Hey guys. This is Nick from central Alabama. I've read several threads here, but this is my first post. Anyways, I have a 2000 3/4 ton 4wd 6.0L LQ4 with the iron block/heads. The truck is in good shape with only 168k miles, but the transmission needed an overhaul. Long story short, one thing snowballed into another and I got talked into tearing it apart and painting the frame, front suspension, rear end, and spraying bed liner in the box. Me and my dad built the 4L80E and freshened up the transfer case. While we had the motor out we decided to go through it to and freshen it up also. The truck will be driven daily and tow on occasion. The previous owner ran it a little warm a few times, and it has the LS cold knock. That's the main reason for the rebuild.*
This is our first LS build and I wanted some opinions on upgrades. Keep in mind I don't want to hurt the 14 mpg any worse than it is already.*
With that said I have looked at dropping flat tops in, a small cam like the vinci 112 grind "butt kicker", 1 3/4 long tube headers, cat delete, down stream 02 delete, a tune (advise on what octane?), chromolly push rods, valve springs, double roller timing kit, whatever else y'all think I'm missing.*
I already have the K&N CAI, a complete gasket kit, chromolly ARP exhaust manifold bolts, MSD wires and Delco plugs.*
The truck will be lifted 7" with 35" Toyo's and 4.56 gears.*

Sorry for the long post haha.*

Thanks,*
Nick

 

For simplicity stay with the bottom end you have, but ditch the cast heads... Set of 317 heads would be a good start.... With an nnbs intake.. Probably gonna wanna run 93 octane if its available... Sound like pretty sweet build!!!

 

Yes sir I planned on staying stock bottom end. 93 octane is available everywhere here. I'm building this for pure torque. It will never see over 5k RPM. Do you think miles per dollar would increase if i bumped the compression and ran a higher octane.

Thanks for the reply

 

Possibly but if you have a cold knock youll probably find the cylinders may need to be bored... Typically its piston slap.... You can go with a set of 243/799 heads for a bit more of a compression bump too. Havent looked at that particular cam yet, but dont know that cat delete will really do anything for your fuel mileage persay... Double roller chain isnt necessary either youd be fine with a single roller chain set with the trickflow dampener....

 

I know this is an old thread, but I figured I'd update for anyone who's interested. I bought all my parts and have done all the machine work.

243 heads that I reworked (guides, valve job, smoothed ports)
Brian Tooley platinum dual springs
WS6 hardened push rods
Cloyes double roller
221/227 .608/.613 112+1 cam
Yella Terra ultralight rockers
Melling high pressure pump
.030 over bore
Balanced rotating assembly
Speed pro dish pistons and molly rings
Morel 5315 lifters and new trays
Clevite main/rod bearings
Durabond cam bearings
Bought HP Tuning software
TSP headers
Lots of paint and polishing

Block is on the stand and parts in boxes stacked up on the table. Maybe I'll get it built one day haha. Let me know what you think. Hoping for ~430/500+ at the wheels. 10.46:1 CR on 93 octane if me and John can get the tune right.

To anyone buying engine parts, I can't encourage you enough to give Mike and John at WS6 Store a shot. They both have went above and beyond to help me. Great guys to deal with, and very reasonable prices. Customer support is the best period.

Nick

 

All this from a trans rebuild.....ha

 

But it should now

 

It might accasionally haha