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5.3 throttle body upgrade

by Miss Julie Wintheiser DVM Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Can you upgrade the throttle body before the heads?

… If you have a power adder, the intake and throttle body can take a backseat for a while longer. If you are naturally aspirated though, upgrading the intake and throttle body is commonly done before the heads. The factory truck-style manifold has long runners for better low-end torque.

What is the bore size of a throttle body?

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How does a throttle pedal work?

This pedal connects to your automotive’s computer via your wiring harness, and the wiring harness then connects to the servo motor on your throttle body, telling it how far to open based on the inputs the computer is receiving.

Does changing throttle body increase horsepower?

A bigger throttle body means more air And since the engine is basically a large air pump, increasing the air intake level will increase the engine's power output as well, in some cases by up to 15 to 25 hp.

How much HP does a throttle body spacer add?

With a throttle body spacer, it is possible to increase the torque by 25 ft lbs and add up to 18 more horsepower. Not all throttle body kits can be used for all engines. Ensure that you get a kit that will work for the make and model of your engine. These spacers mainly benefit older engines.

How can I improve my throttle response 5.3 Vortec?

Performance EnhancementsRemove part or all of the Silverado's torque management. Torque management can delay or retard the fuel injection for up to several seconds when full throttle is engaged. ... Install a performance tune. ... Add a cold-air intake kit. ... Install a performance exhaust.

How much HP does a 102mm throttle body add?

The 102mm throttle body upgrade dropped the vacuum present in the inlet tract by 0.29 inches and increased boost pressure by 0.3 psi which equated to an extra 8 hp.

How do I increase my throttle response?

Easy ways to get ride of throttle delay is by making sure you keep up with basic maintenance like change fluids, air filter, fuel filter, tire pressure which all help to improve speed, fuel economy. Making sure you have clean fuel filter will help improve fuel economy, speed, and rpm at various shift points.

Do throttle controllers really work?

Do throttle controllers really work? Yes, a throttle controller works to remove throttle lag and works great! An electronic throttle control changes how your car's engine control unit (ECU) reads input from your gas pedal and the rate at which that throttle input is applied to the engine.

How can I improve my Silverado throttle response?

Installation of a throttle controller is the quickest and most efficient way to improve throttle response. This device will connect or plug directly into your vehicle's accelerator port and allow you to adjust the throttle response on the fly.

Will a tune improve throttle response?

0:002:16Throttle Response | What Should You Tune For The Best Result? [HPA ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst of all getting our throttle or acceleration enrichment tuning correct relies on starting outMoreFirst of all getting our throttle or acceleration enrichment tuning correct relies on starting out with a properly tuned fuel table the acceleration enrichment tables in the majority of ECU's.

What causes poor throttle response?

The dirtier a fuel filter gets, the harder it is for fuel to pass through. This causes a delay in acceleration and throttle response. This issue is so common that many auto technicians check the fuel filter first when they want to find out why a vehicle has a slow throttle response.

Can you have too big of a throttle body?

Horsepower is generated by an interplay of air volume, velocity, and turbulence. And if one of those factors is off, you will hurt your engine's power. That's why if you install a throttle body that's too big, you will end up with too much air volume at the expense of velocity and turbulence.

Why are individual throttle bodies better?

Individual throttle bodies not only offer superior response, but they also reduce these restrictions, freeing up power through improved airflow, with little to no trade off other than cost and increased engine noise.

Are ported throttle bodies worth it?

Yup, throttle response alone is worth it. Most people claim a few horsepower gain, but you'll realistically never feel it, even with a finely-tuned butt dyno. The ported throttle body reduces the time between your foot rolling into the throttle and the engine actually going, noticeably so.

What injection system is used in 5.3L Vortec?

Install a nitrous oxide or methanol injection system. Nitrous oxide has been used by numerous skilled and custom racers to improve the performance of any 5.3L Vortec engine. Methanol injection makes forced-induction systems more efficient.

How to boost the power of a 5.3 Silverado?

The most effective way to boost the power and performance of your 5.3-liter Silverado is to upgrade its output chip and tuner.

What engine does a Silverado 1500 have?

The Silverado 1500 comes standard with a strong, refreshed 5.3-liter Ecotec3 V-8 engine that can tackle any task.

What is a DiabloSport Sprint module?

