O ok. Thanks man.

 

Your best option is a 6.0 swap. Gonna need hi compression, aggressive cam and all bolt ons plus good tune.
Now if go 6.0 can make 400+ thru stock manifolds and a CheaTR cam or similar. Thru stock intake manifold and tb. With a good cai and tune.
Oe like idle and drivability.

 

I prefer the 4.8s for turbo motors. I always have. Even before the hot rod mag 1000hp 4.8.
The 4l60e in my stock 4.8 rcsb has 335k miles. I tow cars and haul up to 3 ls engines at a time. Shifts and runs like new. But I have large oil cooler I installed long time ago and deeper pan

 

I haven't really heard much bad about the 4l60e either in a stock truck.

Ok so IF I was going to do a 6.0 swap, all I would need is a long block right? Also, would the truck even be driveable before a tune? Or just not have near the power? Sorry for all of the questions. Just tryin to fig out best bang for the $.

 

Install a wideband A/F gauge, it should fire up but you might have to play with the gas pedal.....as long as the air/fuel ratio stays safe you could drive it, but get it tuned ASAP no matter what

 

Uhh, you can't compare a DOHC high revving motor to a 2v pushrod one.

Also, the coyote heads are vastly superior to anything LS 2v related, short of the LS7s. Idk where you got the idea that the 5.0 has worse heads than a 4.8 LS...

 

Ok. Well I think I have enough info now to start doin some research and fig out what I think will be my best option. Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

I don't think he was talking about the Coyote (like you said, they are monstrous and flow something like 350 cfm). I believe he was talking about stuff like the popular GT-40 heads that flow around 200 cfm for the Windsor based 302s.

 

Yes. Definitely not the coyote. I know they are killer engines.

I was talking about the old stuff. Like when a set of ported ls heads can out flow some of the best 5.0 aftermarket stuff.

 

400 hp to the tires is a pretty extreme 5.0 SBF

 

I'm talking about to the crank. I believe the op is too.

 

RWHP is not at the crank

Ford sucks and they are slow. 500 hp from a 302 is not going to happen without a ton of money(the old style).

The 4.8 is a great engine but unless you are trying to prove a point the only way to make them scream is boost. N/A you can turn some heads and make a decent runner but swap to a 6.0 and you are 10 mods ahead in stock form.

 

Nobody is talking about power at the wheels...And he already said he is not swapping and not going with boost. Bottom line is, 400 at the crank is very possible. That's what he wants. Not boost and not a 6.0

 

Best bang for the buck would be to follow along the lines you already have laid out.

Whatever you do to the 4.8 can transfer over to the 6.0 with the exception of the cam. It will but you would probably want bigger in The 6.0

Do heads and cam to the 4.8 so you don't have to mess with the swap and if you get bored with it later on...then look at a swap.

 

I apologize I thought the OP was talking about RWHP, I looked and was wrong.

Obviously that makes it much easier but it will still be difficult. Close but I doubt he will brake 400 at the crank.

I was not particularly trying to talk him into a swap or boost, I was making the point that you can mod the 4.8 and make a decent runner. But without serious money and time along with a little bit of luck you will be 350-375 hp at the crank, and should run low 13s maybe high 12s.

That is certainly respectable but looses some clout when you have a mile long list of mods to get there. You should be happy with the result and just hope you don't want more down the road because the most expensive things you put on a 4.8 won't swap to a 6.0. Most heads won't work with the larger boar and cam will be too small in most any case.( I am lmost certain on thise, if someone could verify that would be great)

Good luck on your build and hopefully you go a head with it. So many times we all spend time debating these topics for the person in question to end up driving a stock truck anyhow.