New & looking for help/opinions

[97 heavychevy]

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Hi there, new to this forum. Hoping to find some info and tips for building my dually. It’s a 97 emerald green c3500 with the 7.4. I have had it for 9 years or so but is down currently for some surgery. Hoping to up the power to 400hp range and starting on it next month. Looking to do lt headers, cam swap (zz502?) electric fans, Edelbrock intake, injectors, 411 pcm swap and a tune. Any input if that sounds doable would be great. thanks

 

[Old77]

 

[GEO NEO]

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Hi there, new to this forum. Hoping to find some info and tips for building my dually. It’s a 97 emerald green c3500 with the 7.4. I have had it for 9 years or so but is down currently for some surgery. Hoping to up the power to 400hp range and starting on it next month. Looking to do lt headers, cam swap (zz502?) electric fans, Edelbrock intake, injectors, 411 pcm swap and a tune. Any input if that sounds doable would be great. thanks

Any fan upgrades?

 

[Steve Cunningham]

Nice looking truck and welcome to the forum.

 

[kennythewelder]

Welcome to the forum. There are a lot of things that you need to figure out before you do your up grades. What are you going to do with the truck. You cam and head selection will depend on this. Once you figure that out, then you can figure out what to do about your ECM. a custom tune at a dyno shop is the most effective tune when done correctly. Also keep in mind that the drive train has to hold what ever power you throw at it. Rear end gearing can also play a big part in getting power rite where you need it, and a limited slip carrier can give you the extra grip when needed. All mods have to work together to to give max performamce.

 

[97 heavychevy]

Well, finally coming back to this honestly forgot I had this account. Anyways truck is still down, but needing it back going in a bad way. After more research I really think my original issue was injectors. Currently have heads pulled off, wanting to upgrade whatever I can while I'm here but ultimately getting it going again here soon. Still wanting 411 PCM swap, E-fans, and upgraded injectors. Any help is appreciated.

 

[97 heavychevy]

Welcome to the forum. There are a lot of things that you need to figure out before you do your up grades. What are you going to do with the truck. You cam and head selection will depend on this. Once you figure that out, then you can figure out what to do about your ECM. a custom tune at a dyno shop is the most effective tune when done correctly. Also keep in mind that the drive train has to hold what ever power you throw at it. Rear end gearing can also play a big part in getting power rite where you need it, and a limited slip carrier can give you the extra grip when needed. All mods have to work together to to give max performamce.

Delayed response I know, going to try and stay active on here now. Basically, I would use the truck to occasionally pull a camper or haul cars but still cruise around a bit. Wanting to do anything to improve fuel mileage which I know still won't be amazing. Also want to increase power to the 400 HP range via head work, tune, e-fans, headers, injectors and any other quick bolt on mods. Does not have to be emissions compliant. Truck has factory 4l80e, 4.10 gears with posi 2WD.

 

[Drunkcanuk]

I think 400hp with quick bolt one is a stretch. Maybe with a supercharger,turbo and nitrous, maybe?
That power level will definitely need a new cam plus heads, and fuel upgrades like intake, bigger injectors and tuning for sure.
Sounds like a fun project for a nice looking rig. Always wanted one .... someday. Lol

 

[kennythewelder]

Delayed response I know, going to try and stay active on here now. Basically, I would use the truck to occasionally pull a camper or haul cars but still cruise around a bit. Wanting to do anything to improve fuel mileage which I know still won't be amazing. Also want to increase power to the 400 HP range via head work, tune, e-fans, headers, injectors and any other quick bolt on mods. Does not have to be emissions compliant. Truck has factory 4l80e, 4.10 gears with posi 2WD.

Well, 400 HP, and 410 gears, that's asking for bad MPGs, but let me make you feel a little better. I just bought a 1979, Corvette. It has the OE L82, 350 in it, with cam, Edelbrock heads, Edelbrock intake, long tube headers, Holley sniper EFI, Holley distributor, roller rockers, and I admit, that it is running a little rich rite now, but I filled up last night, and I'm getting 6.7 MPG. Keep in mind that it has its OE Muncie 4 speed transmission, so there's no OD, but 6.7, is bad, no matter how you slice it. My 97 Silverado, only gets between 10 and 11MPG in town. It is the Vortec 350, with 373s and an Eaton truetrac. It has shorty headers, cats deleted, tuned with a jet programmer set to max performance, electric fans, big 3 upgrade, but really it has 2 extra grounds, so the big5 up grade. And a ton of mods besides those. The internals of the engine, are OE though. If you want good MPGs, one of the biggest things is small tire size, ( like the OE 15 inch tires), and rear end gears. If you can get the RPMs down, that will give you better MPGs, but you will sacrifice that put you back in the seat performance, and you will loose pulling power with a higher gear ratio. 273s will give you grate MPG, but your truck will be a dog.

 

[97 heavychevy]

The 400Hp goal is less important than fuel mileage and drivability I suppose, it just doesn't feel right a fuel injected big block is sub 300hp factory. Honestly it would pull anything I ever needed it to with the 4.10s. I guess my thinking was to up the horsepower and op for taller gear. I know its comparing apples and oranges, but I got a 99 TA with about 360 hp, swapped gears from 3.23 to 2.73 (I daily it) MPG went from 22 to 27. Best my truck got was 12 MPG, but didn't drop much if loaded. I just figured if there are no brainer upgrades to do while its apart to go ahead and do them. For now trying to figure out the go to on injectors. Did some searching on here with mixed results, but looking into going with ls1/ls6 injectors.