The DiabloSport Sprint Module allows for maximum power and vehicle performance by disabling the factory Active Fuel Management (AFM) feature that drops cylinders and reduces power. Easy installation. Just plug into the OBDII port under the dash and drive. Compatible with GM vehicles built from 2005 to current that feature Active Fuel Management (AFM). Enables vehicles with AFM to stay in V8 mode at all times without reprogramming or re-flashing the vehicle’s onboard computer (ECU).

How much does it cost to install a supercharger?

A typical supercharger installation costs between $5,000 and $20,000 or more, depending on how much engine work is required.

How does a computer work on a fuel injection engine?

Put a computer that has been reprogrammed into place. The computer adjusts the air/fuel ratio to return it to the factory’s specified goal, constantly correcting for changes in AIR. A programmed computer modifies the air/fuel proportioning to compensate for higher-octane gasoline, increased intake into the combustion chamber, and faster exhaust scavenging. In a fuel-injected engine, a re-programmed computer is required to produce horsepower.

Can you replace a throttle body with a gasket?

Use the throttle body in conjunction with the throttle body gasket to get the most out of your throttle body. If you want to exhaust the automobile as a consequence of using it, don’t cut corners on throttle body size.

How much rpm does a stock LS3 engine pull?

Flow numbers can be as high as 325 cfm at .600 lift. Lightweight hollow stem LS3 valves can be cut to 2.000 in. to fit the seats. Between the light valves and better springs, the engines will pull cleanly to 7000 rpm. Keep in mind, if you’re looking to boost to 800+ hp; a heavy duty aftermarket stainless intake valve is a bit tougher and won’t tulip as quickly with the heat.

How much horsepower does a LM7 injector have?

The factory LM7 injectors were only rated at 22-25 lbs. and won’t support much more than 380 hp.

What do you add to a LM7?

LM7 Power Adders. In general, most LM7 owners will add boost or nitrous before they begin serious cylinder head work. Before we get into the power adders, there are a couple of things to address. 1. A 4-corner steam kit reduces hot spots that can cause the piston rings to butt and snap the piston’s ring lands.

Why use a LM7 crank?

The LM7 crank was cast but strong. They’ve been known to handle over 1,000 whp. The main reason for going with a stroker forged crank is for the added cubic inches. The extra cubes bring boost on quicker which means you can use bigger turbos.

How much does a LM7 cost?

The LM7 (along with its L59 FlexFuel E85-capable brother) are the Gen. III, 5.3L iron block truck engines you can pick up in wrecking yards for about $600.

What to do if you only do one thing to the engine?

If you only do one thing to the engine, make it a cam swap.

What is a roots supercharger?

A roots-style supercharger is dependable and makes great torque in the low- and mid-rpm range. It’s great for melting tires. A centrifugal-style supercharger is lightweight and makes more power at high rpm. This is partially due to a larger intercooler mounted in front of the radiator.

How Much HP Does the 5.3 Vortec Have?

The Vortec LM7 original produced 270 horsepower , and 315 lb-ft torque. The Vortec’s 5.2L Vortec engine design was phased out. The L33 was the high-output version. It produced 310 horsepower and 335 lb-ft torque.

Vehicles with the 5.3 Vortec Engine

The Chevy Silverado is a popular vehicle that uses the 5.3 Vortec engine family. Let’s use a 2016 Chevy Silverado 5.3L V8 as an example. The regular unleaded gasoline produces 355 horsepower @ 5,600 RPM and 383 lb-ft, and a 4,100 RPM range.

Getting More Horsepower from the 5.3 Vortec

Whether you have a Chevy Silverado or another vehicle type, you must first upgrade your 5.3 Vortec if you wish to experience max horsepower. This is important for many reasons, but it also requires a significant amount of money and time.

In Closing

With all of these power adders at your disposal, you can find the most suitable—and budget-friendly—option for increasing power and torque.

maparicio2010

So i want to add a new breathing system that is affordable, so I'm debating on getting a throttle body, a spacer, and an intake. However I came across a 80mm throttle body, and the question came to me, what size is my stock throttle body now? and also if there is possibly a throttle body thats bigger then 80mm, but is still direct fit?

Fireman31

Do not waste your money on a TB spacer, they do absolutely nothing except make noise. The cost vs. performance gain of that TB isn't worth it either, stay with the stock 78mm. An air intake kit is always a good modification. Do you have any other mods?

How much rpm does a stock LS3 engine pull?

