I helped cam a 230,000 mile motor that was a DD for about 2 years after and about 50,000 miles. It is still running like a raped ape, but its a toy now. Most of the time when swapping cams most of the weak stuff is replaced(springs pushrods etc) factory crosshatching is evident in most high mileage truck motors. These aren't sbc's of yesteryear. These things are crazy durable especially when treated rotten ridden hard and put away wet.

 

true that gamble, my dad has 365K all stock and still the stock transmission, but it doesn't like to tow haha

I like my true dual set up, but I'm a big classic car guy so I have always loved true duals. But untill you are making over 4-500 hp the 3" y pipe is plenty of flow. I think the true dual would free up maybe 5-8 more topend rwhp over y pipe system. The y pipes are around 150-200 which cost the same as the shop welding a true dual system is another reason I went true dual route.

I bought my headers, high flow, cats x pipe, cut outs, and muffler from different online stores and took all the parts to my exhaust shop and they welded it all up for 180. I had about 700 in the parts and close to 900 total, but a

 

If you do decide to go true dual go with 2.5", you will lose some lowend power if you go any larger.

 

Ok that's the reason I wanted to do the true duals cuz I have the mufflers for it and I'm buying the l/t's.

There was a BIG swap meet today I went to it. it is so hard to find ls stuff at a swap meet. found a guy with a ls1 block. Cylinder walls were pitted rusted I offer 150 and he wouldn't go lower than 200. I think it was junk. I was looking for a set of truck heads and found one pair 706 heads and they were missing stuff here and there. And no one could find the owner. It was fun.

 

I would get either an x pipe or have the shop make an H pipe, to equalize the pressure since the driver side tubing is 2-3ft longer

200 for an Ls1 sounds like it is probably trash lol

 

Yeah that's what I was thinking I was telling him about some of the head bolt holes looked messed up and he didn't want to hear it. But his biddy told him (after he seen what I was pointing out) he said sell that piece of crap for $100. He said he wouldn't give 100 for it. Lol. Some guys think it is made of gold. Cuz it is aluminum. I see more problems with aluminum block and it is not worth trying to buy.

 

Just got the 5.3 today. ($175). Started taking it apart. Took the valve cover off and noticed it had dual springs, arp head bolts. I even think it has titanium retainers but how would I be able to tell

 

What can I do to see how much lift the springs can handle

 

Good duals are rated around 650 usually but you should test the spring pressure first. Sounds like you for a smoking deal. Is it cammed already?

 

Wow what a great deal way better than that ls1 haha

Idk on the titanium other than are they shiny like titanium lol can you post some pics of the block?