isky triple 12 cam, push rods, dual valve springs, ls2 timing chain, ls7 lifters ls9 head gaskets and studs... most of that stuff was just for safety though as it's my daily driver

 

Just a guess how much was that entire cam swap for you? I'm looking into the turbo 4.8 and the cam swap is 2500 just for parts not to mention the 2500 for the turbo unless there are better deals out there I'm missing.

 

2500 for a cam swap?? no, i would say right at 1200 is what i spent on the above parts, including the studs, which you may or may not need/want. i spent more than 2500 on my turbo kit though, i went with a borg warner s475 with a 4 inch downpipe, which is more expensive then alot of other turbos, but im sure you could easily spend 2500 for a decent kit

 

Some other options are
Buy a 6.0 short block and bore it .03 over put forged pistons and rods in it. Keep the stock crank b/c there good to 1000ish hp. Now you will have a 6.1L 370 forged. The money for the crank will pay for some nice tsp ported heads or cam kit. Then if you want to go boost you have the perfect boost motor except for a diff cam for turbo or s/c which ever route you choose.

Plan on rebuilding your transmission in the budget as well b/c stock will not last long.

I would not build or put the money into a 408 for a dd. Stroker motors are weekend toys not dd. 408 will eat some gas as well, expect to get maybe 10 miles to the gallon city and 12-13 highway.

 

^^ that's the next motor i'll have, forged 370. it just depends on how much money you feel like spending

 

A 370 forged should make around 390-450 depending on how high of flow heads and cam you put in it, and Lsx intake manifold. Then swap the cam for a t76 turbo easy 550-600 at the wheels around 8-10psi, and your internals are forged to be protected haha

I don't think a 4" stroke will live as long as a factory 3.62" either. The piston wables and rubs the side walls more than shorter stroke due to the extra travel, on a very small scale that over time, "thousands of miles", develops into oil burning and later on replacement of internals and new honing or boring of the bores.

 

i found a kit somewhere on the internet have it save though the entire cam swap for like 1100 but getting someone i trust in the podunk town I live to install in is the problem everyone i have talked to wants 2200 or better. thats my problem right now. how do you like your cam is lopey whats the power like with those numbers

 

the 370 is what i'm going to do, so the .03 bore does cause for a piston change I was told it didn't i just use bigger rings i thought that sounded a little funny. this guy has the deal for me i think, https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...00-obo-521379/ what do you guys think is this a good motor to start with?

 

so 370 is the way to go, with that what all can i keep stock?

 

this was actually my first ever build, but i did every single bit of it myself, saved alot of money that way.. i don't regret staying with the 5.3 at all, it makes awesome power, im at 10psi now and love it. i would say it's right at 500hp right now. the cam has at nice little lope to it at idle, but it has perfect driveability