My 6.0

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

updated *7-10-07* scroll down to the black

b4 i start i have been searchng my ass off for all this but couldnt seem to find exactly what i need for my exact truck

i just bought a 2003 GMC sierra 1500HD 6.0 crewcab about a month ago.

i own my own carpenter business so i hual trailers 70% of the time.and my truck gets about 9mpg with a 13foot work trailer and about 11-12 mpg with no trailer driving 60% hwy 40% town.so im lucky if i get 300miles per tank of gas(damn bear 80 bucks a tank)


so my main question is whats the best things to do to my truck to help with gas. im not really into racing (i have other vehicles for that)but i want more from my truck. its jsut to damn slow for being a 6.0. it doesnt feel much better than my 98 5.7 i had.

heres a few things i plan on doing in the order i plan(from what i been reseaching on here) any input would be most appreciated


1. k&n & airbox mod(i seen the airbox mod a week ago but cant seem to find the thread on it now so pls post it up thanks)
2. flowmaster muffler with 3inch tips (i want a pretty loud agressive rumble)(something that sounds like the 80 series i had on my camaro)
3.remove the clutch fan and install electric fans
4.chip(wheatley it may be spelled wrong)and how should i get it tuned(like i said im not really into racing it but i may every once in awhile around town) i read soemthing about 2 tunes on 1 chip using my tow/hual button

anything whatsoever good or bad on 1-4 would help


now im planning on a regualr tuneup next weekend and was wondering whats the best stuff to get

i jsut bought some mobile 1(not thhe synthetic)its like a 5000 miles oil or something,and i got a free stp iol filter and 2bucks off my k&n air filter

what would be the best sparkplugs to put on?

its got about 60k miles on it now is there anything else i should be changing on it now? like plug wires (does it have cap and rotor) should i change oxygen sensors?


Sorry for being so long . and thanks in advance



I will keep every1 posted right here as i go along(to help further 6.0 in the future)

2003 1500HD crewcab 4x4 3
3.73 gears
automatic tranny
285-75-16 tires

7-08-07 completly bone stock
8.5-9.5mpg pulling my wok trailer(2000-4000lbs)
11-12mpg hualing no trailer
7-10-07
added drop in k&n (no airbox mod yet)
fresh oil(moblie 5000 mile,stp filter)
new ac delco plugs(iridium)
10.5 with my trailer(this the 1st tank could just be lucky)
my truck defintly felt smoother and actually i bit more power

*NOTES 7-08-07
1.k&n and airbox mod will be done b4 the weeks up
2.should have mufflers in about a week
3.should have a tune(probably wheatly)in 2-4 weeks
4.should have electric fan in 3-8 weeks(still doing lots of searching)

[texasboy21Z71]

What you probably would want is not basic bolt ons but rather some mods that will get that heavy truck and trailer moving, thats what is killing your gas. the max torque on a 6.0 is up around 4k RPMs....not were you want it to tow. get a cam witha lower power band, gears, dont know what you have now, and some tuning ie westers, nelsons, or if you have to Wait4me. just my .02

barrett

on the plugs - use the AC Delco they are the OE plugs and by far the best DONT USE BOSCH

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

i have 3.73 gears and 286 75 16 tires

[SteppinLo]

3.73's and 285 tires are some of your problem.
I have 4.10's with 245's and my truck seems to be just ok on bottom end torque. I did just have the engine rebuilt, so I am taking it easy for break in.
You should either consider 4.10's and stock tires, or step on up to 4.56's, although, the gear prices are steep for heavier trucks.

Good luck and keep us posted. I am curious to know what works and what just spends my money!

Ronnie

[91_bowtie]

Regarding the tune... Talk to "justin," a forum member here. He owns BlackBear Performance, and is the only tuner that I would recommend. A good tune will fix alot of your problems.

NGK TR55 plugs

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

3.73's and 285 tires are some of your problem.

