Sorting through all the options is overwhelming unless you know what you want out of your engine. High speed for track, cruising speed for highway, towing power for travel trailer or hauling for work, load capacity (work trucks or truck camper) and how much your willing to spend. Fitment or compatibility is a factor too, which intake will bolt on vs which requires some modifications to fit properly on your particular engine- bolts, fan. water pump etc. You would want as close to GM compatible as possible.

 

GM spent a king's fortune (actually they spent taxpayers' fortune :| ) on making an intake and exhaust to meet emissions and MPG requirements....
if you change the intake and you change the exhaust your millage will go down.

ive even lost MPG by dropping in K&N filters.

however, if youre ok with that, these motors respond best to cold air intakes (like the plastic K&N) and long tube headders.
if you want even more power: electric fans. no more clutch fan.

 

I see now. The cruising speed for highway, along with a little bit of towing power sounds like me. My main concern is when I drop in the new 4l65. I know we're not talking that much heavier of a trans, but something that would help in conjunction with getting the most of it would be good. I actually have electric fans already, but I'm considering long tube headers while I'm at it, as you mentioned.

 

Your stock intake manifold will work best.

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What about the the TB? What if I upgrade that for a bigger bore? Shouldn't I upgrade the entire intake too?

 

It won't give you any gains. The stock intake and throttle body flow more than enough for the motor in stock or mildly modified form.

 

What about the TBSS/NBSS? I heard that flows better then the stock ugly intake I have currently.

 

It may flow better, but you dont have any need for the increased flow. Until you put a higher lift/longer duration cam in it, and have a need for more flow, then all the intake will do is lighten your wallet.

The truck intakes flow plenty like mentioned. Especially for a stock motor.

 

Alright, well if I upgrade to long tube headers, better cam, would the intake be worth it then?

 

Depends on the cam. But for a mild cam that is streetable it still isn't worth it.

Go read up on these motors over on lstech or performance trucks forum.

It's easy to slap parts on in hopes to make power. But things like intakes and throttle bodies are wasted money imo until you need them.

 

Nelson performance did a nice vid about intakes for the ls based engines. He stock truck intake is best unless you're heavily modded.

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But things like intakes and throttle bodies are wasted money imo until you need them.

This. Times eleventybillion.

 

Nelson performance did a nice vid about intakes for the ls based engines. He stock truck intake is best unless you're heavily modded.

Okay I see. What is meant by "heavily modded"? So I can have an idea of what you mean.

 

Heavily modded would be making major changes to your truck mechanically and performance wise, like higher than average lifts, huge wheels, wide open exhaust, body changes like wings and spoilers; all the things that change your vehicle from a reliable street worthy conveyance to a work of self expression. A little extreme description perhaps, but easier to paint the picture.

Mine is very lightly modified: Magnaflow muffler, MIT cold air intake tube, a small lift and aftermarket grille.

 

Heavily modded means fully built engine, larger fuel system, or forced induction. Things you would need to even worry about out performing your stock intake manifold. Doesn't mean a catback or a new transmission.

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Alright well lets just say for examples then, I drop in a better cam, probably better heads too then or at least updated valve springs, long tube headers, CAI, some sort of tune, and THEN would it be worth it to go with a better intake?

 

Still haven't typed what he wants to read yet guys!!! :roll:

I'll bet he gets it anyway.

 

12min mark. You're not going to be running your truck much above 5500. Same your money and spend it on more worthwhile mods

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What about the the TB? What if I upgrade that for a bigger bore? Shouldn't I upgrade the entire intake too?

yeah dont bother with anything electronic unless youre going over the top with turbos and valve springs and injectors and, and, and.... ( lol )

the american small block is GOOD as is. just help it breathe and help it spin easier..... intake, exhaust, and less aux stuff for the crank to spin.
heck, the new hellcat motors gain 100 HP just buy changing the intake and exhaust!!!
these are highly engineered motors.

"back in the day" you could port and polish the heads and intake to remove material and gain a lot of power because they were literally slag castings lol
now.... the manufacturing process is so over engineered its staggering.

 

Okay great! I think I got it. Thank you guys for helping me understand. Always trying to learn, you know, and ask questions. I hope that we'd all be lifetime learners. The more I get older, the more I realize how much I don't know. Yall probably get that. Anyway appreciate the time.

 

heck, the new hellcat motors gain 100 HP just buy changing the intake and exhaust!!!
these are highly engineered motors.

Unless you can back this statement up; I'm calling BS!!

 

He left out the part about it also needing a very good tune and pulley change lol

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I run a procharger with 10 lbs of boost, full forged rotating assembly, barely streetable cam and I still have the stock TB and intake. I tried the TBSS intake and TB, it made no difference for me. I realize that forced induction changes the equation, point is the stock truck intakes flow great. You will likely hit the limit of the 5/16th fuel line before you run out of air.

 

Forgot, I also have fully ported and polished heads.

 

Like others said, yes it will benefit you depending on your usage. cam Choice and upgrading heads will be a big factor whether you want to go further. Truck accessories don't work with a lot of car intakes. I've seen good numbers with a LS3 intake personally but haven't had much experience with others. I'm running the stock intake with a TSP stage 3 cam, milled 706's with 2" intake valves, CAI, lontubes, catless mids, dynomax muffler and putting 373 hp 376 ft lbs the tire with a 4x4