2000 Chevy 3500 454 essential mods?
 

Hey guys, I am new to this section, as I am typically in the '47-'59 or '67-'72 sections. Anyhow, I am looking at buying a super clean 2000 C3500 dually. It is a factory short bed crew cab dually. It's mechanically stock, with 8,000 miles on rebuilt engine and 4l80e transmission. I won't be towing anything super heavy. Mostly just my '59 or old Land Cruiser on a car hauler, perhaps would look at a 24-25' toy hauler in the future. I would plan on adding an aftermarket transmission cooler. I would like to add a performance exhaust and considering other mild performance mods. What have you guys done that have yielded good results? Tuner? Camshaft swap? Intake or injector work? I'd be up for a couple of grand worth of parts. Just thinking that there may be relatively inexpensive modifications to uncork that big block, that could help performance a bit.

Thanks for any tips,
Nik

Re: 2000 Chevy 3500 454 essential mods?
 

I have a T400 body 2000 GMC C2500 with the 6.5L diesel rather than the 6.6L Dirtymax that a T800 would have.

I believe the 2000 Chevy/GMC C3500 with the 454 is a T400 body as well. I can move this thread if you wish.

Re: 2000 Chevy 3500 454 essential mods?
 

I was curious about that! I kinda figured that this rig would be lumped with the '88-'98 trucks. I just wasn't entirely sure, so I went with the model year range. I would appreciate move, thank you!

Re: 2000 Chevy 3500 454 essential mods?
 

Buddy of mine has an old 2000 flatbed and he tows everything in the world with it on a stock 454 motor setup. No power issues at all. The tranny cooler is the only thing I know he added, other than that he is happy.

Re: 2000 Chevy 3500 454 essential mods?
 

check out Richard Holdener on you tube...he has several generations of 454 going on the dyno for proven results

Re: 2000 Chevy 3500 454 essential mods?
 

Black Bear Performance tune for the Vortec 454, change out the muffler, rest of the exhaust is fine. Plugs/wires/cap/rotor (don't cheap out on these parts). Drive the snot out of it!

I've got a 1999 K2500 Suburban with the 454 I drive daily. It has the snow plow package which *technically* makes it a 1-ton Suburban. I've towed an enclosed trailer on a hot day and never saw the tranny run above 195* with the factory tranny cooler.

Re: 2000 Chevy 3500 454 essential mods?
 

Love mine! 2000 K3500 454, completely stock and I haul it all. Everything from 42` enclosed with 2 old schools inside, or like this last weekend when I had 1 pallet of rocks weighing 4600lbs and a 2nd pallet of rocks weighing 3770lbs..... over 8300lbs!

Ive hauled up the Grapevine, Tehachapi, Sierras, etc and not once have I started at the bottom with rpms above 3400 and it not been doing the same MPH on top that it was at the bottom.

Pass Lock bypass is a good thing, Ditch that damn flange in the exhaust, great truck!!

Mine just turned 158k

Re: 2000 Chevy 3500 454 essential mods?
 

Thats awesome to hear. Thanks!

Re: 2000 Chevy 3500 454 essential mods?
 

Did you ever get that truck?

I've seen/heard/read that headers might be the single most beneficial upgrade to the later 454s. The Bosch injector swap is supposed to be worth the effort (and while you're in there replace some consumables: distributor, if its worn; fuel pressure regulator, oil pressure sender, fuel lines, gaskets, etc). Search YT