My first question has got to be ,Is it hard to do in the truck? The reason being a broken off header bolt thats causing an exhaust leak. Is there any advice on head gaskets and possibly some minor headwork or milling to get some more compression (why not if the heads are off anyways?)? Exhaust gaskets are also something else I need. Thanks guys in advance for any info.

 

Milling would up your compression, and add some torque and hp. A cam would be a good change at the same time since you are already in there. That would mean changing springs, which would be easy if the heads are off. With 200K, I'd seriously think about changing out the lifters and rockers. Perfect time to do so, but only if you plan on keeping it a while longer.

Another thought would be to find a used good 6 liter. Probably wouldn't cost you much more than all the little parts needed to swap / upgrade your heads and valvetrain. Then you'd be adding 40 cubic inches and a very noticeable amount of power. Hopefully, you'd be installing a motor with substantially less miles than your 5.3s 200K.

 

i have a question on milling heads.

with added compression you create a tighter squeeze right, or more compressed?
well, if your gaining more power, where are you gonna see the gains? All across the rpm range or in certain spots? I was thinkin since your causing a more compressed explosion, perhaps you would see increased power everwhere? or maybe more down low since the engine is running slower and given plenty of time to fill?

i got no clue what im talkin about. help me out

 

6.0 all the way, swaping the entire motor isn't much more work than pulling the heads and you will get more than a little extra power.

 

i just went through this last week it took one afternoon... the header bolt closest to the firewall on the passenger side broke off flush with the head. pulled the entire motor and tranny up a little not completly out just enough to be able to pull the bolt out. just unbolted everything, blower, fans, radiator, pull the wheel wells and unmounted the motor off with motor mounts still on (much easier especially through the wheel well)...not much work weve done it a couple of times on my truck now seems to get easier i guess. i wouldnt pull the head unless you want to get them worked or like parish said 6.0, cant stress enough the 6.0 is night and day diffrence.