6.0 Suburban Build
10-10-2017, 09:51 PM
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
6.0 Suburban Build Getting my 2005 Suburban 2500 hopped up this weekend. It has almost 200k miles but doesn't use oil, leak or show any signs of wear. Took it to Dallas Mustang (forgive me for the Ford place) for a before dyno pull. It put down 260 hp dead even and over 280 ft-lbs! No power above 5k rpm which I expected for stock. A solid baseline for a high mileage truck.
Parts to go in:
Brian Tooley Stage 3 Truck Cam. Specs are 218/224 .553/.553 113+3.
LS6 valve springs
New pushrods
Speed Engineering 1-7/8 inch headers
Dual 3" Magnaflow exhaust with manual cutouts and X pipe
E fans with 160 thermostat to replace the stock clutch fan
Powerbond Underdrive Pulley
Tune by AMP Performance
Will have a dyno pull again at Dallas Mustang after so place your bets.
Parts to go in:
Brian Tooley Stage 3 Truck Cam. Specs are 218/224 .553/.553 113+3.
LS6 valve springs
New pushrods
Speed Engineering 1-7/8 inch headers
Dual 3" Magnaflow exhaust with manual cutouts and X pipe
E fans with 160 thermostat to replace the stock clutch fan
Powerbond Underdrive Pulley
Tune by AMP Performance
Will have a dyno pull again at Dallas Mustang after so place your bets.
10-18-2017, 09:35 PM
#5
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Got it back from the shop tonight. Pulls like a totally different truck. Idles well and on ramps are officially a blast.
Have to find time to make it back to the dyno for the after test.
Have to find time to make it back to the dyno for the after test.
10-20-2017, 01:06 PM
#7
My guess is it's probably the same or slightly better. Second part of that is it may be perceived as a bit softer, only in comparison because of how hard it keeps pulling now on up to 6k or so. Relativity can be deceiving here. In for before and after dynos!
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10-20-2017, 01:21 PM
#9
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
I'm back! After a few days of driving, yes, it does feel softer between 1-2k rpms. Maybe jmilz28 is right, but I also think the tune might have something to do with it as it wants to hold to on about 500 rpm's more per gear than it did before. I won't be going converter on this as it is a daily driver and I care more about mileage and my wife driving it than 1/4 mile times. I can see why people run one though with this cam.
That said mileage dropped about 1 mpg. I use the Automatic app and it is an OBDII reader. This isn't some "I feel like I gained 1 or 2 MPG" forum guess. It dropped 0.8 MPG on 2 round trips commuting from the previous week, same route and driving style. Not complaining though!
On the whole it feels really alive above 2500 rpm. There is no letup between there and 6000 rpm. And with the speed limiter gone let's just say that in the tunnel section of LBJ Express late at night it sounded like a NASCAR truck. The exhaust is moderate in daily low revving situations, and barks when you step on it. I have yet to open the cutouts.
This is still a massive 3/4 ton Suburban. Burnouts don't happen just by mashing it. It won't run a 12 second 1/4 mile. However, it is no longer timid at passing on a 2 lane. You push the pedal and they are behind you. Can't wait to get it to the dyno next week.
That said mileage dropped about 1 mpg. I use the Automatic app and it is an OBDII reader. This isn't some "I feel like I gained 1 or 2 MPG" forum guess. It dropped 0.8 MPG on 2 round trips commuting from the previous week, same route and driving style. Not complaining though!
On the whole it feels really alive above 2500 rpm. There is no letup between there and 6000 rpm. And with the speed limiter gone let's just say that in the tunnel section of LBJ Express late at night it sounded like a NASCAR truck. The exhaust is moderate in daily low revving situations, and barks when you step on it. I have yet to open the cutouts.
This is still a massive 3/4 ton Suburban. Burnouts don't happen just by mashing it. It won't run a 12 second 1/4 mile. However, it is no longer timid at passing on a 2 lane. You push the pedal and they are behind you. Can't wait to get it to the dyno next week.
10-23-2017, 03:24 PM
#12
I don't know anything about AMP. Did they do a street tune or all on the dyno? If enough time isn't spent on the tune while driving, you can be leaving some on the table as far as power under the curve, including MPGs, driveability, where the converter locks up, etc. They may have done all that well and you're just feeling the tradeoff of a(ny) cam in a big azz truck. Regardless, it sounds like you got a major upgrade that is almost like getting a new truck!
