yossarian19

For whatever reason, I talked myself into a 2002 DBC 4.8 for my LS swapped truck. It's installed and running.
Now I'm wanting to clean up the appearance of the intake and possibly gain power while I'm at it.
Are the 07 / Gen IV intakes compatible with the DBC throttle body? Any power gains to be had?
Inexpensive after market intakes that are compatible with truck accessories?
I'm hoping to slowly add bolt-on parts that I can later put onto a 6.0.

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

The later truck intakes are quite an improvement. They look a little better also, IMO. I found a brand new one for about $100 on Amazon and adapted the early return-style fuel rails. I ended up purchasing a 90mm, 4-bolt, DBC TB but there are adapters from 3-bolt to 4-bolt and back. I wanted a nice looking example so bought new but I've seen used examples between free and $150 or so.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

The later TBs are 4 bolt, yours is 3 bolt. So no, it wont work.
Also, on the little 4.8, you're unlikely to see any performance gains with any intake.

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

Gary, read my post. 3-4 bolt adapters are cheap(<$50) so it will basically "work." The later truck intakes have shown to be much more effective at higher RPMs. I assumed that if the OP was using a (short stroke)4.8 for a swap that there would be some RPM involved to get any kind of performance out of it. But maybe not. <5000RPM I agree that the existing truck intake will probably do ok but the later intakes are good on the low end and pick up a lot of power past 5000RPM. With such a short stroke on the 4.8, I think with the later truck intake OP could make power to 6500+RPM.

But I am making some assumptions here.. OP, give us details on the rest of the setup.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

Same point, unless he's got a big cam and spinning it to 6000+rpm, the stock intake TB that's used on the 4.8, 5.3, and 6.0 (where it will support nearly 400hp) will be fine....but ugly.

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

True. OP, we need application specifics and goals to comment further.

yossarian19

I'm still figuring out what the game plan is.
This engine is living in a '57 Chevy long bed pickup, around 3600 lbs with me in it. I want it to be usable as a truck (towing) and run 12s long term. I think doing both will mean larger displacement.
A 6.0 is obviously a good choice for my goals but I am wary of the money & overpowering the rest of the drivetrain. I don't want to be going to an 80E, new driveshaft & a stronger rear end to keep up with the engine.
So I'm thinking of a stock-guts 4.8, freeing up intake & exhaust, adding a tune & eventually putting a mildly cammed 5.3 in there with the supporting mods already in place. This way I'm able to build up to my power goal (400 at the crank) over time fairly inexpensively, enjoying little power improvements along the way.
Make sense?

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

My $0.02
The price difference in a 5.3 vs 4.8 takeout is typically about $100, just get the 5.3 now.
Getting 400hp out of a 5.3 will be a stretch without adversely affecting the low end. An LS6 cam/springs is cheap, easy and the dyno numbers I've seen don't show much of an effect on low end and still provide nearly 50hp top end. Good for a heavy truck, towing, etc. It may not even require a new tune.
The stock truck intake supports mild upgrades on a 6.0 to about 400hp. It's also generally better than the LS1/6 intake for low end torque (what I've heard anyway). It's just ugly, but there are people here who've cleaned them up. Any upgrade would be for aesthetics and not have any noticeable gain in driving.
For exhaust, if you can fit stock corvette C5 or GTO manifolds, they'll flow as well as aftermarket headers for mild builds. I bought a set for $40.

yossarian19

Truck is already a runner with the 4.8 in it. That's why the 5.3 is "erm, maybe later"
I'm OK with biasing higher in the RPM range with the 5.3 provided it still makes more power under 3,000 RPM than the bone-stock 4.8 it will replace. I'd settle for breaking even.