So you have finally made the decision to make some modifications to your Silverado. This is a legacy truck line and has held its name on a platform for years. You are wanting to increase the horsepower but not lose any of the great amenities that Chevrolet gave this amazing truck line.
I am a big fan of Naturally aspirated engines because it always starts with the basics. Those basics being fuel, air, and spark. Once you understand the basics of what will make your vehicle gain more power.
Then you can move into the forced air induction as in turbochargers and superchargers. So let’s look into our modifications and see what we can do.
Cold Air intake
Many people have either heard of or have seen a cold air intake but do they know what it does? A cold air intake sucks its air from outside of the vehicle, attempting to get colder air for your engine combustion process.
That is why the tube on a cold air intake is so long, unlike a stock air system. A stock air system gets most of its air from inside the engine bay, and that
air is definitely not cold.
The rule is the colder the air, the more you receive due to the increased amount of oxygen in colder air. Colder air gives the combustion process more boom, which provides you with more go juice.
But of course, in the case that your stock air system is already feeding itself from the outside air. If it does that, then there would be no reason to upgrade the whole system. I would just update the air filter itself to a high flow filter like a K and N filter. With this modification, we are looking at a 5-20 horsepower increase.
Winter is coming, and we need to be ready for it. Make sure your vehicle is prepared by checking out my article 6 Simple Ways to Stay Safe on Snow Covered Roads. You will be glad you did!
Throttle body spacer
This is a modification that will work on older model Silverados only because the newer models have direct multiport fuel injection. So this modification will do little to no increase of power and torque.
The older models have fuel going into the throttle body where the fuel mixes with the air at that time will find this modification to be helpful and a big boost of power.
The throttle body spacer can add up to 25 ft. Lbs. Of torque and 18 additional horsepower from this quick addition to your vehicle. The throttle body spacer adds additional aeration to the fuel-air mixture.
Aerating the fuel gives it more time to mix together into the intake manifold properly. The throttle body spacer then aerates the mixture in a spiral as it goes into the combustion chamber to be burned.
Performance Intake Manifold
Well if you want to have more power you need to let your beast breath and what better of a way then upgrade your intake manifold. This will increase the air being pushed into each one of our cylinders. Now, of course, we are going to get a nice power boost from our air upgrades.
Remember though when you have more air you will have more exhaust so combining a nice performance exhaust will really open your Silverado! With the new intake manifold on your engine, you are increasing the flow of the air through your engine.
A stock manifold can have pockets in the build, and these pockets can reduce overall power by improving drag.
With your aftermarket manifold, we do not have to worry about that anymore. With this modification, we will see a 20-40 horsepower increase.
Performance plugs, wires, and distributor cap
With our increased air input into our engine, we will upgrade our fuel delivery system as well. So what better than improve the spark we have to the combustion process begin.
Some vehicles have coils instead of spark plug wires. So if they do you will just be upgrading the stock could with performance coils that will increase the spark to your plugs.
Auto anything has shown that even an upgrade as small as spark plugs can improve the performance that your vehicle has.
High flow fuel filter and injectors
Factory fuel systems get the job done, but if you are wanting more out of your Silverado, you will need to quench your beasts thirst and beef up your fuel delivery system.
By upgrading the fuel injectors, we are increasing your throttle response and providing your superior vehicle atomization of the fuel being delivered to your combustion chamber.
Team up your new injectors with a slick performance chip, and you will have the baddest truck on the block!
Have you ever looked into the advantages of spending more on your brake pads? Don’t worry, I have and what I found is here in my article.
Exhaust with high flow cat
So you have more air being fed to your engine, with that surplus of air you need to have a great exhaust system. An upgraded exhaust system will get that air out of the engine just as quick as it entered.
Exhaust systems with a 
high flow cat installed as well have a horsepower increase of 40-60 which will really beef your truck up.
My choice for this modification would be an excellent new system from MBRP. These guys have really put out some wicked exhaust systems and pride themselves on the quality.
There is no need for welding with this system either it is a simple install and enjoy the new power. MBRP has even increased the airflow on the system to provide the optimal power and sound to your truck.
Performance header
For everyone that does not know the order of their exhaust, it is header, cat, exhaust. So we have beefed up the exhaust system and catalytic converter now it is time for the header. Twisted Steel has a beautiful set of headers that are fine-tuned for the Silverado, which is what you want, especially with all the modifications we have done so far.
This mod is going to make your exhaust complete and really bring the power out. Twisted Steel has tuned this set to its optimal level to really streamline the exhaust flow out of your engine and simplified the installation process for you.
This is a simple bolt-on modification and does not require any cutting and/or welding.
You will be surprised by this one here’s my article on 12 Crucial Maintenance Things to Check on your vehicle.
Throttle Optimizer
Now if you do not know what a throttle optimizer is here is the quick definition. A throttle optimizer is a control that changes your vehicle’s throttle response time depending on what you need it for. The team over at Hypertech has brought their A-game with the React throttle optimizer.
This module has three settings for you to choose from towing, performance, and economy. This really frees up your truck from just being able to do one thing. That way if you need to help a friend move by towing the trailer, your vehicle will still be able to do so and even get down and dirty at the track.
The module is a plug and play design and will even complete it’s own auto set up. An auto setup is great because there is nothing worse than opening a box with many wires you have to splice in the system.
The React module selections can be changed on the fly and a must-have modification for your truck.
Performance chip
If you didn’t know I was going to bring this option up, I just don’t know what to say. We have increased the fuel, air, spark, and exhaust on your engine. Now it is time to fine-tune all those modifications so they can work in harmony with each other.
Your performance chip is going to do just that. With a performance chip, you are going to go with the Superchips Flashpaq F5 Tuner. There are countless positive reviews about this performance option, and this isn’t a
chip that you have to leave in your OBDII port.
You will receive the module that you plug into your computer so it can download the new specs, then plug it into your truck.
The Flashpaq will do all the work of backing up your factory settings then changing them to the performance specifications.
Others have used this set and have noticed immediate differences in their vehicle’s performance. So with these modifications teamed up with the rest of your changes. You are looking at a pretty beastly truck that is ready to get moving.
June to October every year is hurricane season throughout the United States. Take a look at my article on 5 Simple Ways to Protect your Car in Hurricane Season.
In Conclusion
With all of these modifications completed, you will have a substantial jump in our torque and horsepower. That will not only give your truck the capability of going faster.
But you will have the ability to do bigger and tougher jobs that you need your vehicle to be able to handle. Of course, horsepower gains will vary, I did not add any of the body and exterior modifications that are available for the Silverado but know that the possibilities are endless.
Thank you for checking out my article, and I hope you enjoyed it. Check out my Youtube channel for up to date how-to video guides. Thank you again!
