Bill Chapman
TYF Newbie
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2015
- Posts
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
Chevy
I have been in and out of the Forum keeping my 99 Tahoe alive for many years. There were just too many head gaskets and error codes, coolant pressure from cylinders, low compression in at least three etc. Because I had to get my butt back to work with a truckload of tools, I had to move on. So, the Champagne Beast is retired and I found a meticulously maintained 2002 2wd Silverado extended cab 4.8 Liter with 116k on it. You can eat breakfast off of the engine, and I am the second owner. The first owner had every single thing down to the oil changes done at the dealer for 18 years, (the exact opposite of how I traditionally take care of my work vehicles, drive the $#it out of it til something breaks and go from there) I'm very happy with the cab (seats six with the convertible bench) and the bed (cap on the back, bunch of tools, off to work). Here are my questions and concerns thanks in advance for anything you can elighten me on:
1. After having a 5.7 Vortec forever, the 4.8 seems a little under-powered once I filled it with tools, people and a cap. Decent power off the line, but I'm not winning any drag races down the stretch. Not that I'm racing people for pinks, but it would be nice to have a little more power if I decide to tow something or really load it up with tools and people. It already has cat-back dual exhaust. What are my options to squeeze a little more power out of this powerplant? I found this Hotrod.com article, but I'm not going to this extent . . .
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/make-430-hp-200-4-8l-engine/
2. I'm a natural oil kindof guy, and this truck is 18 years old. The original owner ran synthetic blend oil in it, and that is what is in there now. Thoughts?
3. It is sitting at stock height and I am interested in lifting it a couple inches. Is one of the kits with the spring and the add-a-leaf a good call or is that going to throw off my steering etc? I'm not interested in a $3000 professionally installed all-encompassing lift solution. I have to feed my kids.
Thanks!
Bill
I have been in and out of the Forum keeping my 99 Tahoe alive for many years. There were just too many head gaskets and error codes, coolant pressure from cylinders, low compression in at least three etc. Because I had to get my butt back to work with a truckload of tools, I had to move on. So, the Champagne Beast is retired and I found a meticulously maintained 2002 2wd Silverado extended cab 4.8 Liter with 116k on it. You can eat breakfast off of the engine, and I am the second owner. The first owner had every single thing down to the oil changes done at the dealer for 18 years, (the exact opposite of how I traditionally take care of my work vehicles, drive the $#it out of it til something breaks and go from there) I'm very happy with the cab (seats six with the convertible bench) and the bed (cap on the back, bunch of tools, off to work). Here are my questions and concerns thanks in advance for anything you can elighten me on:
1. After having a 5.7 Vortec forever, the 4.8 seems a little under-powered once I filled it with tools, people and a cap. Decent power off the line, but I'm not winning any drag races down the stretch. Not that I'm racing people for pinks, but it would be nice to have a little more power if I decide to tow something or really load it up with tools and people. It already has cat-back dual exhaust. What are my options to squeeze a little more power out of this powerplant? I found this Hotrod.com article, but I'm not going to this extent . . .
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/make-430-hp-200-4-8l-engine/
2. I'm a natural oil kindof guy, and this truck is 18 years old. The original owner ran synthetic blend oil in it, and that is what is in there now. Thoughts?
3. It is sitting at stock height and I am interested in lifting it a couple inches. Is one of the kits with the spring and the add-a-leaf a good call or is that going to throw off my steering etc? I'm not interested in a $3000 professionally installed all-encompassing lift solution. I have to feed my kids.
Thanks!
Bill
