the cab, but for folks with newer models, they may want to go with a louder muffler so they get the noise and feeling inside the cab. But it all depends on personal preferences on how loud you want it. Just food for thought.

< Message edited by northey87 -- 3/12/2008 2:44:24 PM >

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''''95 1500 Silverado, 350, flowmaster Force II exhuast, S&B CAI.

Get your votes in for the August ROTM!! http://snappoll.com/poll/279825.php

(in reply to Viperx15)

Post #: 5

RE: 2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions - 3/12/2008 9:23:31 PM

nateratm

Posts: 8
Joined: 9/27/2007
Status: offline

thanks for the replies, i appreciate them.

i also heard something about intake and exhaust relation. do i have to get a new exhaust or will the stock exhaust do fine?

if I do decide on installing the intake myself, how difficult is it? i mean i know how to use a wrench, but i'm not exactly a mechanic either.
i wouldn't want to screw anything up.

and what about a supercharger? is there one out yet for the new Silverados?

(in reply to northey87)

Post #: 6

RE: 2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions - 3/13/2008 5:36:25 AM

Jeckel707

Posts: 56
Joined: 2/5/2008
Status: offline

i dont know about a supercharger, im sure there is some company that is making one for the new silverado's but i do know about the intake. i put the S&B on mine, and it literally only took me about 45 min to put in and i was hanging out drinking beers and eating pizza at the same time so its not that hard, plus i did a throttle body spacer at the same time. only a basic knowledge of wrenches should get you there, most instructions are very clear, if you have any questions you can always call the manufacturer, and most places that sell the intakes have the instructions available for you to view even before you buy the product. my 2 cents.

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2007 NBS Silverado, 5.3 V8 LT, 4x4 Z71, S&B Cold Air Intake, Flowmaster original 40 series single in dual out the rear w/ chrome tips, Airaid Throttle Body Spacer, Line-X Spray in bed liner, 7000K headlights

(in reply to nateratm)

Post #: 7

RE: 2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions - 3/13/2008 9:36:40 AM

northey87

Posts: 855
Joined: 10/17/2007
Status: offline

I think I heard somewhere that the new chevy's had mandrel bend exhaust pipes, but don't quote me on that. The easiest way to check is to look at the pipes and it they have crinkles in the bends or and indentation at that the bend (which makes the pipe narrower) then I would replace the exhaust. A CAI and exhaust go hand in hand, they compliment each other. If you have better flow going into the engine then you should have better flow (less restriction) coming out of the engine.

_____________________________

''''95 1500 Silverado, 350, flowmaster Force II exhuast, S&B CAI.

Get your votes in for the August ROTM!! http://snappoll.com/poll/279825.php

(in reply to Jeckel707)

Post #: 8

RE: 2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions - 3/13/2008 10:00:38 AM

Jeckel707

Posts: 56
Joined: 2/5/2008
Status: offline

yes northey, mandrel bent systems are better, for race cars and high performance motors. if you have an every day v8 that isnt built, it is not going to affect the performance at all if you dont have a mandrel bent system, its better to actually get rid of the restrictive stock muffler and put a different muffler on even if the rest of the system is not mandrel bent. yes it will flow better with mandrel bent pipes, but not enough to notice any mileage or hp gains. I do have my stock exhaust at home that i replaced, ill take a look at it tonight and see if it is mandrel from the factory and get back to you. but i do know that the stock exhaust is about 2 feet long and about a foot tall vs my flowmaster that is only about a foot long and about 6 inches tall with dual outlets.
All in all, you wont notice a difference in performance or restriction with mandrel vs non mandrel, unless you are running a setup with some serious power.

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2007 NBS Silverado, 5.3 V8 LT, 4x4 Z71, S&B Cold Air Intake, Flowmaster original 40 series single in dual out the rear w/ chrome tips, Airaid Throttle Body Spacer, Line-X Spray in bed liner, 7000K headlights

(in reply to northey87)

Post #: 9

RE: 2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 performance upgrade questions - 3/14/2008 6:28:34 AM

fireman526

Posts: 450
Joined: 2/3/2008
From: Houston, Texas
Status: offline

I disagree. I dont think it matters wether or not your running high horsepower or everday specs. Mandrel bends are always better than crush bends. Less restriction = more flow. If your theory was true, catback systems wouldnt waste their time with their products using mandrel bends. Wether its flowmaster, Borla, SLP, or whoever, most use stainless steel pipes with mandrel bends. I had a custom exhaust on the Supercharged Tiburon with crushed bends, then I put a SLP loud mouth stainless mandrel catback on it and it dynoed at 6 more HP, strictly because of the mandrel bends.

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