[connorracing]

Ok so I'm new here this is my first post and I have a few questions. I have a 04 silverado crew cab 5.3 4x4 3:73 front and rear now the probelem. I have a big camper and I need more power to tow the thing up hill and down the road. My motor is all stock and needs some upgrades so what should I do to make more power. I want to do a cam swap but I don't want it to keep setting the engine light off. Basically what I'm saying is more ho and a lot more torque needed so any ideas would be great thanks.

 

[silveradotrailblazer]

Welcome to the club. These trucks really like cam swaps, you just have to get the right one that works with the computer so you don't get check engine lights. A good CAI like a Banks (you can see mine on my photo album), cam, long tube headers like DynaTechs, cat-back exhaust, Diablo Trinity with a DiabLew custom tune and you'll have a nice DEPENDABLE running truck.

 

[connorracing]

So what would you think for a cam. My truck has 150 k on it and its about paisld for so my thought is to build a new motor for it and keep it for a bit. My camper weigh about 7000 pounds and I want to be able to move the thing

 

[99'HEARTBEAT]

So what would you think for a cam. My truck has 150 k on it and its about paisld for so my thought is to build a new motor for it and keep it for a bit. My camper weigh about 7000 pounds and I want to be able to move the thing

On the....7,000lbs your Camper weights, is that Dry/Unloaded Weight??......Also when you say...(Camper).....is it one that slides into the Bed of the Truck or Trailer (Camper) one you are Towing??

 

[connorracing]

Dry I know lts kinda heavy but you gotta have comfort for the camping lol

 

[99'HEARTBEAT]

Dry I know lts kinda heavy but you gotta have comfort for the camping lol

I added to my reply above, regarding the Camper.....is it a Slide-in to the Bed of the Truck (Camper) or Towing Trailer (Camper) Behind your Truck??

 

[connorracing]

Tow behind hanging off the reese hitch on the back its about 29ft long. When its rolling on the flat its not bad but those hills just seem to kick its ass

 

[silveradotrailblazer]

With all those miles on the engine I would look at the 5.3H.O. crate engine part # 19165628, its a direct bolt-in and has 327hp and 347 lbs.ft. torque. It has a 24month,50,000 mile warranty. Add the CAI, headers, cat-back and a tune and you have a nice truck. Some will say why not go with a 6.0. Well a 6.0 is not a direct bolt-in and will not have the warranty.

 

[99'HEARTBEAT]

Tow behind hanging off the reese hitch on the back its about 29ft long. When its rolling on the flat its not bad but those hills just seem to kick its ass

Well with the Trailer Weighting.....Around 7,000lbs Dry/Unloaded.....adding Supplies....Food...Cloths.... Etc....your Weight is going to be around 7,500lbs Give or Take.......does the Truck have the Factory Tow Package and do you know what the Max Trailer Ratings(Weight) is for your Truck??

 

[BillD64]

With all those miles on the engine I would look at the 5.3H.O. crate engine part # 19165628, its a direct bolt-in and has 327hp and 347 lbs.ft. torque. It has a 24month,50,000 mile warranty. Add the CAI, headers, cat-back and a tune and you have a nice truck. Some will say why not go with a 6.0. Well a 6.0 is not a direct bolt-in and will not have the warranty.

The crate 5.3 won't have a warranty either if it is modified with a cam and tune.

Bill

 

[silveradotrailblazer]

The 5.3H.O. comes with a hotter factory installed cam, its the cam from the 6.0. As far as the tune, just back the tune out before going in for warranty work.

 

[BillD64]

Well with the Trailer Weighting.....Around 7,000lbs Dry/Unloaded.....adding Supplies....Food...Cloths.... Etc....your Weight is going to be around 7,500lbs Give or Take.......does the Truck have the Factory Tow Package and do you know what the Max Trailer Ratings(Weight) is for your Truck??

Actually he needs to know the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) and how much total weight he is hauling. Trailer Capacity is only part of the picture. GVWR gives the complete picture. The Silverado 1500 with 5.3 engine GVWR is approximately 12600 lbs. The empty truck is probably over 5K (my 5.3 Tahoe weighs 5200) and the trailer is estimated at 7500 so he is at the weight limit and hasn't put himself or his passengers and any other stuff in the truck yet.

A small increase in HP isn't going to help because it won't change the HP to weight ratio very much.

Bill

 

[99'HEARTBEAT]

Actually he needs to know the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) and how much total weight he is hauling. Trailer Capacity is only part of the picture. GVWR gives the complete picture. The Silverado 1500 with 5.3 engine GVWR is approximately 12600 lbs. The empty truck is probably over 5K (my 5.3 Tahoe weighs 5200) and the trailer is estimated at 7500 so he is at the weight limit and hasn't put himself or his passengers and any other stuff in the truck yet.

A small increase in HP isn't going to help because it won't change the HP to weight ratio very much.

Bill

Bill you beat me to it on the Tow Specs......below are the Towing Ratings from the 2004" Silverado Owners Manual for a Crew Cab.....1/2Ton....4WD, with a 5.3 Liter and 3.73 are,
......Max Trailer Rating's(Weight).........................7,500lbs......(3 401kg)
.....GCVW....Gross Combined Vehicle Weight......13,000lbs...(5 897 kg)

I agree 100% with what you have mentioned Bill.....:great:

 

[connorracing]

So I guess what you guys are telling me is that its time to buy a new truck.

 

[silveradotrailblazer]

Looks like a good excuse to me for a new truck!:great:

 

[Sierraowner5.3]

get a 3/4 with a 6.6.....

:-D

Alex