Works Best Under Pressure

ProCharger Makes 150-Plus Smog-Legal Horsepower on Our 5.3 LS Motor

- Bob Mehlhoff

ProChargerand TBR Garage have come to the rescue with more power for both better performance and increased trailer pulling. Our performance dilemma was our 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab that we use for towing. Since the vehicle was purchased new with its 315hp 5.3 LS engine, six-speed automatic, 3.42 gears, and trailer towing package we thought we were good to go. Amid the GMC’s 5,400-pound empty weight, and an open car trailer combined with a Chevelle totaling 5,000 extra pounds, our full running weight with some luggage, fuel, tools, and passengers, easily totaled above 11,000 pounds. After some towing throughout the Southwest (between Utah, Nevada, and California at altitudes over 7,000 feet) it was apparent that this rig needed more power.

The choice was to either manage the long grades at high altitude in lower and slower transmission gears with lots of throttle in our half-ton GMC Sierra or come up with a wellthought-out solution to add the needed torque and extra horses. We opted for the latter and chose ProCharger’s High Output Intercooled system with P-1SC-1 Supercharger for a variety of reasons. First, we needed a huge dose of extra pulling capability throughout the power curve with great drivability. Second, since this GMC is registered in California where most of the state’s counties mandate biannual smog checks, we needed something that was California Emissions Compliant. And third, the installed ProCharger system is designed with a factory look and appearance which we really like. The ProCharger system easily satisfied our criteria.

For the ProCharger system install we met up with the friendly folks at TBR Garage in Sacramento, California. Matt Sanso and his team of expert technicians are very familiar with not only performing the ProCharger’s straightforward complete system install and downloading the new tune from a handheld Diablo, but also at running the before and after dyno numbers.