‘98 Vortec Engine Performance Mods

[Spike43180]

Hi I’m new to the group. I just picked up a ‘98 K1500, one-owner truck. The original owner had the transmission rebuilt and GM crate engine installed 16,000 miles ago, so everything is fresh. I’m used to driving LS trucks, so I’m used to more power. I want to keep the truck as original as possible so no LS swapping.
Anyone have recommendations of good power upgrades for these engines? I’m going to do the exhaust asap. Thanks in advance for the advice

 

[Erik the Awful]

Definitely the exhaust.

For a decent cheap upgrade, I'd go with 1.6 rockers.

Elgin, Long Slot Steel Rockers, Chev SB (87-Up), 3/8", 1.60 Ratio, Self Aligning, Set of 16 - Competition Products

Elgin, Long Slot Steel Rockers, Chev SB (87-Up), 3/8 1.6BR Chev SB (87-Up), 3/8 1.6, Self AligningBR Stamped from high strength steel alloy, specially heat treated and designed to resist rocker arm flex. Long slot design to handle high lift profile cams. Each kit includes special grooved rocker...

www.competitionproducts.com

MPFI conversion. It replaces the stock poppet-style fuel injection with actual injectors. Your truck will run smoother and won't be as sensitive to fuel pressure.

Then a tune.

 

[SableSlayer]

Definitely the exhaust.

For a decent cheap upgrade, I'd go with 1.6 rockers.

Elgin, Long Slot Steel Rockers, Chev SB (87-Up), 3/8", 1.60 Ratio, Self Aligning, Set of 16 - Competition Products

Elgin, Long Slot Steel Rockers, Chev SB (87-Up), 3/8 1.6BR Chev SB (87-Up), 3/8 1.6, Self AligningBR Stamped from high strength steel alloy, specially heat treated and designed to resist rocker arm flex. Long slot design to handle high lift profile cams. Each kit includes special grooved rocker...

www.competitionproducts.com

MPFI conversion. It replaces the stock poppet-style fuel injection with actual injectors. Your truck will run smoother and won't be as sensitive to fuel pressure.

Then a tune.

What do the rockers do for it?

 

[Erik the Awful]

They have a 1.6:1 ratio instead of the stock 1.5:1, which increases your lift and lengthens your duration @.050 a couple degrees. The your intake/exhaust lift goes from .414/.428 to .442/.457. It's nowhere the performance gain you can get from an entirely different cam, but it's a cheap bump that keeps everything pretty stock.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

Hi I’m new to the group. I just picked up a ‘98 K1500, one-owner truck. The original owner had the transmission rebuilt and GM crate engine installed 16,000 miles ago, so everything is fresh. I’m used to driving LS trucks, so I’m used to more power. I want to keep the truck as original as possible so no LS swapping.
Anyone have recommendations of good power upgrades for these engines? I’m going to do the exhaust asap. Thanks in advance for the advice

If you can find someone that still has them a Volant intake, a set of long tubes, decent exhaust and a tune will wake it up.