i was wondering if anyone has had good luck with perf upgrades on a 350 vortec? i just bought a 2000 k2500 350 vortec truck,classic bodystyle.its all stock,and i was thinking of exhaust,programmer,maybe intake/firter upgrades.whats your real world thoughts???? thanks. oh,it will be used for towing,plowing snow,and pulling trailers.

I asked awhile back and one of the guys brought up a good point about the intake. Its really not worth it to purchase an entire intake when you could get away with just a heatshield and a new filter. I considered it but i do really like the looks of the chrome k&N i think its a 57 series? Programmers... i havent really looked into, but did come across a deal for a diablo tuner for cheap. Should have baught it. Headers-my dads not too fond of headers and seeing how he is probably the one that is going to be helping me with whatever i do... isnt going to be thrilled to put some on. He says they always "leak". But he's used to cars when they were still being called a single letter. Model A...Model T... hahah good luck, let me know what you do.

Hahaha by the letters. Thats funny!

Headers are good on those motors and they dont leak too much if you get good ones with thick flanges....try JBA or Doug Thorley. They do offer a locking header bolt now also though Ive never tried it. I would say check ebay for programmers as thats where I got mine for $50 before I got EFI Live. I would definetly add or put on a trans cooler for towing. If ya do exhaust I recommend an H or X pipe as I have always had good luck with them. Not sure what gear you got in rear end but changing it will always "seemingly" get you more power as Im sure you already know :D

Headers help, another cheap mod is to remove the diverter off the throttle blade. Also make sure you have AC DELCO platinum plugs as regular plugs won't perform well in these. There are several programmers available, but there is a guy out there doing what they call a BLACKBEAR tune that is supposed to work pretty good. There is ALOT of gasser info over on fullsizechevy.com.

The headers will not cost out at all. They will be high priced and you will gain a few HP, and probably loose bottom end, which you need to for your towing. I would definately loose the diverter on the throttle blade (be sure to put rivets in the holes afterwards, or it will idle at about 2000 rpm). It will accelerate quicker. Took one out of a van and it really made it snappier. Don't go to crazy on the exhaust if you are wanting to tow. The intake, I would open the stock air box up some and maybe get a K+N, but you really won't see that much improvement. I have tried all this stuff on several trucks, and I can't say it has really helped that much. Not for the money anyway. I had a 2000 with a 454 in it, and I put dual flowmasters with an H pipe. Sounded good, but can't say it pulled better. I put a K+N in it as well, and a Hypertech programmer. None of which did really much good at all. I liked the sound of the mufflers, but for performance, I wouldn't say they helped.

what is this diverter on the throttle blade?

what is this diverter on the throttle blade?

Remove the airbox and then open the throttle. Look down inside and you will see it on the backside of the throttle blade. If you don't feel like plugging the old holes, you can get the maine throttle blade and all the hardware and flowing instructions to port your throttle body on EBAY for not much money. For the exhaust, if you want one I would reccomend a MAGNAFLOW muffler versus the FLOWMASTER. The FLOWMASTER has a unique sound that many like, but the MGNAFLOW will beat it out on the dyno ANY day for bottem end torque(the 18" or longer 0body is reccomended highly). You can pick up a set of cheap 1 1/2" shorty headers, but the 1 1/2" long tubes is said to perform the best.

and it gives a little quicker acceleration by just doing that?

a throttle body spacer wont effect that at all would it?