You should either consider 4.10's and stock tires, or step on up to 4.56's, although, the gear prices are steep for heavie

Ronnie




i know i can go smaller on the tires but i love my truck and i would rather look better than save gas :) but on the other hand im jsut triying to do what i can to get the best gas milage


and about te 4.10 gears ,i do alot of interstate driving with my work trailer is 4.10's going to hurt me there at 60-70 miles per hour?

and ill definlty keep every1 posted .

im doing the airbox mod this weekend or at the early part of this week when i find the post that was on here. can any1 send me the way of that mod? i cant seem to find it


plugs and oil will be this weekend its that time. see if that had any noticable differnece

next week or 2 i should have my flows on

[SteppinLo]

Towing is going to hurt you no matter what. My truck turns around 2500 rpm @ 75 mph. There is a line between good mileage with taller gears and accelaration with lower gears. Take your pick. If all you are worried about is looks, quit worrying.

Ronnie

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

Towing is going to hurt you no matter what. My truck turns around 2500 rpm @ 75 mph. There is a line between good mileage with taller gears and accelaration with lower gears. Take your pick. If all you are worried about is looks, quit worrying.

Ronnie


hmmmm.. thats not bad then if i remember right my truck runs about 2000-2100 rpms at 75

but the thing i hate the most is when im around 70-75 mph with my trailer any slight inlcine(i mean really slight incline) my truck kicks down a gear and runs about 3000 rpms(its very annoying)

i am moslty worried about looks. but y not get the best gas milage you can?


got the ac delco plugs 2day them damn things were 6.99 a peice +tax

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

Regarding the tune... Talk to "justin," a forum member here. He owns BlackBear Performance, and is the only tuner that I would recommend. A good tune will fix alot of your problems.

NGK TR55 plugs


whats the prices for my truck from blackbear ya kow?
i havent heard much about him, i always here about wait4me,nelson,and i think like whently. so which is the best?
i think i heard whently has a lifetime upgrade for everytime you change something on your truck .

any1 know the pros and cons and prices,and web adress
i should be getting the tune in about a month or so. im really trying to get my flows on 1st then the tune.then i have to get rid of my clutch fan and put on a electric 1 im pretty sure that will help alot

[hornsfan10609]

E-fans make a huge difference, lots of power freed up. As for plug wires, no your truck does not have them. I think the aftermarket plugs like Bosch platinum tipped ones are better than stock, but if other people disagree than go with the AC Delco's. A tune will make a big difference. For gears, I would assume you would be turning over lots more RPM with 4.10's on the highway. Especially with a 4 speed automatic. If you have a 6 speed you can easily get away with it, but 4 speeds can bite you in the a$$ sometimes. But I would go with whatever people who have them say. I don't tow ever with my truck, and I still wouldn't go with gears that low, but I also am running stock sized rims/tires.

[HD4Mud]

http://www.blackbearperformance.com/
Justin is a forum leader for the FSC Forum (http://74.53.180.146/forums/index.php) > General Discussion (http://74.53.180.146/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=21) > Performance (http://74.53.180.146/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12) > Port Injection (96+ / OBD-II) (http://74.53.180.146/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=180) and an EFILive Instructor. Nelson's is supposed to do real well with 6.0L but they are getting $375 for basically stock vehicles and almost $500 for modified vehicles.

[91_bowtie]

whats the prices for my truck from blackbear ya kow?
i havent heard much about him, i always here about wait4me,nelson,and i think like whently. so which is the best?
i think i heard whently has a lifetime upgrade for everytime you change something on your truck .

any1 know the pros and cons and prices,and web adress
i should be getting the tune in about a month or so. im really trying to get my flows on 1st then the tune.then i have to get rid of my clutch fan and put on a electric 1 im pretty sure that will help alot


Blackbear is the best, IMO. I've known him through these boards for almost 10 years now. The guy travels the country teaching classes on how to use the software. I doubt they would send someone out there to do that unless they knew it inside and out. His method of sending out the logging box results in a much more accurate tune than anyone can do with a typical mail order. It is actually tailored to your vehicle, as opposed to a one size fits all that you'll get from the other guys. You haven't heard about him because most of the time people only complain about something. Very rarely do they praise someone for doing a good job, good service, etc. If you do your research, you'll find that people have had problems with almost all of the tuners in your list. I challenge you to find one unhappy customer from BlackBear. :head:

Nelson tuned mine initially, and I had several problems with it. I asked for his help resolving these issues, and he never got back to me. I sent numerous emails, called several times, etc, and it took OVER A MONTH for him to return my call. In the time it took for him to return my call, I had already gotten tired of waiting, so I bought EFILive and Justin helped me get it straightened out. I could not start the truck without a laptop last winter. It was pretty embarrassing when I went to meetings with clients and I had to plug a laptop in to fire it up.

As for prices, and all that... do a search on here or google.

[1989K1500]

Get 4.10s and a tune to start with. And not a blowmaster muffler.

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

As for plug wires, no your truck does not have them.

my truck has plug wires i jsut changed my plugs. they are about 8 inches long and go from the plug to the coil pack.


my truck already had the same delco iridium plugs in (kinda burnt up)

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

whats a good electric fan setup?

i want it to come on auto . not with a damn switch or anything.
any1 have pics. whats the prices?wheres the best place to look?

is there a good single electric fan that fits the shroud already in there from the clutch fan?

any1 have a pic of the airbox mod? do i jsut cut a hole in the front of it 3 inches or so? or in the bottom?

im getting a muffler put on next weekend at a shop down the raod.ill call the 2morrow to get the name of the muffler(i 4got) but he says its a little heavier duty then a flowmaster and sounds better.

would it be better to single muffler like on it now? or get 2 mufflers since i have duals exhaust going to the back?

SORRY for so many questions but thanks so much for all the input i get from you guys.and i spend 200+ gas a week atleast so ill keep you guys posted on everything i do and how much mpg i get

like i said right now i get 8.5-9.5 pulling my work trailer(if i hade to guess my trailer is 2500-4000lbs) and 11-12 hualing my little ass. thats mixed 50/50 hwy and town driving
ill keep you guys posted on the 1st post

[hornsfan10609]

It doesn't have traditional plug wires. The coil packs on the newer trucks aren't what you consider plug wires. I guess they are but when I think of plug wires I think of a distributor, which you don't have. You can get electric fans wired into the thermastat so they kick on at a certain temp. and with a dual fan setup one can always kick on when the ac compressor kicks on. Someone on here put oldsmobile fans in and they seemed pretty easy to install. For mufflers, I know you already have some picked out but I recommend the Magnaflows, they sound awesome.

[91_bowtie]

It doesn't have traditional plug wires. The coil packs on the newer trucks aren't what you consider plug wires. I guess they are but when I think of plug wires I think of a distributor, which you don't have. You can get electric fans wired into the thermastat so they kick on at a certain temp. and with a dual fan setup one can always kick on when the ac compressor kicks on. Someone on here put oldsmobile fans in and they seemed pretty easy to install. For mufflers, I know you already have some picked out but I recommend the Magnaflows, they sound awesome.


The wire transfers electricity from the power source, to the plug. The only difference is the elimination of the distributor. The wire is now running directly from the coil, to the plug. Seeing as how the wires are only 8" long, it does not make a big difference to swap to a high dollar wire. Unless you have clearance issues with headers, I think the money is much better spent elsewhere.

The e-fans plug into pin 43 on the pcm, and they are controlled through parameters set in the tune. This pin must be activated in your tune, as it is turned off on non- e-fan trucks. I used 05 takeouts for mine. I picked them up from G&R, a salvage yard in okalhoma. I think I paid around $225, but it was well worth it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/four_under/DSCN3900.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/four_under/DSCN3914.jpg

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

every1 that has been keeping up with this thread (to much to recap)
what kinda stuff should i ask for for my tune?

