Cheap power gains

[Humvee21]

Been driving the H2 more recently and i noticed that it's very sluggish while on the highway. I was wondering what kind of cheap power gains I can do to make it faster.

 

[autumn walker]

I'm running a Superchips Flashpaq on mine with the Performance and Tow tune (depending on what I'm doing). There is a noticeable power difference and the truck seems happier on the highway.

See if you can find an unlocked programmer used on ebay / craigslist / whatever; that's what I did. For 2007 and earlier you need the 2865 Flashpaq.

https://www.superchips.com/Store/ta...uctId/96/product/GM_Gas_Flashpaq/Default.aspx

 

[M22KLARS]

Programmer or chip is the way to go. Combine one of those with an intake and some good flowing exhaust and you'll notice a nice difference.

But if you wanna get serious... there's always nitrous.. :horns: :wink:

 

[Humvee21]

Thanks guys, I'll be looking into a tuner. Also, from what I've read about Raptors... Catback exhausts don't help that much. Is this true? I'm mechanically challenged so bear with me please.

I'm also not a fan of CAI since I've read that they're just a bunch of BS crap that barely gives you any gain. Please enlighten me

 

[Big2dabank]

The H2 is a heavy brick and not much you can do to add noticable power. I ran a superchips flashpaq for a while and it did add a little bump in performance. I have an AFE filter with an Airdoc intake and flowmaster exhaust and I think I noticed a little bit of gain with each, but its hard to say how if they really help. You can tell the truck breaths better, but I don't think they boost performance that much. I just recenlty added a set of long tube headers and I definately notice a difference, but this is not a cheap mod. A set of Dynatech long tubes installed ran me just shy of $2,000. If you can stomach the cost its defeinately a worthy mod. Here is the thread on my long tube headers.

http://www.hummer4x4offroad.com/forum/showthread.php?2829-Long-Tube-Header-Questions

 

[autumn walker]

If you want real power just suck it up and pull the trigger on this baby - http://www.magnacharger.com/p-53-hummer-h2-2004-2007-magnuson-supercharger.aspx

 

[Humvee21]

Oh god... I don't think I could justify +2k worth of mods, haha. Might just suck it up and stay in the slow lane lol...

 

[seventwozero]

Oh god... I don't think I could justify +2k worth of mods, haha. Might just suck it up and stay in the slow lane lol...

Like Big said, the H2 isn't exactly build for speed. You'll notice marginal gains from a chip, intake and a cat back, but it's nothing that will whip your head back. To me, it seems most people only buy the chip to compensate for power loss when they've added 37" tires.

 

[autumn walker]

To me, it seems most people only buy the chip to compensate for power loss when they've added 37" tires.

Yup... I future-proofed. Wicked deal on my Flashpaq, knew I'd want it in the future.

 

[[__--MUD--__]]

I wouldn't waste your money...only real thing the programmers do are change the shift points which does make the truck feel a little snappier. You're not gaining any real power (as ratio to vehicle weight). Our truck are just big pigs...not like some little light j@p car where you can swap out for some light weight lug nuts and get an extra 10th in the 1/4 mile.

Then when you do add some real power to the mix, start saving up your pennies for the tranny thats already marginal w/ the stock motor.

 

[Humvee21]

The issue I am having is not the low end. It is plenty snappy for me since I like to drive slow around town. But on the highway I want to at least cruise at 70mph and sometimes I feel that my H2 is having a hard time doing so

 

[[__--MUD--__]]

gotta ask- Stock tires or oversized?

I got gears because Highway didn't have enough power to hold overdrive at 75, kept dropping down to third which would easily run up to 95 if I didn't let off the throttle. Plus I really wanted some low end throttle responce. I went 5.13, thats pretty extreme- but offers room to grow at my next tire replacement.

This definately isn't cheap unless you happen to know "someone". Gears are about $800-$1200. Gears+Labor usually run $1200-$1800

 

[Humvee21]

Stock everything for me. What size tires are you running, Mud?

 

[seventwozero]

The issue I am having is not the low end. It is plenty snappy for me since I like to drive slow around town. But on the highway I want to at least cruise at 70mph and sometimes I feel that my H2 is having a hard time doing so

Yeah.. you'll get passed by a few cars on your way there.

I'll run my 04' at about 75 when I'm heading to out to the lakes for the weekend, but it runs a lot better at 60-65. The truck is built to go (almost) anywhere.. but not quickly.

Edit: Yeah MUD, what size tires? I was actually considering the 5.13's

 

[alrock]

D. Kinsey regeared and said it was a night and day difference with highway cruising

 

[seventwozero]

D. Kinsey regeared and said it was a night and day difference with highway cruising

Any idea what gears he went to? For some reason 4.88 is coming to mind...

