I'm just starting out, but so far my 2003 SBRC 4.8 auto 4X4 3.73 has a cherry bomb muffler with a turn down, and a AEM Brute Force. Keep in mind that this thing is my daily driver and I have no plans to go screeming down a 1/4 mile pushing 6Krpm. I would like, however, to have some more get up and go, some more umph, perhaps the ability to spin my 305-70/16s from a slow roll. Here's what I have in mind next;

-JBA shorty headers with heat wrap, hollowed out cats, with 02 sims, Xpipe, dual bullets, and dual slash cut tips under the roll pan (all ss, and 2 1/4")
-e-fans
-P&P heads with roller rockers, springs, whatever else recomended
-mild cam
-tune, either Hypertech or Nelson, depending on price diff.

After that, maybe aftermarket MAF sensor, throtle body, intake? Opinions welcome!?! I'm thinking before I get started into this project too much, would it just be worth going the 6L route? My budget will be about 5K, over two or three years. What do you guys think? Before someone mentions supercharging, I do find them realy expensive. It looks to me like I could buy, build and instal a 6L for the same price, and then sell my 4.8L. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

stock shifts at 5600-5700 anyways, nothin wrong with screaming down the quarter
i'm not sure what you're thinking building a heads+cam truck without "screaming down the quarter" its a necessity, and with a heads cam, you'll most likely want to push 6500 rpm at least
dont get heat wrap
2 1/4 is too small. stock tubing is 2 3/4
aftermarket MAF is a waste of money
do not get a hypertech. if money is an issue get tuned by wait4me. dunno where you are located but if you have a shop that will do tuning near you for a reasonable price, do it there, dont do mail order.
throttle body i think everyone agrees are less than 5 hp gain
supercharging or turbocharging will run you 5000.
if you are mechanically inclined, get a 6.0L
i would suggest running the quarter first and then doing mods.
take a look at a wet nitrous kit. about 600 for a kit.


but first get your truck tuned and then consider either nitrous, cam, heads, fi, or bigger engine
after you get one of those maybe you do headers

 

So heads and a cam would only show improvement on top end? Sure stock tubing is 2 3/4, but that's single, and I'm talking about going 2 1/4 double. More cross sectional area. Am I wrong?

 

all the stuff i've read and heard has recommended 2 1/2 for double
cam usually moves the powerband up into higher rpm ranges
thats why people raise rev limiter and get higher stall torque converter with the cam

if youre looking to keep your engine, a cam/nitrous setup would be pretty sweet.
run you maybe 1500 for all the stuff if you do install yourself

 

x the hypertech , go w/ the NELSON

 

Ok, so far; no to heat wrap, 2 1/2 pipe not 2 1/4, Nelson not HPP, no MAF or throttle body. What about the "old man" cam. It says the power starts at like 800rpm. Anyone with this cam? I'm starting to lean towards the 6L transplant. I'm no old man or anything, but I like to have the power when I tramp on it right away, and not after it's started screaming. I'm guessing most donor engines are found at salvage yards? Would it be realy expensive to start with the block and build from there? Thanks for the advice guys.

 

sts

 

How much would that run me? I'm not sure I like the thought of sucking up my intake air from under and behind the truck. Any problems with this setup? Anyone with this setup that offroads a little?

 

Depends on where you get it from. Tbyrne has good prices. you have to get the intercooled one. It makes all the difference in the world. I havnt had a problem with the kit except for the fact that it has canned 2 trans in about 2700 miles. To much power I guess.

 

Have you upgraded to the 3/4 tonne trans...4810 or whatever it's called?