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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 12:30 AM
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Default IF you were me

short version.. I will be buying a gmt 900 very soon and have been shopping a lot. Neither the 5.3 nor the 6.0 have enough power for what I like ( low end tq, not a high end screamer). This truck is going to be a DD with about 20k/yr and I hope it to last for 100k give or take.

The way I see it for options are
-5.3 w/ blower
-6.0 w/ blower
-Buy with 5.3 then sell and get l92 crate and bolt ons
-Buy with 6.0 then make (have some sponsor build) 402
-keep 6.0 and add bolt ons

-Would the stock motors with blowers @ 8 psi last the full 100k?
-I don't know about the 402 lasting that long w/o huge oil consumption issues?
-For the cost of adding a blower ($6k) to the 6.0 I could add a lot of bolt ons... but I don't think they will enhance the low end enough... yes/no?
-Do custom built motors last that long?

I'm more concerned with lonvegity and not wasting money. I'm not entirely sure how much power I want because my driving experience to high power vehicles is limited to a porshe bosxter s and a cadillac SRX V8. The boxster was very nice power wise, but because the motor didn't deliver the power down low its hard to judge.

Also to note I've driven trucks since i got my liscense, so I'm used to the size of them, I just want something with power

Any opinions would be great,
Thanks
Phil
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 04:33 AM
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It's obvious money is no object. I would by a GMC Serria Denail with the L92 and the 6l80E. You will love the transmission and motor! And you can always run blower later!

Or you could wait and see if the 6l80's will be avaliable in the VortecMax's trucks next model year, which is rumored.

The 6l80E should hold up better, with a blower than the 4l70E they have in the V-max trucks.

I think the Vortec max trucks are the best bang for your buck! They are a VVT 6.0L with L92 heads and intake.

To me the 5.3L is a waste of time it might as well be GM's base motor in their trucks!
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 06:42 AM
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If money is no problem, why not buy a Diesel/Allison? If you still feel the need for more power, chip it.

"With the required Allison six-speed automatic transmission:
365 horsepower @ 3000 rpm
660 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1600 rpm "


I know I would if I had the money.


//
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 08:35 AM
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Perhaps I didn't get the point across I wanted.... Money is an issue and I have a limited amount in the "toy" fund. That being said I would like to get a smile whenever I press he go pedal on the truck.

About the Sierra Denali... I'm not a fan of AWD and honeslty I like the lower lvl interior better in the new trucks. Also I want a 6.5ft bed so I can fit my sled back there for trips.

The truck I'm getting is a ext cab 6.5 bed SLE1 interior.. aka cloth bench seats as I'd rather spend money on the motor than inside the truck

Last edited by PSM; Apr 26, 2007 at 08:50 AM.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 09:05 AM
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option 1 will givew you the smiles you want, I do not know about the longevity or how much it will like winter in your area.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 09:26 AM
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again why not the duramax/allison? I build the 4 door HD's. so I wouldnt bebuilding yours but for the money your going to put into it for a blower and other mods you could just roll it into your mo payment. Also the diesel will get you better mpg and will last forever. get a programer and make over 800lb tq. easy.

Hey I love the lsx based motors too, thats why I am here but for a truck and tq diesel is the only option for me.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 09:30 AM
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Just thought about it and if your set on the 6.0, another option is a turbo kit. STS is a good kit from what I've read and looks like a pretty easy install.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 01:54 PM
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Originally Posted by PSM
Perhaps I didn't get the point across I wanted.... Money is an issue and I have a limited amount in the "toy" fund. That being said I would like to get a smile whenever I press he go pedal on the truck.

About the Sierra Denali... I'm not a fan of AWD and honeslty I like the lower lvl interior better in the new trucks. Also I want a 6.5ft bed so I can fit my sled back there for trips.

The truck I'm getting is a ext cab 6.5 bed SLE1 interior.. aka cloth bench seats as I'd rather spend money on the motor than inside the truck
If you looking for the 6.5 regular bed then get an extended cab vortecmax! The option is not that much more and you get 14 bolt rear end with discs and a 6.0L.

I wouldn't buy a 5.3L get the Vortecmax!
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 01:59 PM
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Hey Phil

If you like low end torque and don't want to go diesel then at least go with the 6.0L.

Add a blower(radix) to it and it will REALLY have some nice torque. The nice thing about the radix is that it replaces the intake manifold and seems to eliminate the dreaded busted #7 piston that other forms of FI have trouble with on the trucks. The other nice thing about the radix is how complete a package it is. You can put on all the bolt ons and probably still not get as much as a radix at 8psi. As long as you run good gas and keep regular maintenance I don't see why the engine couldn't last 100K. The transmission is what will be hurting, although my stock 4L65E has held up surprisingly well so far. One reason for that I think is with all the torque available from the radix I rarely ever need to go WOT anymore to speed up/pass/etc, just give it enough gas to kick down to third gear and you're gone.

