Hey guys,
My buddy called me tonight looking for a good tuner for his 08 Z-71 with a 5.3 in it. I think he just wants to increase the performance of the truck. I told him that I had a 02' silverado with a 6.0 in it and used a hypertech power programmer III on it and I didn't like it. It just didn't seem to do much for mine. I appreciate all of your input. Also, if you know of any good forums that would be more focused on his truck let me know.
__________________ Mickey
06' LBZ CC SB 4X4
Cowl Hood, LineX Bedliner, Air Lift air bags, Reese 18K slider fifth wheel hitch Python 990 remote start alarm system, Pioneer AVIC D3 In dash GPS, blue tooth kit, 10" Kicker sub. Smoked Tail lights, Recon tailgate light bar
Res. Plugged, PVC Rerouted and 5" Diamond Eye turbo back.
Still trying to decide on tuner and gauges........
Avenue 530 17" wheels and 285/70R17 Nitto Terra Grapplers
Towing a 06' 37RK 4 slide Cardinal fifth wheel.
well none of them are really going to give you the increase a tuner on a diesel will but I would find a good custom tuner to get him set up. Nothign beats a custom tune.
Programmers in Gas trucks are not at all like a diesel. I always tell my customers that purchase these programmers that it will improve drievability (shifting, less tq. management, better throttle response etc...), but nothing like a diesel. I had to take the Edge EVO off my 07 Suburban, and driving it around the last week, I can tell that it did improve all those things. Stock tuning makes the trans shift sloppy, horrible throttle response, and a net seat of the pants 20hp loss when I need the power.
If you are looking for the best bang for the buck, look into Diablosport Predator for a great hand held tuner for the 5.3L gas trucks. All the guys I've sold them to have sent their friends over to get one too.
__________________
Alligator Diesel Performance - Chad Hall Owner 1-866-255-7212
Tuning a stock gasser makes no sense really. They are tuned to run with the parts they came with. You can pull a little bit out of them like timing, but then your limited to run 91 octane or even better fuel to avoid detonation. Even then your spending more than its worth.
The reason you would want to tune a gasser is when you start adding aftermarket parts. Like a cam, heads, Intakes (no not CAIs), and such. Then you can adjust for those parts and gain the power from those parts.
Diablo sport makes a good tuner for mustangs because they make a few different tunes for common mods, like a head swap, or a pully swap on a cobra. find a tune that matches your bolt ons/swaps. other wise best bet is to take it to a dyno tuner and let him get you where you need to be.
Tell him to go to Performancetrucks.net
That forum is awesome for guys with gassers and its mainly chevy based. Wheatley, Nelson, Blackbear Tuning are just a few guys on there that do custom tunes. I have access to HP Tuners and we tuned my truck and it was like night and day difference. Stock i ran a 16.6 in a 4.8 rcsb 4x4, after we tuned it i ran a 15.7. Now ive put longtubes and tossed the cats, hopefully high 14 low 15s.
Tell him to get EFI Live and buy 2 (word I can't remember) for it. Then use one for his truck and one for yours! A good gas tuner can find HP that the factory tuned out. usually around 20-30hp at most but like alligator said the drivability and tq management will be better suited to performance driving.
__________________ Vehicle 2008 Black Chevy Crew Cab Short Bed Z71 Tires & Wheels 285/75/R16 Load Range E BFG A/T's on Stock Rims Suspension Cognito UCA kit with Bilsteins all around from Nick at Nor-Cal Truck Drivetrain LMM Duramax, Allsion 1000 Transmssion Performance ModsEFI Live and DSP 5 By MMLMM, RBP downpipe back exhaust (no CAT or DPF), TransGo Jr, Mag Hytec transmssion and rear end covers, PPE Air Box Mod, Resonator Blocked, Auto Meter GS Boost, EGT, and Transmission gauges, Auto Meter triple pillar with speaker cutout. all from Tyler at Meyer Performance & Fabrication, LLC Other Mods B&W Turn Over Ball, Air Lift Bags, Titan 52gal fuel tank, Wether Tech FloorLiners, SpeedLiner spray in bedliner, debadged whole truck except bow ties and D-Max/Allsion logo
I had a Hypertech on my last gasser and really liked it. Im sure a vendor here can help you out!
__________________ Jason
Quote:
So, I think I'm going to get a stack..... Stacks are cool..... No Im just getting one..... Oh.. Well just don't put it on the gay side..... Wait what??
2006 Silverado 2500HD LBZ CC SB Escalade Handles, Front windows tinted to match the rear, painted bumpers, billet grille 4 Kicker 10in Subs in 2 custom box's, Autometer Ultra lite II Pyro and Boost gauges MBRP Turbo Back Stainless Exhaust (Straight piped), w/ stainless tip! PPE Hot+2 285/75/16 Nitto Terra Grapplers on Gear Alloy wheels ****Lost Kitty Reward if found!!**** 1999 Ford F-550 PowerStroke ''Wrecker'' **Jerrdan bed, S&B Intake
My 5.3 has a tune on it also!![wifes ride,one listed in sig]just like ALLIGATOR PERF said,a whopping 25 HP or so and the need to run a higher octane fuel[or valves clatter,and it will FUBAR the pistons if not!]Now the thing I DID like about it was that i could adjust the shift points on the trans and the pressure between the shifts,and throttle response is a good bit better..Like they all said though,NO gasser will do what a diesel will do out the box and just slapping a tune on it..
I will add that I drove a company owned Yukon XL with 326,000 miles on it[not mine]Hypertech tuned though and it walked away from trucks that weighed a lot less than it did!When I turned that truck in,it still ran like a champ[w326k miles],and the current owner still has it,he is approaching 400k BTW.......I will say the 5.3 will do the deal,and I was skeptical after owning. SEVERAL 5.7's and one 4.3 powered Astro van that we ran till 376k.....To add 90HP and 155 TQ to a gasser,it'd easily cost you 3 grand,it just won't do it like a diesel that a tune can be put on....
__________________ 06.LBZ GMC[SLE1] 4x4 .modded a touch!PPE hot+2!
.STAGE V Suncoast,Merchant 4x4,str8piped,285's,
1978 Malibu[2dr.]350ci crate/TH 350 with goods,3.23's 1987 Monte Carlo SS 92k original milesPM regarding MPG will not be answered!! 2001 GMC ex-cab 5.3,tuned,20'Helios
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Alligator Performance summed it up well!! 
I will say the 5.3 will do the deal,and I was skeptical after owning. SEVERAL 5.7's and one 4.3 powered Astro van that we ran till 376k.....To add 90HP and 155 TQ to a gasser,it'd easily cost you 3 grand,it just won't do it like a diesel that a tune can be put on.... 
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