10-23-2017, 06:00 PM
#13
I'm back! After a few days of driving, yes, it does feel softer between 1-2k rpms. Maybe jmilz28 is right, but I also think the tune might have something to do with it as it wants to hold to on about 500 rpm's more per gear than it did before. I won't be going converter on this as it is a daily driver and I care more about mileage and my wife driving it than 1/4 mile times. I can see why people run one though with this cam.
That said mileage dropped about 1 mpg. I use the Automatic app and it is an OBDII reader. This isn't some "I feel like I gained 1 or 2 MPG" forum guess. It dropped 0.8 MPG on 2 round trips commuting from the previous week, same route and driving style. Not complaining though!
On the whole it feels really alive above 2500 rpm. There is no letup between there and 6000 rpm. And with the speed limiter gone let's just say that in the tunnel section of LBJ Express late at night it sounded like a NASCAR truck. The exhaust is moderate in daily low revving situations, and barks when you step on it. I have yet to open the cutouts.
This is still a massive 3/4 ton Suburban. Burnouts don't happen just by mashing it. It won't run a 12 second 1/4 mile. However, it is no longer timid at passing on a 2 lane. You push the pedal and they are behind you. Can't wait to get it to the dyno next week.
That said mileage dropped about 1 mpg. I use the Automatic app and it is an OBDII reader. This isn't some "I feel like I gained 1 or 2 MPG" forum guess. It dropped 0.8 MPG on 2 round trips commuting from the previous week, same route and driving style. Not complaining though!
On the whole it feels really alive above 2500 rpm. There is no letup between there and 6000 rpm. And with the speed limiter gone let's just say that in the tunnel section of LBJ Express late at night it sounded like a NASCAR truck. The exhaust is moderate in daily low revving situations, and barks when you step on it. I have yet to open the cutouts.
This is still a massive 3/4 ton Suburban. Burnouts don't happen just by mashing it. It won't run a 12 second 1/4 mile. However, it is no longer timid at passing on a 2 lane. You push the pedal and they are behind you. Can't wait to get it to the dyno next week.
I don't know anything about AMP. Did they do a street tune or all on the dyno? If enough time isn't spent on the tune while driving, you can be leaving some on the table as far as power under the curve, including MPGs, driveability, where the converter locks up, etc. They may have done all that well and you're just feeling the tradeoff of a(ny) cam in a big azz truck. Regardless, it sounds like you got a major upgrade that is almost like getting a new truck!
10-26-2017, 05:47 PM
#15
They build some killer stuff and Sam has always been known to make great power and retain durability. If you haven't heard of them you'd probably enjoy some of the stuff they do. Look em up on youtube or Facebook. One of my favorite things to watch him do is put 4x or so the power through stock parts that I ever thought they would take. He has been doing it recently with the shop C7 and it's cool watching the progress. He does it to KNOW what parts can take and what they can't. R&D
10-27-2017, 09:50 AM
#16
Yeah, it's amazing the upgrades GM has steadily made over the last decade. GM Powertrain has always been good but not just the engine anymore. The entire driveline is now a fuggin awesome system instead of an awesome engine playing "What can I break next?"
01-31-2018, 09:16 PM
#18
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Sorry for the delay! I totally forgot to update you guys. Short answer:
325 HP and 343 lb-feet. Dyno graph attached.
Mind you the drive shaft failed at that point and and made everyone crap their pants. I can tell you it pulls great now at every RPM. The cam makes a torque down low as well as up top. After driving it for a couple months now it is rock solid. The only action it has seen was a 6.2 swapped 2012 F-150 that got to see my tail lights from a roll of 50-100.
Minor annoyances. The e fans always run because the ECU was programmed to kick on at 160. The underdrive pulley makes the lights dim when you roll up a window at night. I drive faster so gas mileage is basically 14 mpg now, and on premium. Costco gas is my new friend.
Next up this summer, most likely a 243 head swap with NBSS/TBSS intake. Possibly a 4.10 limited slip rear. We shall see.
325 HP and 343 lb-feet. Dyno graph attached.
Mind you the drive shaft failed at that point and and made everyone crap their pants. I can tell you it pulls great now at every RPM. The cam makes a torque down low as well as up top. After driving it for a couple months now it is rock solid. The only action it has seen was a 6.2 swapped 2012 F-150 that got to see my tail lights from a roll of 50-100.
Minor annoyances. The e fans always run because the ECU was programmed to kick on at 160. The underdrive pulley makes the lights dim when you roll up a window at night. I drive faster so gas mileage is basically 14 mpg now, and on premium. Costco gas is my new friend.
Next up this summer, most likely a 243 head swap with NBSS/TBSS intake. Possibly a 4.10 limited slip rear. We shall see.