Flow numbers can be as high as 325 cfm at .600 lift. Lightweight hollow stem LS3 valves can be cut to 2.000 in. to fit the seats. Between the light valves and better springs, the engines will pull cleanly to 7000 rpm. Keep in mind, if you’re looking to boost to 800+ hp; a heavy duty aftermarket stainless intake valve is a bit tougher and won’t tulip as quickly with the heat.

How much horsepower does a L59 injector have?

The factory L59 injectors were rated at 33-36 lbs. and support about 435 hp at the wheels. Note the 2001-04 return style fuel system cam with 33lb injectors running at 50 psi, while the 2005-07 engines were returnless and had 36.6lb @ 58psi injectors. The easy way to know which you have is the 2002-04 rails were plastic and the 2005-07 rails were stainless.

Why use a stroker forged crank?

The L59 crank was cast but strong. They’ve been known to handle over 1,000 whp. The main reason for going with a stroker forged crank is for the added cubic inches. The extra cubes bring boost on quicker which means you can use bigger turbos.

How big is the cam on a 191?

The tiny 191 at .050-inch cam really held these engines back.

How much spacing between o rings on a truck injector?

Custom tuning will be required to properly adjust the fuel and ignition timing. Truck injectors had 1.730 spacing between o ring centers versus the longer Gen. III car injectors or the shorter Gen. IV injectors. The connectors are different as well, but adapters and spacers can be used to fit car injectors on an L59.

What is a roots supercharger?

A roots-style supercharger is dependable and makes great torque in the low- and mid-rpm range. It’s great for melting tires. A centrifugal-style supercharger is lightweight and makes more power at high rpm. This is partially due to a larger intercooler mounted in front of the radiator.

What is the L59 engine?

The L59 is one of the most popular LS engines for several reasons: With iron block strength, it is a great choice for boost or nitrous applications. The L59 was equipped for flex fuel, meaning you get the bigger injectors right out of the box. GM made a bazillion of them over eight years.

Chris

Nope. I'm in the process. You need the intake manifold off a TBSS or an 07+ 4.8/5.3 for it to work. I am doing the TBSS manifold/rails/injectors to get the 87 mm Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 4

Chris

What Jenna said. A lot of money and works best with a cam upgrade from what I was told.

Jennabear

I would only recommend going with a larger than OEM throttle body, if you have an FI application (even then, should be a 100mm+ TB). Otherwise, you will see no gains.

Chris

The 75 mm is good that high? I am still trying to find better than 317 heads to run with a GT2-3 cam

Jennabear

Your MAF and your engine will be the limiting factors. I have seen ported/polished TBs that make absolutely no difference. Just throwing money at a part that won't give you much as far as gains, if any.

Gurrzt

What Jenna said. A lot of money and works best with a cam upgrade from what I was told.

travishale84

lots of good info on here, i wish i knew where to find cams and torque converters and other goodies to make my 4.8 wake up... i know id love to get new gears...

What is a LS1 throttle body?

The LS1 engine was the first of its kind and features a three bolt throttle body, which means the throttle body bolts to your intake using only three bolts. For these early LS engines, like those found in the C5 Corvette, the throttle body design features the three bolt configuration with a 78mm blade.

Where are the throttle position and IAC sensors located in a drive by wire?

The throttle position and IAC sensors in a Drive by Wire are located within the servo motor itself.

What engine has a silver blade?

After the initial production of cars in 2008 featuring the LS motor, the LS3 engine switched from the silver blade LS2 throttle body to a gold blade that rotates opposite of the initial silver blade. This change was brought about originally for the Corvette engine and was later followed by the Camaro SS in 2010.

Does the 2009 LS3 have the same throttle body as the 2009 LS7?

Another noteworthy point on the throttle body for LS3 engines is that 2009 and newer engines have the same throttle body as the LS7.

Can you connect a drive by wire to a throttle pedal?

Drive by Wire won’t connect to an existing cable throttle pedal, but the electronic accelerator pedal and wires are easily hidden, giving you a cleaner look.

Can you retrofit a throttle body to a four bolt?

Absolutely! In fact, there are throttle body adapters created for that specific purpose so that you can retrofit your larger four bolt on your current three bolt. This is an especially popular upgrade for forced induction applications. But keep in mind: If you are adapting a three bolt to a four bolt, you will also need a wiring harness adapter.

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