I have an HKE forged 6.0 with Patriot Stg 2's in storage with 4k miles. Been sitting for 3+ years and needs to be torn down and gone through after a tuning mishap with the turbo. I believe my buddy said it spun the front main and blew a head gasket. Should I Whipple my 187k mi 5.3 instead? This is a DD work truck so gas mileage and reliability are of utmost importance but I would love it if it ran low 8's-high 7's in the 1/8th. Nothing too exotic for this truck. Plan to do a 80e swap on my '99. Its 2wd with 3.90 Truetrac @ 4400lbs although it will have 4-500 lbs of tools and materials in the bed at all times. Slicks for the track. Lets hear your thoughts oh wise ones.

 

I think the reliability would dictate a "freshened up motor" over the high-mileage stocker with boost. I'm not saying the 5.3 won't take it but I would rather have peace of mind with a fresh motor. My basic LQ4 just went 7.9 with a shitty 1.8 60'. With Cal-Tracs I want a 7.50 1/8 mile. You can do it!

 

Dont. Touch. Anything.

 

^After reading that, my answer was terrible. He's right; don't touch anything.

 

why not...8-10# boost on the ole 5.3 wont hurt anything...gas mileage wont be hurt unless he hammers it at every light.but i would find a used tvs1900 which is great on a 5.3

 

Bahaha best response ever.

 

I thought we were here to help each other blow their money???

Throw that whipple on it and the smallest pulley you can find.. heck just drill a hole in a Dime or Nickel.

 

Well I guess I could keep the Duramax, it could run low 8's without much but if I hurt it, it cost 5-10 times as much to repair so I don't think that's gonna be an option. LS junkyard motors are so cheap it just makes more sense to me to have fun in this truck. I don't abuse but I do have fun. Miss my '07. Come on, I'm an A/C contractor and I need something to spend my $$ on after all the hard work this summer.

 

This. I'm at 150k miles on my stock bottom end at 10psi with 60k being boosted.

Edit: And I plan on driving this thing for another 150k.

 

Allison's ain't cheap to build, and a stock one doesn't like a ton of power thrown at it.