pick-up pulling power upgrades

truckgear · 03-04-2007, 09:34 AM

i've got a 1997 chev 1500 with a 305. Ive recently bought a new, bigger holiday trailer and my truck is having a bit of a hard time pulling it. besides buying a new, bigger truck, what would you guys suggest to upgrade it's pulling power. exhaust? cold air intake? helix? throttle body spacer? any help would be great. thanks!

72'CaminoKid · 03-04-2007, 09:48 AM

exhaust will help a little, you're probably wasting your time with cold air and TBS... best thing would be gears

truckgear · 03-04-2007, 10:52 AM

ya, I've heard that adding a k&n or any type of intake upgrade is useless on this engine, because the engine does not require the cfm's that the high flow filters will allow. Have you heard this? How expensive is it to go to lower gears? Thank You for your help!

75K30 · 03-04-2007, 12:52 PM

Sorry to say, but that LO3 305 ci v8 only made 170 hp when it was new! That was 10 years ago.
Spending aftermarket money on this little powerplant would unfortunately be a waste of time, and money. The best solution would be a new 350 from G.M. performance parts. For the money, you can't beat them, and they come with a fair warranty. A larger engine with more power out of the box would be the wisest solution.

72'CaminoKid · 03-04-2007, 05:02 PM

as far as the cold air, it aint got nothin to do with cfm's...they just dont like work like, or as good as, the manufacturer's claim. in most casses they are installed inside the the engine bay...where are you going to draw any cold air from there? the best way to run one is where it is drawing air from under the front of the car. in a truck, this isnt practical. no idea how much gears would cost. but i agree with 75k30.... 350 crate motor is a solid best. them things are a dime a dozen, easiest engine i've found to work on. cheap to find and on parts. plenty of power. i know you can get one at a GM parts house, factory rebuilt for like $1.7k

truckgear · 03-04-2007, 08:03 PM

I dont think I will be going out and putting a 350 in my truck, but i may not dump as much money into it as i was thinking of either. I may just have to make do with it until i can afford a new 2500 with a 6.0. Thank you guys for your help.

03-04-2007, 09:34 AM	#1
truckgear Full Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 13	pick-up pulling power upgrades i've got a 1997 chev 1500 with a 305. Ive recently bought a new, bigger holiday trailer and my truck is having a bit of a hard time pulling it. besides buying a new, bigger truck, what would you guys suggest to upgrade it's pulling power. exhaust? cold air intake? helix? throttle body spacer? any help would be great. thanks!

03-04-2007, 09:48 AM	#2
72'CaminoKid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,757	exhaust will help a little, you're probably wasting your time with cold air and TBS... best thing would be gears __________________ 99 suburban xlt 96 silverado 91 wrangler (my baby ) 08 Honday shadow 750 (my mistress)

03-04-2007, 05:02 PM	#5
72'CaminoKid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,757	as far as the cold air, it aint got nothin to do with cfm's...they just dont like work like, or as good as, the manufacturer's claim. in most casses they are installed inside the the engine bay...where are you going to draw any cold air from there? the best way to run one is where it is drawing air from under the front of the car. in a truck, this isnt practical. no idea how much gears would cost. but i agree with 75k30.... 350 crate motor is a solid best. them things are a dime a dozen, easiest engine i've found to work on. cheap to find and on parts. plenty of power. i know you can get one at a GM parts house, factory rebuilt for like $1.7k __________________ 99 suburban xlt 96 silverado 91 wrangler (my baby ) 08 Honday shadow 750 (my mistress)

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03-04-2007, 10:52 AM	#3
truckgear Full Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 13	ya, I've heard that adding a k&n or any type of intake upgrade is useless on this engine, because the engine does not require the cfm's that the high flow filters will allow. Have you heard this? How expensive is it to go to lower gears? Thank You for your help!

03-04-2007, 12:52 PM	#4
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,292	Sorry to say, but that LO3 305 ci v8 only made 170 hp when it was new! That was 10 years ago. Spending aftermarket money on this little powerplant would unfortunately be a waste of time, and money. The best solution would be a new 350 from G.M. performance parts. For the money, you can't beat them, and they come with a fair warranty. A larger engine with more power out of the box would be the wisest solution.

03-04-2007, 08:03 PM	#6
truckgear Full Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 13	I dont think I will be going out and putting a 350 in my truck, but i may not dump as much money into it as i was thinking of either. I may just have to make do with it until i can afford a new 2500 with a 6.0. Thank you guys for your help.