I'm new, so go ahead and take your shots because I'm sure I'm about to ask for the umteenth time but...


I hae a 2000 silverado 2500 4x4 (not HD) with LQ4. I also have a junkyard LQ4 in my garage that I want to build / rebuild then install so my truck will be stronger/better/faster.


My truck is for tow/haul and I primarily want more torque, more power at lower RPM. I will not be racing.


I'm also keen to do as much of the build myself for entertainment / educational purposes.


I have $4k or so to spend and want to know what would be best.


--------------------------------------------


My (probably ill informed) thoughts are these:


I'd like a 408 becuase I understand more CI is best way to more torque.


I think a mild cam that would work with my factory iron heads becuase I don't think I can affor new heads *and* a stroker kit and becuase I think big heads would warrant a big cam and I would have poor idle and trouble at low rpm. (OTOH, I guess a stroker does need more air so maybe I'm thinking wrong).


I have no idea what a new intake / throttle body / headers would do for me.


It is unclear to me if I would need an aftermarket ECM.


I'm sure there is much I have not considered.


-----------------------------------------------------------


So I'm basically asking two questions:


1) what would be best use of my $4k to achieve my objective


2) what in my thinking is right or wrong.


Thanks in advance for the advice.


I will take all newbie comments in good humor. :-)

 

a 408 would be pretty cool but would eat up a good portion of the 4k budget. I think a good cam with some different heads (not aftermarket considering budget), supporting fuel mods, intake, headers/exhaust, and a tune would best suite you for what you want to do. Also when it comes to the cam choice you need to decide if you want to spend the money on a converter for the larger cam.

 

Buy a crate ls3 shortblock for 2500 shipped, toss on fresh 317s, contact stock48 for cam, pick up some ebay headers and call it a day

Stock pcm is fine

 

thanks for the replies.


sguiffre13: what is a converter for a cam? is that a different catalytic converter?

 

Higher stall Torque converter... Ditch the cast iron heads... You actually found a second one with cast heads???. Pick up a set of 317s and a gen 4/tbss intake with a 90mm throttle body bore it out .030 over with a set of flat top pistons and have a cam specd out and youll be good....and be way less than your budget