Just picked up a 2000 Suburban 2500 4WD with a stock 6.0 LQ4. Other than a bit of lifter ticking which is getting better after trans fluid, sea foam, and an oil change, it's in good shape. I'm looking to throw a cam in it and change out the lifters as well. First truck I've wanted to build with a Gen III so any help would be appreciated. It's a heavy truck and needs all the help it can get. Right now it's slower or feels slower than my 2002 4.8 Ext. Cab RWD.

If I ever get the money or something goes wrong with it, I'm planning on a 408/9 stroker, so I would like a cam that would work with that. Also are the stock heads decent enough to keep or should I really be looking to upgrade. I think it has the iron ones. How restrictive is the exhaust on these trucks for medium power? It's 3 inch duals back to the muffler. Should I be looking to upgrade or just swap out the muffler?

I plan to use this truck for some fairly serious towing so a cam that would help with that would be great.

 

I think gears would be a better deal. These trucks from gm were severely undergeared.

 

It's got 4.10s from the factory. Don't want to go any lower for fuel mileage concerns on highway.

 

not sure if it will work with a burban but you could wait and get the headers and these pipes. imo would compliment the eventual 408 build.


https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...totype-538474/

cam i would go with a BTR truck stave 3/4 or vinci triple x

 

Blower. You have the drive train to support it.

 

Don't have the income to though.

 

Ooops my bad. I know theyre pricy but a magnacharger would wake that thing up.

 

Messed around on camquest a bit. Thinking for now a cam + bolt ons would be a good way to go.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-54-408-11

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-54-412-11

The description camquest gave me looked pretty good for these and they sound nice on youtube. No idea how accurate camquest is for my application since it won't even go to my weight. Figured would be a good starting point at least. I'm mainly looking to wake up my engine at lower rpms and gain some horsepower without sacrificing towing ability. I don't want a choppy idle, the squarebody already does that. A cam swap would be a good chance to freshen up the engine a bit. I want to change the timing chain and oil pump and see if I can clean up or replace the lifters.

Would I be required to run new valvesprings and pushrods with those cams? I don't plan on revving any higher than stock in this truck.

 

2000 lq4 came with awful iron heads with the same factory cam as a 4.8 so it will seem very slow. Swapping to some 243/799 heads and a low lift 212/218 cam would be a dramatic improvement. Could see close to 100rwhp gains just from those changes. Keep in mind other factors that are making it feel slow as well. Its 4wd. It's very very heavy pushing around 7,000lbs. It has a lot more drive train loss with a 14bolt rear and 4L80e.

 

That's the kind of info I'm looking for, thanks. Do you think you can link a cam? Also would it be worth the jump to LS3 or aftermarket heads or would that be too much port? The 799s seem to be fairly pricey on fleabay. A little off topic here but how far would e-fans and a shiftkit go to improving performance/feel. I'm planning on a tune after I have finished engine mods.