All of the above is true. Doesn’t have to be a tall deck though. You just need a block with longer skirts. But if your going that far then ditch the 408 idea and go bigger. (427)

Gen 4 iron skirts are considered the longest

I had the longer stroke so was at 416 cubes. thing had gobs more torque. seams like I was always 1000 RPMs lower with the stroker getting my power.. Had to use that extra RPM to make the power on the short stroke vs not spinning the 4.125 stroke as fast to get same or more power as stock stroke. From what I've read Wiseco pistons have the best design in regards to the skirt being out of the hole, pin hight, and the other dynamics that come along with the piston coming that far out of the hole. You won't get 200k + Miles out of an engine with a stroke like that but you get cubes.. My 416 was with a .005 over hone.. Which means my block has lots of life left yet still yielded 416 cubes�� Big freaking deal if I run through a set of pistons 2 times as fast. in my case probably 4 times as fast as I built it to drive it.. Once you build an engine reliability along with gas economy IMO, are thrown out the window anyways. You want durability and power in a truck ditch the gasser and quite funkin around.. Get a Duramax. Had my 416 with 243's ported, tbss intake & 90mm tb, 224/228 @ .600 cam with a 2800 stall. Forged rotating assembly, machine work, gaskets, spent some money on the heads and the other obvious parts. Where I'm going with this is, had I have known what I know now, I would have went strait for a Duramax. My LBZ (dinosaur btw I know) with tunner is putting out around 660 tq & I want to say right around 400 HP. that's stock components with a tunner that switches on the fly.. I LOVE how it pulls. With some tranny work, a lift pump and some minor mods to stock turbo 600 HP and much more TQ is absolutely obtainable and safe. Could have done LB7 swap for the money I spent on the 416 if you stroke it you can't cheap out and you will spend money on machine work, rotating assembly, gaskets, bearings, I'm sure you'll do a cam because why would you open up a gasser and not touch the cam, then you almost indefinitely need a stall for any respectable cam and the rabbit hole continues. Lol keep your eyes out for a wreaked Duramax van or truck and ditch the gas. You'll have the engine out anyways.. I love my LS engines! Don't get me wrong! But if your your looking for towing and reliability there's no question about it. I picked up a front end damage 2500HD for $4600 I know there's ones cheaper too. And they come with the 11.5 AAM rear axle. Anyways it was less than I spent in the end on my stroker build and I know there's wreaked vans and trucks for less than I paid. if I could only turn back time