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Hi got 208k on my 2001 4x4 2500hd 6.0 truck lq4 wanting to make more power across the board with it. Was gonna trade or sell for a diesel but this truck is kinda sentimental now that my brother has passed we have had alot of memories in it.
Current: 4x4. 2500hd 6.0. Stock. 208k. Trasns is a 4l80e I believe.
Just replaced valve cover gaskets, oil sending unit, (chasing a oil leak) and water pump. 3 or 4 core big aluminum radiator. Hayden trans oil cooler. Flowmaster 40 series mufflers. I think it has a rear main leak thats gonna get fixed when i pull motor as well.
Was wondering what cam/springs would be a good upgrade. That being said I also want to lifters, lap valves/seal and whatever else I can to keep her strong. Oil pump also maybe? Deck heads 0.30? Ive worked on alot of stock cars, but never beefed them up honestly. Just wanna keep it healthy and reliable
Reliability as is important as power to me. This is one of my DD's. Dont mind spending a little more to keep reliability. Thanks guys
243 heads (cnc port job if you can swing it, if not it's ok, the compression bump is totally worth it by itself)
Custom ground cam
Pac 1218 springs
Pushrods
lifters
timing set
oil pump
headers
8.1 injectors
Good in person tune or dyno tune
cia
This is what I have done to my 2500hd (minus the custom ground cam, wish I would have, I went with a texas speed stage two truck cam), and I tow with it on the regular. It tows amazing, and offroads like a beast. It is not friendly on gas though (not that these trucks ever got good mpg). If I baby it, I can get 14 mpg with no trailer. If I tow 9k hard, I've seen as low as 7.8 mpg. This is a very reliable setup too. I've been running it for almost 120k miles, and it sees the rev limiter almost every time I get in it.
I'd get the current engine checked out ie compression and leak down tests. If the bottom end checks out good I'd throw on some freshened up 706 heads and get a stage 1 truck cam. Ls3 springs, oil pump, timing set, lifters.
Then get it tuned.
I also agree with the 706/862 heads, even more compression and cheaper than 243's. Flow isnt much different and you will want your power around 3000-4500 and not so much at 6500 rpm anyways so the peak gains from the 243 flow will be useless.
Although when towing I would probably use 91-93 octane especially in the heat.
Pretty much any stage 1 truck cam would probably be best, the summit 8719 has proven itself pretty well on the dyno for the price and can be used with the cheap ls6 springs. Also that will be easy on the valvetrain.
Add a set of longtubes and you should see a substantial gain in power with that combo.
Im fixing to do the exact same thing with my 2500hd
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Truck LQ4 
