We admit it, when gas hit $5 a gallon, we placed a huge emphasis on mileage and tried our best to show you ways of making every drop last further and further. Unfortunately, adding parts to your truck doesn't always net you gains in mileage, especially if those parts add ponies to the puzzle. Loving the improved throttle response, or the sweet sound of eight cylinders rumbling can be intoxicating and with our foot always on the go-pedal, the fuel gauge seems to race to empty. What if we told you there was a company who recently passed a strict SEMA-organized fuel savings challenge and that those parts used in the test could also add as much as 50 hp at the flywheel? It's true. SLP Performance Parts won a SEMA fuel challenge with its PerformancePac combo and on engine dyno testing, the parts help bring the 5.3L V-8 to a whopping 350 hp.Wanting to check out the PerformancePac firsthand, we ordered up part # 28206, for our '08 Chevy Silverado. The combo consisted of SLP's after-cat dual exhaust, Blackwing cold-air induction system, and DiabloSport II programmer. To add more performance to the truck's handling, we also ordered a SLP Sport Suspension Package that uses new drop coils and rear spring extenders to lower the Silverado two inches both front and rear. The drop will bring the center of gravity down and enhance the handling characteristics of the Silverado. Completing the Fantastic Four story, we selected a set of TIS style-06 22-inch chrome wheels with 305/40R22 Kumho tires. The wheel/tire size worked well with the mild drop and filled up the wheelwells quite nicely.Last month we had such a good experience with Desert Rat Off-Road Centers, in Phoenix, that we went back and had the guys turn some wrenches while we took the photos. Whereas gas is currently at an acceptable level, getting more miles per gallon is never a bad thing-especially when more power is on tap. Check out the source box for ways to get the most out of your truck.
 Arriving at Desert Rat Off-Road...  Arriving at Desert Rat Off-Road Center in Phoenix, head installer Reuben got busy tearing down the factory front suspension. Thankfully, all Reuben had to do was remove the three bolts on top of the shock mount, one bottom bolt, and pull the assembly free. It was then set in a coil spring compressor. |  With the coil separated from...  With the coil separated from the shock assembly, we took a look at the SLP 2-inch Sport Suspension package. The kit came with 2-inch lowering coils and new extensions for the rear leaf springs. |  Next up, Reuben slipped on...  Next up, Reuben slipped on the short strut stop and then installed the new SLP drop coil in the compressor. |