just a little more power

mkirsch wrote:
Tuners only affect gas engines at WOT. Unless you run around with the gas pedal mashed to the floor, they won't help.

Gearing, smaller tires, do not add power. They allow the engine to spin faster at a given speed, with the caveat that you're stuck with it ALL THE TIME, even not towing.

The most cost effective solution is, if the truck is doing the job now, and you don't want to trade it, to learn to be happy with what you have.

One is only “stuck” with the look and reduced load capacity of smaller (17” wheels are the only viable option for significantly smaller tire diameter in this case) wheels.
Truck has enough rpm’s and gears to run bobtail highway speeds on small tires at sane rpm’s no problem. Even if they already have 4.30s.
Plus OE 17” steelies takeoffs are dirt cheap, with tires. Good option to throw on for towing if it suits the OP. It fits the bill of “a little more power” for the least amount of money and issues.

Tuners only affect gas engines at WOT. Unless you run around with the gas pedal mashed to the floor, they won't help.

Gearing, smaller tires, do not add power. They allow the engine to spin faster at a given speed, with the caveat that you're stuck with it ALL THE TIME, even not towing.

The most cost effective solution is, if the truck is doing the job now, and you don't want to trade it, to learn to be happy with what you have.

For elevation power issues, ONLY way to truly counter that is putting some kind of forced induction on the motor. Ie a super or turbocharger.
As Jim also pointed out, if you have heavier tires, that uses up HP too.
Gearing may help, probably not enough to make it worth while as pointed out.
At the end, a mild to moderate boost supercharger is best if you don't want to change trucks, or a turbo diesel new truck.

Marty

We quite often see 250/350 owners who bit into towing 14k-15k lbs with the small block 6.2 engine. Many swapped for the same 250/350 with the diesel.

Just to add to MFL on point comment on tire/wheel diameters.
Also I've found with gas small blocks, and big blocks, tire and wheel weight can drag down their towing performance.
Example of a tires weight;..... a BFG Mud Terrain KM3 LT295/70-18" that weighs 74 lbs. Now add the wheel and the little V8 has over 400+ lbs of tires and wheels to keep the load moving.
Even the same brand BFG same tire type in a 17" weighs 67 lbs.

Yeah.... I know we have lighter weight tires out here but this is just a example of parasitic drag on the small engine.

Before you muck around with a new rear-end, what gear are you running going up hills.
- If you are regularly in 1st gear struggling to do 20mph, the deeper rear-end might help boost the speed a bit.
- If you are typically running 3rd gear or higher, you likely won't see much improvement. It might hold a higher gear but engine RPM won't be much different for the same speed because while the higher transmission gear will lower RPM, the deeper rear-end will raise the RPM back up.

HP is what determines speed up a steep grade. HP = Torque * RPM. Gas engines are generally not designed to put out massive torque, so increasing RPM is how you generate lots of HP. Modern gas engines are quite happy running 3500, even 4000 RPM. It's just beyond what most people are used to so it feels uncomfortable.

Yes, in theory you could add a turbo but that comes with a whole set of complications that would be cheaper and more reliable to solve by buying a turbo diesel truck.

Check the torque and HP charts for yourself. That engine does not start making any serious horsepower until it gets over 3500 rpms. Most people don't know how to downshift to get the horsepower that they need. Don't rely on the computer to shift, if you can, select the gear to keeps you in the power band. It will give you better performance and help with tranny and engine temps.

I would like just a little more power going over the hills.

A little more power? Get a diesel, you will have a lot more power.

You are not giving any gearing info, but a change to 4.30 gear set, if 3.73 now, will improve uphill towing. Even going down in tire/wheel size will help, if you are using 18" wheels, with tall tires. You should be able to find some 17" take offs.

I use non ethanol premium fuel, when towing heavy, which gives a little power, and mileage boost, compared to ethanol regular.

Jerry

Gear it down more, or add a blower. Only 2 things with any bang for the buck, and the cost of either would make getting a stock diesel a better financial decision.
Although blown gassers are cool!