Chevy Small Block Performance upgrades?

I

imported_MBenz

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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?
 
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...
 
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
 
BigJimZ28 said:
with the size of a suburan you should be more worried about torque

then Horsepower
Click to expand...



??? 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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
wfedwar said:
??? 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.
Click to expand...



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.:werd:
 
wfedwar said:
I don't think you guys have a grasp on what torque and horsepower mean...
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Horse power sells cars, torque wins races. Torque is what moves your vehicle not horse power. Horse power is basically a by-product of torque
 
wytstang said:
Horse power sells cars, torque wins races. Torque is what moves your vehicle not horse power. Horse power is basically a by-product of torque
Click to expand...



?



Torque is angular force. Power is rate of energy output. KE=1/2mv^2, and dKE/dt=POWER. Power is simply a function of torque*rpm. The reason power is important is because power defines the torque that can be applied at the wheel at a given speed. Power allows torque to be multiplied through gearing. They're both ways of describing engine output.
 
Torque is angular force or a twisting motion, it's what moves the crank which is then transferred thought the drive train to the rear wheels.



Horse Power is a measure of power, it's defined as work done in a straight line.

The angular force is what moves the car not the work being done in an up and down motion.



Example: Removing a lug nut from your car requires torque or an angular force. If you put the wrench vertically and stood on it (assuming you could keep your balance of course) would that break the lug nut free? Nope it's not moving.

Torque and Horse power are not the same.

BTW Power=Work/Time; Horse Power is Torque*rpm/5252
 
wytstang said:
Torque is angular force or a twisting motion, it's what moves the crank which is then transferred thought the drive train to the rear wheels.



Horse Power is a measure of power, it's defined as work done in a straight line.

The angular force is what moves the car not the work being done in an up and down motion.



Example: Removing a lug nut from your car requires torque or an angular force. If you put the wrench vertically and stood on it (assuming you could keep your balance of course) would that break the lug nut free? Nope it's not moving.

Torque and Horse power are not the same.

BTW Power=Work/Time; Horse Power is Torque*rpm/5252
Click to expand...



This is crap. Why do you post if you don't know what you're talking about?
 
wytstang said:
Torque is angular force or a twisting motion, it's what moves the crank which is then transferred thought the drive train to the rear wheels.



Horse Power is a measure of power, it's defined as work done in a straight line.

The angular force is what moves the car not the work being done in an up and down motion.



Example: Removing a lug nut from your car requires torque or an angular force. If you put the wrench vertically and stood on it (assuming you could keep your balance of course) would that break the lug nut free? Nope it's not moving.

Torque and Horse power are not the same.

BTW Power=Work/Time; Horse Power is Torque*rpm/5252
Click to expand...



What are you talking about???
 
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