Performance for a 97 V8 C1500

[augiedog77]

I was told by Lynden that he didn't recomend the higher octane tuning for the older vortecs. He said they need to have more stroke & compression to work right with the tuning

Gerry

[97Chebbie]

Really? Thx. I'll have to email Lyndon about that. Also, do most of you guys recommend high-flow cats? Do they really help or is it just a gimmick? I'm wondering whether I should get some along with the Thorley headers I plan on getting. Thx again.

[augiedog77]

on the other post about ordering a Westers Official style got a 93 octane program, maybe he changed his mind

[BSos32]

how much hp gains could u honestly get from a throttle body spacer?

[augiedog77]

Don't know an exact number but you do notice something. The nice thing is that they're fairly cheap which means bang for the buck

[augiedog77]

thats on the older style of vortec's, not sure about other models:santadeer

[97Chebbie]

I wonder which would be better. Bigger throttle body or throttle body spacer? I was watching some show like Horsepower TV and they just put on a new throttle body instead of going the spacer route. Only about $30 in cost for the mods. Any thoughts? I'd think that the spacer wouldn't do as much as an actual new tb because if you just put the spacer in, you still have the stock tb as a bottleneck in the system. However, I haven't seen any peeps on this forum w/ larger tb's. Mostly just tb blade mods and spacers. Or do these mods just serve the same purpose (increased plenum volume), but in different ways?

[augiedog77]

was it a car or a truck they were working on?

[Pro Stock John]

My view:

Stage 1) Air filter, airbox, tune up, muffler or catback

Stage 2) HPP3 or tuning, headers, hi-flow cats, electric fans, tb spacer, ported or larger throttle body, gears, posi

Stage 3) Ported heads, aftermarket camshaft, internal engine work

-----------------------------
I bet just porting the stock throttle body is worth something, but measure the intake inlet to see how big that is first.

[augiedog77]

or skip 1 through 4 and get a blower for the same power level

Now I think about that

[97Chebbie]

I wish I could add some forced induction, but that's just a dream until I hit the lotto. Anyway, I'm really thinking about getting the ported throttle body that CFM Tech makes. I think it's 75mm. Also, it's cheaper cause you just return your stocker and get the core cost back. BTW, it was a car that they installed the tb on. Although, it's the same principle, right? I think they used a BBK machined tb though, not a bored out OE tb. Thx for the input!

[gatbr]

This is just my two cents.

Get the volant, i have the volant with a throttle body spacer.
Stay away from the kn FIPK Piece of Sh*t. The tube always fell of the throttle body. The Volant Bolts on unlike the FIPK with a cheesy clamp. you may want to check the clearance under the hood. I had the spacer and FIPK unit on with the stock hood. So the volant should fit

I would have to say that the spacer did not do as much as what I thought. i would rather spend my money on A Casper Electronics TPS TEC Throttle Enhancer. (102017) It takes seconds to plug in. I seen the different the first time I drove it.

As for exhaust I had the gibson single 3 inch and now a dual flowmaster. to tell you the truth I see no real different with the dual exept for the cool sound.

As far as programers I have a hypertech and Superchips.
Go with the superchips. It works with most of all bolt on mods
better than Hypertech. (I have an superchips programer for sale
I will sell it cheap $190 shipped)

As far as Ed Wright, I have a bad taste in my mouth with him. If you ever have any one flash your pcm give another pcm to them. Keep you stock pcm computer. Good thing I did.

OOh by the way

I have an 97 Chevy Ext Cab 350.
Current Mods:

1. LT 4 hotcam with ED Wright tuning
2. Volant Cold Air intake
3. Jacobs Pro Street System
4. Gibson Headers
5. Dual Flowmaster Exhaust
6. Locker unit in the rear
7. Rebuilt Trans (2000 stall, transgo valve body shift kit, corvette servo, etc.
8. Spacer Plate (PowerAid)
9. power pulleys

The lt hot cam was a bad mistake. After christmas a new goodwrench 350 with a magnacharger is going in. I will be selling alot of my bolt ons.

I was running 14.9-15.0 before cam (1/4 mile)
after cam 15.3-15.5 (1/4 mile) not happy!!!!!!!!!

[97Chebbie]

Sux about the cam. When I swap cams, after upgrading the torque converter, I'll probably go w/ a comp cam w/ crane roller rockers, springs, and pushrods. As far as intake, I already have the Volant...It's in my sig along w/ all the other stuff. I'm getting Thorley headers when I have the money. Then I'm going to get a Wester's PCM. Then I'll probably throw in a CFM Tech throttle body instead of a spacer. Thx for the input!

So many mods, so little $$.

[augiedog77]

I think the reason they did the throttle body swap on the car (I think its the black mustang you're talking about) is because throttle body spacers are not offered for it.

Gatbr, a little more information on the caspers part if possible

[gatbr]

Casper Part Info

On the Website:
TPS voltage at Wide-Open Throttle (WOT) is a function of power enrichment (PE). If the voltage is below a certain point at WOT, the ECM will reduce the level of power enrichment and the engine will not perform to its potential. This device is completely transparent until 70% TPS, then it takes over and assures maximum TPS voltage for 100% Power Enrichment (PE) when you need it the most. The TPS TEC also corrects for low sensor voltage and "dead spots".

What I noticed:
The truck shifted out of overdrive faster, throttle responsed much quicker. It took away the small dead spot the truck had. The unit works with tunning programs. I know it works with Hypertech and Superchips tunning. I had to remove with Fastchips (Ed Wright) because it is not running the best right now.

