Best programmer for a gas Chevy?

Copasetic

Active Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2008
Location
Grovetown, GA
I just bought an 04 K1500 CC. It has the 5.3 with the a/t. What's the best programmer on the market for these trucks? I'm mainly going to DD this and mild towing. I'm also planning on installing some kind of cold air kit and cat back exhaust. Plans also include a leveling kit and 33's if that helps. Thanks in advance y'all! Oh and here's a pic. :D

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Nobody? Or has the "Z71's" in my sig tainted this thread already? :D
 
check out fullsizechevy.com. There are several write ups on performance computers there.
 
Copasetic said:
Plans also include a leveling kit
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What's a leveling kit do? We have always just cranked on the torsion bars to level our chevy's

As far as programmers i had the hypertech Power programmer III in my 99 k2500 (5.7) and it did really well. I had it tuned for a week then took it out, because it required premium fuel. BUT when it was in the truck was a total different animal. AND i think the new chevy programmers have the benefit of using the "cheep stuff". My dad still has the truck and we have it programmed for shift points and shift firmness, along with tire size adj. personally I prefer the truck with the programmer vs. not even if i'm not running the high performance tune.

Hope this helps in some way.
Jake
 
Thanks for the info Jake! A leveling kit has reindexed torsion keys so you get the lift like cranking, but still have stock like flex in the torsion bars.
 
As soft as my z rides with the bars cranked up as is i think youll be ok
rides as good as or better then my friends x-cab with no tweak
you dont get much flex with the t-bars anyway.
PS i got the gibson cat back and really like the sound of it
 
bcammons21 said:
As soft as my z rides with the bars cranked up as is i think youll be ok
rides as good as or better then my friends x-cab with no tweak
you dont get much flex with the t-bars anyway.
PS i got the gibson cat back and really like the sound of it
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I don't plan on flexing much with this one anyways. Well, maybe on curbs or the like. :rolleyes: I just don't want to to ride rough and I want to be able to run a 33" tire without rubbing. I figure 3 inches inthe front and 2 inches in the back and I'll be good.
 
Custom tune > programmer
 
bcammons21 said:
As soft as my z rides with the bars cranked up as is i think youll be ok
rides as good as or better then my friends x-cab with no tweak
you dont get much flex with the t-bars anyway.
PS i got the gibson cat back and really like the sound of it
Click to expand...


Cranking the torsion bars will absolutely kill your suspension geometry and as a result your steering components life.
 
SkyHiK5 said:
Cranking the torsion bars will absolutely kill your suspension geometry and as a result your steering components life.
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true, but for leveling purposes it isn't going to hurt it. I was told by a mechanic at a dealership (it was my uncle) that all the gm trucks torsion bars are lowered when they are shipped. The dealer never puts them back.

NOW if you are going to try and get 2 more inches out of them then yes you will kill the steering components.
 
Yea, Cranking the bars is not a good option. Aftermarket keys are the way to go!
If I can help give me a call at the shop tommorow! I might be able to get ya what ya need at a special price! :beer:
828-266-9077
 
mysterync said:
Yea, Cranking the bars is not a good option. Aftermarket keys are the way to go!
If I can help give me a call at the shop tommorow! I might be able to get ya what ya need at a special price! :beer:
828-266-9077
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That's awesome man thanks! I found a set of lift keys on ebay on the cheap. All I need now are a pair of 2" blocks and u bolts. Also got a buddy that's going to lend me his torsion bar tool so I don't have to go buy one.

Now how did this go from me asking about programmer's to torsion bar lift? :lol: Either way, I needed info on both. Thanks again everyone! :Rockon:
 
94blackyota said:
very true custom is the best and it also tells you how your truck is running. i would recommend RPM in garner
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So in the cae of custom tuning, would it be better to go ahead and get all of my mods on that I'mgoing to do then have it tuned? I don't think we have anyone close to me that does the tuning like that.
 
SkyHiK5 said:
Cranking the torsion bars will absolutely kill your suspension geometry and as a result your steering components life.
Click to expand...

It does throw the tie rods and axles at a little angle, but seriously it still rides very well on the road and havent had any problems since ive had it.

Who ever had the truck before me tweaked them a little.
 
Ok I've done a little more homework and have looked at the HPTuners and EFI live where you use your laptop to do all of the reprogramming. Does anyone have any experience with this? This seems to be the way to go but I am going to do even more research on this before I do anything. Not to mention I have other loose ends I need to tie up first. Mainly my K5 and getting started on the trail truck before I start sinking a pile of cash into truck. Man it never ends!
 
ryanpro50 said:
what kinda of tuning are you looking for? gas mileage? I have software to tune all gm products you can contact me at my shop 919-521-8603 I've been working on a gas mileage tune for a little while. www.cprgearheads.com

Thanks

Ryan
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Gas mileage and tune for peak performance using 87 octane. I plan on putting a leveling kit with a little bigger tire, a cold air kit and maybe some cat back exhaust. Poassably a high flow mass air sensor too. Nothing extreme because this is my DD.
 
A little bit of turning on the torsion bars is fine , It helps if it gets an alignment. But not cranked out!

Charlie , Ryan can hook you up with some awesome custom tunes.

PS ryan, That black truck after fixing that leak and a pinion bearing was a tad over 660 on the ppe :beer:

As far as cat back and intake , Like i said, I've got some awesome deals going right now, Hit me up and I'll take care of ya!
 
PM sent!! :bounce2:
 
Copasetic said:
So in the cae of custom tuning, would it be better to go ahead and get all of my mods on that I'mgoing to do then have it tuned? I don't think we have anyone close to me that does the tuning like that.
Click to expand...

I was referring to someone like wait4me who can do a mail order tune that'll be 95% of a full-on custom tune.

If you're just doing bolt-ons, something like that should be just fine...and cheap!
 
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