Chevy Small Block Performance upgrades?

MBenz · 10-05-08, 08:32

I have a 99 chevy suburban that i am looking the make a few more horses out of. It has a Vortec 5700 L31, basically a gen I small block 350 v8. Everything is stock and i am guessing that the performance is in the 250hp/300lbs range. I know that you can pull at ton of power out of a small block, but I'm not sure exactly what the best way to do it. I would like to see it maybe up in the 300hp range if possible with out going crazy on this motor. We use the suburban as our primary car to go up and down i-70 for skiing. On flatlands, the power is fine, but pulling 6-7% grades with people and gear at 70mph is a work out.

Can you guys give me some advice or point me in the right direction?

Jokeman · 10-05-08, 08:57

Thats actually a GenII engine. Very few of the GenI parts can be used on the GenII engines.

MBenz · 10-05-08, 11:47

My mistake, it is a genII. Does this narrow my options?

wfedwar · 10-05-08, 12:38

I'd start checking out vendors like Summit Racing and Jegs. There are tons of options, but not knowing your skills or budget makes it hard...

BigJimZ28 · 10-06-08, 02:19

with the size of a suburan you should be more worried about torque
then Horsepower

visit your local speed shops / machine shops and talk with them
it's all about how much $ you want to put into it

MBenz · 10-06-08, 02:56

Sweet, Thanks for the advice.

wfedwar · 10-06-08, 03:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJimZ28

with the size of a suburan you should be more worried about torque
then Horsepower

??? Both are ways of describing engine output. Are you trying to say that the focus should be on lower rpm output? Weight has nothing to do with this.

spike_africa · 11-03-08, 12:55

Depends on what you want to do. It sounds like you just need more power for towing up hills etc... If so a full exhaust system and intake upgrade would most likely be all you need. If you want more you can always swap in the intake manifold, swap the cam,port the heads etc.... depends on what your needs are.

Max Hughes · 11-07-08, 09:37

Upgrade the cam and later get some high flow heads(seafoam the engine before the install). We pulled 120 extra horsepower out of the 94 3500 that way and we used, used parts so think if you got new stuff.

CumminsCrazed · 11-11-08, 02:19

or you could get a programmer and do it that way

89gt-stanger · 11-11-08, 03:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by wfedwar

??? Both are ways of describing engine output. Are you trying to say that the focus should be on lower rpm output? Weight has nothing to do with this.

Weight DOES have a lot to do with it, as does towing. He needs some low-end torque in that lug. You always look for torque in a big hauler like that, considering it is not going to be high revving.

EDIT--Get a Ford.

wfedwar · 11-11-08, 03:48

I don't think you guys have a grasp on what torque and horsepower mean...