So I'm hung between boosting the 4.8 thats already in my truck, or do a 8.1 and possibly stroke it to 5xx.

The turbo build will be ~4-5k
Local junk yard has a low mile 8.1 for 1500+ ~2900 for a 5xx stroker kit with all forged parts
Then cam, and heads.
(Or just some pistons, heads n cam and forget the stroker)
So its turbo cool factor vs "few" obs swapped big block monsters.

Truck is no longer a daily, just weekend and track only so thinking a 600+ HP 700+ tq n/a motor would be sweet

Isnt the 496 pcm the same as the rest, and "tunable" using hptuners?

 

Don't quote me on this, but I think there are some 8.1 computer that have issue with tuning. I see random threads on the hp tuners board about weird stuff but it might just be with the transmission they use.

I like the turbo route myself, but in the end it's your truck.

 

I would leave the 8.1 alone, they are not very strong. Its not a typical bigblock. There is a marine engine builder that has a few aftermarket parts for them. Raylar I think is the name. Your best bet overall will be a boosted LS.