2013 Tahoe Performance upgrade tips

[BigM]

good day all, this is my first time here
I just got myself a 2013 Tahoe z71 and would like to do some performance upgrades to gain some power, acceleration, sound...etc. nothing fancy or expensive but I've read some posts here and might be interested in:
1- Headers: brand/type, long/short tubes...
2- Exhaust: full, single/double tip and which brands best? I've tried borla before...
3- Air intake?
I appreciate the feed back on the above
TIA

 

[massivespl]

Muffler for sound - $150
Cold air intake off eBay-$80

Truck will sound mean for cheap.

Then get a nice black bear tune. $$$$

 

[sumo]

Or if you want quality parts search the classified section. People selling
Intakes and exhaust all the time. In addition to muffler, cut off the resonator and install a exkaust tip at the end.
Do yourself. Favor too, when you get a tune like black bear or so, have them disable the AFM. Saves so much more hassles and rids the oil consumption problem

 

[BigM]

Thanks for the info but if I'm to install headers what you suggest? Long or short tubes, with stock exhaust or if to add exhaust which brand/type would fit the Tahoe?
As for the BB tune I'm definitely getting one; any special type/model?
Excuse my questions I'm just new to Tahoes

 

[iamdub]

good day all, this is my first time here
I just got myself a 2013 Tahoe z71 and would like to do some performance upgrades to gain some power, acceleration, sound...etc. nothing fancy or expensive but I've read some posts here and might be interested in:
1- Headers: brand/type, long/short tubes...
2- Exhaust: full, single/double tip and which brands best? I've tried borla before...
3- Air intake?
I appreciate the feed back on the above
TIA

1- Longtubes with 1.75" or larger primaries. Short tube headers in this application are really just for show and so you can say that you have headers. Get the best you can afford as this is a "you-get-what-you-pay-for" thing. I've heard and read a lot of good reviews on the longtubes from Speed Engineering. Bolt-in package with Y-pipe is around $350. While installing the headers is a good time to install new engine mounts if they're original.

2- Cat-back is fine at this level. Stay with stock size piping (2.75") or one step larger (3"). I'd leave the stock piping in place if it's in good shape and just have a muffler welded in. There are countless muffler options, you just have to read up on reviews and listen to sound clips to decide what you want. Generally, any turbo-style muffler will be fine as far as performance. It's the size of the muffler and the amount of packing around it that will determine the exhaust note and volume.

3- The stock air filter and box is fine. It's already sealed off from the heat of the engine bay as well as or better than any expensive aftermarket air box would be and the filter is capable of flowing more CFM than the engine can inhale. The restriction (although minimal) is the muffled tubing between the air box and the throttle body. You can cobble yourself together a straight and smooth intake with PVC pipe and fittings and silicone couplings from eBay (cheapest option) or buy a pre-made tube such as the Airaid MIT (easiest and cleanest option). The $150 MIT has been shown to equal or beat the full intake setups costing twice as much.

Between a free-flow intake tube and exhaust, you will notice a more powerful sound and more power in the mid- and upper-RPM ranges. After all mods are complete, get a Blackbear tune to compliment them. I agree with having the AFM disabled. That 1 MPG (at most) you MAY sacrifice will be more than compensated for by saving you the cost of oil to keep it topped off between changes.

 

[sumo]

Don't bother with shorts. You won't gain anything but sound. For headers, I run American Racing headers 1 7/8. I run bigger because I'm Supercharged. Better flow for me. When Researching i discussed with Blackbear that 1 3/4 for NA and 1 7/8 for forced induction. Going larger you could lose in some bottom end but will gain in top end. Not a problem for superchargers but in a NA i wouldn't want to sacrifice anything on the low end.
When it comes to Headers you'd want to get stainless. Stay away from Ebay junk. I When researching headers i also looked into Fitment issues and others reviews of headers. I had a few kinks but easily fixed by repositioning clamps.

Heres a link to the ARH on my build
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/supercharged-tahoe-tbss.81587/page-5

 

[BigM]

Thanks a lot guys that was useful
So: 1.75" long tube SS headers, cat-back with stock piping for exhaust with mufflers (any specific brand?) and Airaid MIT and ofcours BB tune with AFM disabled.
Will see with these mods. I might get more excited and add a supercharger later!!

 

[sumo]

I'm running magnaflow muffler no resonator stock cat back piping which is 2.75 with Arh 1 7/8 headers. If you seen my videos my truck is pretty dam loud. No point for me to spend the money to change piping to 3 inch. I won't get any more gains out of it other than making it louder. Let me see ifni can find some vids of just the magnflow and resonator delete before sc install

Found them. This is with a bb tune and volant enclosed intake

 

[BigM]

Wow that's awesome
So the mufflers with no resonator is mainly for sound? Or it has effect on performance/gain?

And btw are those 22" rims? What tire size?

 

[Meccanoble]

Just curious how much the tune is? If you plan to get tune, the catch can is not needed right? What if you get a tune with just 1 mod added (intake) and later get exhaust, will a new tune be needed? Can the tune ever be removed?