Hope that helps some.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 02:29 PM
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Thanks for the input XLR8NSS, thats what I was looking for. I was more worried about the rings not sealing after 100k and with FI it's gonna force a lot more past them. I'm hoping that TVS blower comes out this year because the Radix is a bit too loud for me. The advantage of the Radix is that I have less invested into the truck so when I go to sell it in 4-5 yrs I've wasted less money.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Bo185
If you looking for the 6.5 regular bed then get an extended cab vortecmax! The option is not that much more and you get 14 bolt rear end with discs and a 6.0L.

I wouldn't buy a 5.3L get the Vortecmax!
Inorder to get the rear discs you need to get the MAX trailering package which comes standard with stabiltrac. All the vehicles I've driven with that makes me hate it with a passion. I'd rather get the 5.3 then the 6.0 with stabilitrac. I can just get the 6.0 alone and it does come with the 9.5" rear, but with drum brakes.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Bo185
It's obvious money is no object. I would by a GMC Serria Denail with the L92 and the 6l80E. You will love the transmission and motor! And you can always run blower later!

Or you could wait and see if the 6l80's will be avaliable in the VortecMax's trucks next model year, which is rumored.

The 6l80E should hold up better, with a blower than the 4l70E they have in the V-max trucks.

I think the Vortec max trucks are the best bang for your buck! They are a VVT 6.0L with L92 heads and intake.

To me the 5.3L is a waste of time it might as well be GM's base motor in their trucks!

x2...or jsut do any of your options then huge cube LSX that ninja!
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by PSM
Thanks for the input XLR8NSS, thats what I was looking for. I was more worried about the rings not sealing after 100k and with FI it's gonna force a lot more past them. I'm hoping that TVS blower comes out this year because the Radix is a bit too loud for me. The advantage of the Radix is that I have less invested into the truck so when I go to sell it in 4-5 yrs I've wasted less money.
Yeah, I've heard the TVS blowers are much quieter than the radix relatively speaking. If so that would probably be the best FI setup for ya.

I bet a smallish cammed 4XX wouldn't be bad either for a dd. Probably wouldn't make as much torque down low but, you wouldn't have to worry about rings/fuel/temps/etc as much either.

If you get a 6.0L truck get it with 4:10 gears. I was really amazed at the difference between my old 5.3L/3.42 truck and the 6.0L/4.10 combo in the SS.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 08:13 PM
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Originally Posted by XLR8NSS
I bet a smallish cammed 4XX wouldn't be bad either for a dd. Probably wouldn't make as much torque down low but, you wouldn't have to worry about rings/fuel/temps/etc as much either.

Also I was thinking if i get the L76 then I already have the L92 heads (they come on the L76 right?) and block and such. All i need to do is get the rotating assembly and have a sponsor assemble it.

The only thing that worries me is oil usage with the 4" stroke

My top two choices are a TVS on a L76 or a 402 stroker with my L92 heads

That would leave the biggest downfalls of each to oil usage vs killing the rings with a charger
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 11:09 PM
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Originally Posted by PSM
Inorder to get the rear discs you need to get the MAX trailering package which comes standard with stabiltrac. All the vehicles I've driven with that makes me hate it with a passion. I'd rather get the 5.3 then the 6.0 with stabilitrac. I can just get the 6.0 alone and it does come with the 9.5" rear, but with drum brakes.
Yeah but there should be an override for the stabiltrac or it would kick on everytime you went off road in a 4x4!

I thought you could only get the 6.0L in the Vortecmax trim and the 9.5" was only available with disc in any configuration. But I have yet to go to a dealer and see what you can actually get yet! I just base it off the GM site.

Last edited by Bo185; Apr 26, 2007 at 11:16 PM.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 11:22 PM
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Livernois has a sweet turbo kit for the trucks that is a straight bolt on. I don't know if they have tried it on a 900 yet, but the motor is still the same so it should be pretty close.

-Geoff
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Old Apr 27, 2007 | 03:51 PM
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I wouldn't worry about the stabiltrac it does have an override!
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Old Apr 27, 2007 | 04:23 PM
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Yea I does turn off. After you hold the button down, it just turns back on automatically 20 seconds later....
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Old Apr 27, 2007 | 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by PSM
Yea I does turn off. After you hold the button down, it just turns back on automatically 20 seconds later....
Are you sure? So you can only turn it off for 20 seconds at a time?
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Old Apr 28, 2007 | 08:41 AM
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Originally Posted by PSM
Yea I does turn off. After you hold the button down, it just turns back on automatically 20 seconds later....
Press and hold 5 sec. then it should be off till the next time the truck is started!
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