 

[alrock]

You are correct! http://www.hummer4x4offroad.com/forum/showthread.php?1663-Which-ratio&highlight=kinsey

 

[Zach]

Running 4.88's with 37's, way happy with them. Off the line picked up some but crawling or coming downhill on 1st lookout, no brakes. Also running a tuner I bought from Jeff Aka Big. No complaints here. Originally tune set the speedo correct and after the regear it set it too. Running the 91 octane tune and truck has never run better. Also pit in the corvette servos so the shifts are a little more firmer

 

[Big2dabank]

I am running 4.56 gears with 37's and am very happy, but I should have gone with 4.88s like Zach. I have been running 91 octane with the stock tune and with the new headers you can really feel the performance increase across the rpm range. It's no muscle car, but definately has a high performance sound and you can feel the added power. One of these days I will get a custom tune and we'll see if that does anything else.

 

[[__--MUD--__]]

I'm running 37s but plan to go to 40's if I can ever put on enough miles to wear down these toyos.

For those thinking your going to loose all your top end speed w/ 5.13- Your not, you can still run 95-100 if you want. I found a very kick ass ratio calc that takes tranny, transfercase, gears, etc..all into the mix and will also compare differences side by side. speed @ rpm, etc..-

http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html

I have no imput on how these gears actually run...My rides been under construction for the last 14 months.

 

[tomp]

There is not one single thing to get you loads of power except the supercharger. However, other items will gain you small improvements and if you add them all up, you will get some good gains. Here are the items that will add noticable improvement:
-Gearing change (4.56-4.88)
-Long tube headers
-Better air intake (either Volant or simple drop in K&N filter and aftermarket intake tube)
-Handheld programmer that disables Torque Management like Diablo programmer

Here are some that wasted some money, but only in my opinion. Please keep in mind, that the below items offer gains at high RPMs but this didn't do my heavy H2 brick any justice where low RPM torque is preferred:
-Shorty headers
-Open air intake kits that allow hot air from engine bay into intake
-Cat back exhaust kits

 

[seventwozero]

I am running 4.56 gears with 37's and am very happy, but I should have gone with 4.88s like Zach. I have been running 91 octane with the stock tune and with the new headers you can really feel the performance increase across the rpm range. It's no muscle car, but definately has a high performance sound and you can feel the added power. One of these days I will get a custom tune and we'll see if that does anything else.

It's worth pointing out that while you've achieved noticeable power gains, your mods and Mud's mods (along with others) are far from 'cheap' power gains :giggle: I mean.. You're easily in the $3k neighborhood with your recent exhaust mods and the gearing, probably more than that though.

Not to veer too far OT, but the tunes you guys speak of after a re-gear.. Are these being done with handheld tuners? Or are you sending them out to place like PCM for less?

 

[Big2dabank]

It's worth pointing out that while you've achieved noticeable power gains, your mods and Mud's mods (along with others) are far from 'cheap' power gains :giggle: I mean.. You're easily in the $3k neighborhood with your recent exhaust mods and the gearing, probably more than that though.

Not to veer too far OT, but the tunes you guys speak of after a re-gear.. Are these being done with handheld tuners? Or are you sending them out to place like PCM for less?

Cheap is a relative term!

I did the header work once my factory cats started to fail and the substrate inside the cats started to come loose and rattle, so I needed to get new cats anyway, and the drivers side OEM exhaust manifold was leaking a little and had a couple of broken bolts. So that needed to be addressed, so the headers and high flow cats were the natural next step rather than dump it back into OEM parts.

 

[tomp]

It's worth pointing out that while you've achieved noticeable power gains, your mods and Mud's mods (along with others) are far from 'cheap' power gains :giggle: I mean.. You're easily in the $3k neighborhood with your recent exhaust mods and the gearing, probably more than that though.

Not to veer too far OT, but the tunes you guys speak of after a re-gear.. Are these being done with handheld tuners? Or are you sending them out to place like PCM for less?

You're right and I failed to mention it, even though I thought about it

The first two items I mentioned are not cheap, but the handheld programmer and air intake mods (filter and after tube only) are reasonable. However, these still only offer marginal gains in power. Unless you are running oversized tires, the gearing can be removed. This leaves the programmer, air intake mods and long tube headers. My favorite has to be the long tube headers as they improved performance throughout the entire RPM range and throttle positions. If cosidering them, doing it right is not cheap and I would follow Big2dabank's thread.

 

[[__--MUD--__]]

Cheap is a relative term!

Your absolutly right here... When I hear cheap I think in relation to cost of vehicle and invested mods. My cheap buffer is anything under $2000