My Brother's motor in his truck has some *cough* "loud ticking" after 150,000 miles. It's a nice truck, so he wants to keep it. He's looking at options for a reasonably budjeted rebuild. A crate motor is also an option. It's a 97 4x4 5.7.

Application: lots of commuting- 1/2 mountainous, 1/2 freeway.
He needs reasonably good mileage, but wants a bump in power while maintaining Cali smog specs. Mild heads/cam are an option. he already has a few intake/exhaust bolt ons.

What would you guys suggest?

range of mild cam specs over stock?
rework stock heads or buy others?
where to buy?
Pace has some cool crates... anyone have experience with these?
What's involved with a tune?

I have some LS1 knowledge, but don't know how much of that spills over to the truck.


Thanks Guys!

 

PM James B. He is probally the most knowledgble person on those engines.

 

thanks!

ttt

 

Move from california step 1. step 2. edelbrock E-TEC heads step 3 comp cams roller cam step 4. compcams 1.6 roller rockers step 5 custom pcm tune. step 6 hold ur foot in the floor and smile the whole way. I did exactly this on my 88 monte carlo with an engine and trans out of a 97 chevy pu and the bitch runs like a scalded assed ape compared to stock. It also knocks down about 18 mpg on long hiway cruise.