Hi I have a 6.0 lq4 with 190,000 miles on it motor still runs fine but I am wanting to get more. I have looked into it but I need some help I will be using this as a DD and I want the biggest cam possible while using my stock 317 heads. Will It help to port and polish the heads and can I mill them down without any problems. Is 500 hp to much to ask from this? And around what will all this cost I am wanting to keep it under 4 grand and what else will I have to change if any.
Any comments help guys!

Will be going in a 2500hd pickup
Thanks guys !!!

 

DD 500 HP is not cheap. Keeping it under $4K won't get you there, unless nitrous is an option. If you build the 408 and keep the stock heads, you will have a low end torque-monster that makes maybe 30 more HP than the 6.0 otherwise would have.

Power is made (or lost) in the heads. Even if you build the 408, you'll still need to upgrade the heads. Then, you already said you want to run a big cam. Large cams and truck engines don't normally mate up very well. Large cams sacrifice torque for top end power. The 408 displacement will help absorb some of that, but it is still a fundamental you will have to work with.

I would tell you to save the money on the 408 and invest in your heads. If you get very good flowing heads, you can make good power on a more modest cam, which will make fewer compromises, giving you a much better DD package. But you'll have to pay for it. The kind of heads with the right valves, etc, to get there are ~$3K. A 227-231 ish cam, the lifters, pushrods, springs, FAST 102 truck intake, 102mm throttle body, gaskets, fluids, long tube headers (must for performance cams). Start pricing this stuff, and you're over $6K. And that's assuming you do the work. Labor ain't cheap either

And, IMO, you'd still need to do all this anyway even if you built the 408 in order to get the power. Ever hear that old saying - you can have Power, Price, and Dependability. Pick the two you want.

 

500 RWHP Definetely to much!
500 FWHP ~380 rwhp in truck with auto very possible and reasonable.
Have heads ported by AI,TEA or TSP combine with an aggressive "Truck"
Cam from CAM MOTION with Long Tube Headers, good exhaust,
FAST LSXRT Truck intake worth 20 HP & lb ft, MAMOFIED worth
Another 12-15 each. Will make a Very Fun DD! with pretty good
Fuel economy, if you care. Throttle response and Driveability will
Be excellent! May reach 420+ RWHP. "Big huge cam" = Big Mistake!
IMO for daily driver you will hate it very soon.

 

I agree with Darth. (typing while he posted) spend the money on the
Top end and cam, much bigger return then extra stroke.

 

Thanks guys,
I am wanting the 408 with the huge torque because at least once a week I have a trailer hooked up hauling verious things. The 6.0 still does fine but gets extremely doggy on the hills around hear. so I am wanting to stick with a 408. With that said what could I do to the top end for hp and get the best bank for my buck with out switching heads?

As my dad once told me horse power is how fast you hit the wall torque is how far you move it.
Thanks again guys, keep the post coming

 

And just wondering but are headers even street legal ?!?!

 

Send them to PRC or TEA for porting, etc. pay for the spring upgrades and valve upgrades. Then, call one of the experts for a cam spec. Kip at cam motion and Martin at tick performance are fantastic. You'll probably end up around 235/240 on duration.

 

yes except California

 

Awesome thanks!
And I know I have a lot of questions so bare with me hear. What would be the best think I could do with stock heads to get the most hp?

 

^Bad info....emissions inspection differs from state to state and county to county, technically if you move the cats from stock location (long tubes) many places will fail the car through visual inspection even if it passed the sniffer test and no codes are set. This of course differs from widely from locality, various shops might also look the other way, so ask around locally what you can get away with (or not).

 

OK thanks I'll look in to it.