Vehicle info: 1983 Chevy C10 SWB that has a 6.0L LQ4 out of a 2001 Silverado 2500HD with the 4L80 trans a 10bolt 8.5 rear-end with an Eaton Trulock and 3.73 gears and 28in tires. 3500RPM Stall with upgraded valve springs in the stock 317 heads, truck intake, and a BTR Stage 4 NA CAM(Link). Its not an everyday driver but I do plan on driving it fairly often.

The cause of the work: The engine had a pretty loud tick from the valves at start up for about 10 seconds. I had never been in the valve covers so I bought a BTR trunnion upgrade kit and opened it up. I found one valve that the rocker had lots of play because the rod was loose so I decided to pull the heads and replace the lifters and trays as well. Once the heads were off I got all the lifters out but the trouble one. I pulled really hard and couldn't get it out so I pulled the motor dropped the oil pan and pulled the cam. I found needles from the lifter roller in the pan and pushed the lifter in to get it out and its worn off and ugly. I have only had the truck for about 6 months and the guy I got it from did the cam, torque converter, and springs and it literally only has 50 miles and I don't know maybe 10 hours run time on it since the cam install. The trays felt really cheap so Im guessing he put cheap lifters and trays in it which caused the issues. Anyways I'm rebuilding.

The question. For the rebuild I have about a $4000 budget. The crank bearing surfaces have small grooves so it needs to be replaced or likely ground and polished. I talked to a local performance shop today to see if there are any engine machine shops around and he said closes is and hour and its probably just as cheap to buy a reman crank since its a stock crank and O'Reilly has remans for $360 with bearings. Its getting close to decision time on direction. Id like to get the most bang for my buck and I'm leaning toward 2 options but open to suggestions as I have rebuilt engines but never to try and increase HP/Torque. Both options include new bearings, new rings, honing the cylinders, bunch of new bolts, new oil pump, shallow oil pan because the C10 is lowered, thinking new Delphi LS7 lifters with GM trays, ect.
Option 1: ~$3,500 Keep it simple, stock 3.622in stroke crank from Oreilly(Link) and maybe a flat top or domed piston with new rods. Piston and rods I'm thinking these from Summit(Link)
Option 2: ~$4300 Go Stroker but keep stock 4in bore with this kit from Summit(Link)

What option would you guys recommend? What kind of gains could I expect going stroker over just a flat top piston? I'm not opposed to diff heads and intake in the future but gotta spread some cost out so wife doesn't hate my project truck too much especially being this is a somewhat unplanned $4k.

 

That's WWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY too much cam for the combo.

Look more at ones in the 216/220 to 220/226 kind of range, set up as "truck" (NOT "performance") cams.

I'd leave the bottom end alone if at all possible. Like, especially if it has good oil pressure. If not, change out the crank and bearings, but leave the pistons alone. MAYBE a new oil pump since that's before the filter and can get metal chips in it easily enough.

New lifter trays of course. Butt you already knew that.