[Crank1]

91_Bowtie... Those are stock E-Fans? Were they just a direct bolt-on? What did you get them off of? And do you think I'd have the same pin that needs turned on as you say on my '01 2500? So they just plug into a stock plug already there and the tune does all the work as far as when to turn on the fans and when to turn them off and works with the a/c and all that? I'd like more info as you can see, as I'm very interested in a stock looking fan setup. Thanks
Brandon

[91_bowtie]

91_Bowtie... Those are stock E-Fans? Were they just a direct bolt-on? What did you get them off of? And do you think I'd have the same pin that needs turned on as you say on my '01 2500? So they just plug into a stock plug already there and the tune does all the work as far as when to turn on the fans and when to turn them off and works with the a/c and all that? I'd like more info as you can see, as I'm very interested in a stock looking fan setup. Thanks
Brandon


yes... pulled from a 05 truck with VERY low miles. Install took about 45 min. and that's being generous. :LOL: Just tell your tuner that you're getting e-fans, adn they'll set you up. I really like how much cleaner it looks too.

[DieHardChevyMan]

I have a 2001 1500HD and I was in a similar situation as you. Terrible gas mileage. I had 265/75R16's and 3.73's. I was getting about 13 mpg on the highway. I got the Airraid intake and then a Magnaflow muffler. That helped out some. I was at about 15 mpg after that. I got a tune from Charlie Wheatley in Houston. I jumped up to almost 19 MPG. This is mostly highway as that is what I drive most of the time. City mileage is a little lower. I now have H2 rims and tires on and had my computer corrected for that and am getting about 16-17 mpg now. I hope this helps. I haven't found very many people that have a 1500HD but if you have any other questions feel free to PM me. Good luck.

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

what muffler or exhuast system are you 6.0 guys running? im tryng to get that this week or so. im looking for a dual out.my truck now has dual in but single out

[mihc45]

I just purchased a crew cab 6.0 also, I tow about 5 days a week almost 50 miles a day and i dont see that bad of gas milage i get around 13.5 towing, but i also just put a intake, exhaust, headers on mine, not sure what it did to the MPG but it sounds good! I am planning on getting a cam and from what i have heard that helps the 6.0s the most.

[Crank1]

91_Bowtie, again, sorry to hijack, but are these fans just a plug-n-play type of deal or will i have to modify harnesses or anything? Or is there already a plug there waiting to just be connected, then the tune will just have to activate that switch? Also, Justin as you say is a great tuner on here, so he can do this to the tune as well? I think I may have to send him a pm. And while I'm thinkin of it, you got any pics of ur '03? Thanks a bunch
Brandon

[Crank1]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-06-TAHOE-YUKON-SUBURBAN-ESCALADE-ELECTRIC-FANS-OEM_W0QQitemZ130132883202QQihZ003QQcategoryZ33600Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Heres a link i found on ebay, like 265 for fans, I'm sure i can find 'em cheaper at my pick n pull back home when i go on leave, but it says in the ad you will need an aftermarket harness. I'm just trying to get the scoop on this, feel free to bid anyone, i aint buyin 'em.
Brandon

[91_bowtie]

91_Bowtie, again, sorry to hijack, but are these fans just a plug-n-play type of deal or will i have to modify harnesses or anything? Or is there already a plug there waiting to just be connected, then the tune will just have to activate that switch? Also, Justin as you say is a great tuner on here, so he can do this to the tune as well? I think I may have to send him a pm. And while I'm thinkin of it, you got any pics of ur '03? Thanks a bunch
Brandon

It's very easy. All you have to do is connect a couple wires. You can get a harness from a few different places. The harness is simple. Plug in both fans, and connect a couple wires, and you're done. Once you see the instructions, it'll be easy.

