HELP NEEDED with Suspension and Engine
 

Alright Guys, Ive got some questions and I'm sure someone here can help me. So I'm about to graduate college and will also be starting the overhaul and rebuild of my first truck. It's a 2005 Chevy Silverado WT EXT cab with the 4.8 in it.

I'm looking to lower it as it is 2wd. I often tow trailers or haul 4wheelers and other stuff in the bed. What would you guys recommend for a lowering kit? 2-4? 4-6? Also what brands!

As far as the engine goes, Its a 4.8 with nothing more than a custom hot tune done to it. I need wayyy more power. What cam/heads/stall/etc would you guys recommend. Im looking to make in the neighborhood of 400-600HP and relatively low compression as i plan to eventually boost it. It has a 4l60
so I plan to also swap to a 4L80 when i can source one and find the time.

Thanks.

Read some builds in the project section. That will really help you get an idea of what you want to do.

Figure with either a 4 or 6in rear drop you are going to want helper bags no matter what. A 6in with a flip kit will have to have a c-notch installed.

Is the turbo/SC upgrade going to happen quickly or in stages?

I ask because a much milder cam that will still make great power with boost should be considered if you aren't doing everything at once. Several cams will work great with a stock stall and perform great with boost.

Factory heads flow great, factory intake and throttle body will make that kind of power without even caring. Infact that stuff will make 1000hp without spending tons of money on "cool" looking parts.

I'm not so worried with looking pretty as I am with performance.What cam would you recommend? Ive been modding cars all my life but those were always NA carbed hot rods so I'm in new territory.

Would Air shocks work well instead of bags? Would the factory plastic intake handle boost that well??

First I'm building the engine in Jan after I graduate, then turbo will come within a year of that.

I have a 3/5 lowering kit on mine and I am going to put a flip kit on it. 3/5 just wasn't enough IMO. 4/6 looks so clean to me.

I swapped in a 4.8L in my truck with a turbo set up and it the most fun I've had. I'd recommend it unless you will be doing a ton of towing.. I would rather run a supercharger if I towed a lot but thats just me..

Whats wrong with the engine? Or are you just adding a cam and upgrades?

Nothings wrong with it, I'm just extremely OCD and Its a 12 year old motor. Ive never had the $$$ to upgrade til now so better late than never!

Helper bags are better than air assisted shocks if you ask me. Ride quality would be better with the bags and nice rear shocks.


If you didn't want to install a stall straight away you'll want to look for a cam in the 212/218 range with a 112-114 LSA or something very similar. Larger cams without a stall will be lazy.


Stock intakes are very thick plastic and high boost pressure isn't a problem. Also boost pressure is just a measure of restriction so more often than not it's not the intake that is holding the power back. Just follow sloppy mechanics on youtube if you wanna see how far stock parts will go.

Your goal of 400-600hp will be had with ease on stock bottom end, stock intake and heads. Just a fuel system, cam and turbo/SC will get you there.

Agreed...^^^

Turbo, cam, valve springs, fuel system, 80e, converter, and you'll make 600hp with ease. My 4.8L made 585rwhp or something like that on 12psi.