Looking for some suggestions here. I have an 02 silverado, big lift, big tires......and little 5.3 I work coast to coast and would love to trailer my bike with. Which brings me back to the 5.3. I trailered my bikes about 400 miles and the motor felt like it was struggling. I have a budget of about 4k set aside for horsepower. An easy way would be the 6.0 conversion but could I make the 5.3 run as hard, possibly supercharged or should I look into built motor? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

I'm an old car guy and motor fan so I might not be too much help on newer motors but it's still all pretty much the same. I'd go with more motor first and here is the main reason why. If that motor is set up for good low end grunt and towing, you'll be in heaven. The power will always be there and no worries of lag time for a turbo or blower to come online. Now, with that said, weigh your options because it does come down to bang for the buck.

 

You could also spend some duckets on regearing the truck to match the tire size you've gone with. That will certainly make it feel like you have more hp and make the truck not work as hard. Then the normal cat back exhaust possibly even headers if you feel like dealing with it, cold air intake, descreened MAF, throttle body spacer so she can breath right and something like EFI Live to really wake up the motor and you'll have a whole new truck without having to rip the motor out. Just my 2 cents

 

White_noyez has a very good point - what gearing are you running? How big of a trailer are you trying to pull?

 

Very true, I didn't even think about gearing issues. I figured it was already done when he said he went large with the lift and tires.

 

Also what size tires are you running? The general rule of thumb is 33's - 3.73s or 4.11's 35s, 36s and sometimes 37's - 4.56 or 4.88's. 4.88's are great around town and in the woods BUT you lose some top end speed. Having the overdrive trany you'll still be okay to cruise at 75 but much more then that you'll start losing fuel millage from being in the higher rpms.

 

Thanks guys! I will start with the rear end. It already has a cold air intake. cat back borla duals. I think that witn in the near future I will try to find 6.0.