Yes, justin will take care of you. Just tell him you have efans, and he'll get you set up.

yeah I have hundreds... :LOL:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/four_under/DSCN3083.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/four_under/DSCN3090.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/four_under/DSCN3103.jpg


I should have a new idle clip late tonight. :rocking:

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

I have a 2001 1500HD and I was in a similar situation as you. Terrible gas mileage. I had 265/75R16's and 3.73's. I was getting about 13 mpg on the highway. I got the Airraid intake and then a Magnaflow muffler. That helped out some. I was at about 15 mpg after that. I got a tune from Charlie Wheatley in Houston. I jumped up to almost 19 MPG. This is mostly highway as that is what I drive most of the time. City mileage is a little lower. I now have H2 rims and tires on and had my computer corrected for that and am getting about 16-17 mpg now. I hope this helps. I haven't found very many people that have a 1500HD but if you have any other questions feel free to PM me. Good luck.

how much was your manga flow? u have duals out or left it stock looking. im trying to figure out what i want to do. a muffler shop here will put a magnaflow on my truck for 240.00 tax and all leaving it looking stock out behind the right back tire. or for 420.00 he will give me a dual out mangaflow with 3 inch tips.

1.so which one whould i choose?
2.will one be louder than the other?
3.how loud are they?(im looking for a good deep loud sound)
4.will one actually hav emore performance?
5.if duals..should i get tips straight out the back? or out the sides right after the tires? or soemthing else?


what exactly did you ask for in your tune? or what did they give you?

im getting a tune soon(wheatley or wait4me)sounds like i need the wheatley but theres a 200$ difference in the 2 tunes.
is wheatly 200.00 better then the wait4me?

[DieHardChevyMan]

how much was your manga flow? u have duals out or left it stock looking. im trying to figure out what i want to do. a muffler shop here will put a magnaflow on my truck for 240.00 tax and all leaving it looking stock out behind the right back tire. or for 420.00 he will give me a dual out mangaflow with 3 inch tips.

1.so which one whould i choose?
2.will one be louder than the other?
3.how loud are they?(im looking for a good deep loud sound)
4.will one actually hav emore performance?
5.if duals..should i get tips straight out the back? or out the sides right after the tires? or soemthing else?


what exactly did you ask for in your tune? or what did they give you?

im getting a tune soon(wheatley or wait4me)sounds like i need the wheatley but theres a 200$ difference in the 2 tunes.
is wheatly 200.00 better then the wait4me?

My muffler was $80 if I remember right. Dual inlet with a single outlet just like stock. I took it to a local muffler shop and for $50 he swapped mufflers out for me. $240 sounds a bit high for what you are getting. I can't offer any suggestions about which one of the two setups would be louder but I would assume that the dual outlet would be a little louder. The Magnaflows are not that loud to me. They get loud in the upper RPM's but there is NO drone like other mufflers. That is why I chose the Magnaflow. Me personally I would get the exhaust coming straight out the back. As far as my tune. I told Charlie that I was looking for more MPG's and then power. He told me that I will get better MPG's with more power and that is how he tuned it. Charlie actually hooked everything up in my truck and we went driving to get my tune dead on. I am VERY PLEASED with my tune and have already been back to get it updated. If you would like his info PM me and I will give it to you. I hope this helps.

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

thanks alot man it all helps alot. ill have to check up more on the muffler. kinda was looking 2wards the duals but hate to pay 420.00
and thanks but i have wheales info already . i emailed him im just trying to figure out what i want to do about the tune. wanted to get the tune in 2 weeks or so ,but if i have to shell out 420.00 for my dual setup. i might have to wait a bit for the tune.

what octane tune ya got?

[DieHardChevyMan]

I had him tune for 87, he brought it up last weekend about maybe doing 91 or 93 but I told him I would wait for a little while. Tell him that you want the same tune that he did for Rich with the Pewter 1500HD.

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

I had him tune for 87, he brought it up last weekend about maybe doing 91 or 93 but I told him I would wait for a little while. Tell him that you want the same tune that he did for Rich with the Pewter 1500HD.


do you think you would get a bit more power and mpg with a higher octane tune? it would only cost a couple bucks more per tank but should make up for it with the extra miles ya get.

[ant8624]

what part of louisiana man... got a friend that does tuning in baton rouge area.. got a good muffler guy too.. ant

[03 GMC 1500HD 4X4]

what part of louisiana man... got a friend that does tuning in baton rouge area.. got a good muffler guy too.. ant


i live about 30-45 minutes from ya.
i live in right off the robert exit.(if ya not sure where that is ,its 2 exits after the mall exit going east..