I bought mine form summit I believe it is around $70.00

http://www.casperselectronics.com/cg...product=GMCARS

Instructions
http://www.installationinstructions.com/102017.pdf

[vortec57L]

Hi guys,

Has anyone tried this from Casper Electronics - # 102131 Volt Booster All GM with Metripack Round Connector?

This is what there website had to say:
"Your alternator is designed to put out a specific voltage, generally 13.8 volts. The only problem is when there's a greater demand on the electrical system, such as a WOT blast, the alternator falls a little short. The V-Plus is designed to overcome voltage taper at WOT by stepping up the alternator voltage 2.2v. at 70% throttle. Result? More power to your fuel pump and ignition system. Unit plugs in, with no wires to cut or tap into. Includes hardware. NOTE: Your engine must have a ROUND TPS connector as seen in the illustration, AND the early style Alternator Connector - 1992-1997."

Instructions are here:
http://www.installationinstructions.com/102131.pdf

Would this fit the CS130d alternators that are in most of our 1996-00 OBS Vorttec 5.7L trucks?

Sounds like another possible performance gain.
I wonder if it can be used together with their # 102017 TPS TEC Throttle Enhancer for all GM engines with round TPS Connector 1992-2002 that was mentioned by gatbr in the post above?

Cheers,
ANDREW

[97Chebbie]

Pretty kewl if it works as advertised. But, IMO, wouldn't it be better to just get an MSD coil, wires, and cap/rotor? You would have a better ignition system that produces higher voltage all the time. That = better fuel burn and smoother idle. Or if you wanna, you can even add an MSD control box....if you wanna spend the $$. However, the new plug wires and cap/rotor are a definite must. Might as well get the most out of the voltage you already have, right? If you have stock plug wires, REPLACE THEM! Those things are like shoestrings. Just my $0.02 though....sorry for the long spiel.

[97Chebbie]

I use the OE AC Delco platinum plugs right now. They work fine, but I was just wondering what was up w/ the new iridium spark plugs made by NGK and such. Anyone tried these? Although, I don't think it would do too much for performance, as I already have an MSD ignition system. I was just wondering if they were any better than the AC Delco plugs. If so, I might use them on my next plugs swap. Thx. Also, if they are so much better than Platinum...why do they cost less than the NGK platinum plugs? Is is because of the fine wire electrode design?

[vortec57L]

Hi guys,

As for the ignition side of things, my truck came with NGK Iridium plugs from the previous owner - Victorian Government Ambulance Service (AUSTRALIA).

From speaking to a few techs from the Victorian Ambulance Service, they were using Iridium plugs not for performance, but higher milage for longer service intervals. They used the Iridium plugs when the factory Delco Platinum plugs reached about 100,000kms. They used Iridiums to cover between 100,000kms to 200,000kms. BTW, the vehicles are removed from service once they have done 200,000kms. My truck has 205,000kms, and the plugs are still firing well. I have a set of Accel Truck Plugs from their Super Truck Tune Up Kit ready to fit, if my old Iridiums wear out.

You can regap Iridium plugs! I removed mine a few weeks ago the gaps were from 0.025" to 0.055" when they are supposed to be 0.060"

I worked for Toyota in Australia when Denso (owned by Toyota) was releasing their Iridium plug. One of the techs was telling me that they could provide a 8KW (about 10hp) gain at the rear wheels. He showed me a Dyno report on a Toyota Landcruiser 4.7L V8 (Similar to US market Lexus LX-470).

Here is some tech info from NGK's Australian website:
"The following matrix gives an example of the characteristics and service life of resistor spark plugs when used in a modern unleaded engine:

Type Service Life Benefits
Nickel Alloy 20,000 - 40,000 kms Standard style of spark Plug.
Nickel Alloy (V-Groove) 20,000 - 40,000 kms Improved ignitability due to sparking at periphery of the electrode.
Platinum 0.8 mm dia. 100,000 kms Long service life and even better ignitability due to a small diameter centre electrode
Iridium IX 0.8 mm dia. 160,000 kms Extremely long service life. Same level of ignitability 0.8 mm dia. Platinum
Iridium IX 0.6 mm dia. 60,000 kms Long service life. Same as 0.8 mm dia. of Platinum and extremely good ignitability characteristics. (Better than 0.8 mm dia. platinum or 0.8 mm dia. iridium)

The use of Iridium spark plugs is only just starting with Japanese car manufacturers who are finding them ideal for very low emission engines."

In my opinion for a 1996-00 OBS 5.7L V8 ingition upgrade, I would get the following:
1. Replace stock plugs with a good set of plugs gapped to 0.060" eg NGK V Groove, Bosch Platinum, AC Delco Rapid Fire, Accel Truck Plugs, etc
2. Replace factory distributor cap and rotor with a performance replacement eg Accel
3. Replace cheap factory spark plug leads with MSD Super Conductors (only about 50 ohms resistence per foot), which are well shielded to work with PCM and similar electonics
4. Replace stock coil with a MSD #8231 or Accel #140024 performance replacement coil.
5. Fit Mallory Hyfire 6-A or MSD 6A ignition amplifiers wth MSD #8877 harness adapter (regap plugs to 0.070")

I first did steps 2 to 4 on my truck, and these upgrades made the motor smoother at idle. Step 5 made the motor idle very smoothly, and reduced fuel consumption around town by about 1 to 2 MPG.

Cheers,
ANDREW

[augiedog77]

GM is actually using iridium plugs now. the problem with their double platinum plugs is the upper platinum piece falls off which makes the gap too large.

Thanks for the info Gatbr