I have a 2001 2500HD with a 6.0L in it with just an intake and magnaflow muffler. Coming home from work this week the service engine light came on and it started to run poor. I thought it was a head gasket, but I'm no mechanic. The shop i brought it to said they believe it is a head gasket too. My thought is if they are in there, what performance mods could I have done when its apart? I'd like to get a cam done at some point, but I don't think they get anywhere near that, do they?

I don't use it as a work truck, just an everyday truck. So it needs to be reliable and drivable. I'm running a leveling kit and 295/75/16 tires, so its a pooch already. Not going to gear it at all, so the 4:10 are stay'n.

Any help would be great.

 

I would swap to a set of 243/799 if you're going to be pulling the heads. The increased compression would give your engine some more lowend power. You could also have your 317's milled to increase compression.

As for the cam, when you pull the top end off you're halfway there. Next would be pulling the balancer and timing cover, and there's the cam. Assuming you probably want to keep your stock torque converter, you could get a cam like the Comp 212/218 or 216/220.

 

What makes you think it's a head gasket? What is the check engine code?

 

ya get your code first, the shop could be hosing you man for alot of uneccesary work

 

It sounds like he took it to the shop and told them that he thinks he might have blown a head gasket. Of course they agreed.

 

Exactly why I asked!
Might be something minor like a bad plug, loose/burnt wire etc and the shop might be taking advantage of this.

 

If it is a blown head gasket they would be pulling your intake as well, and you could get a different one, although the truck intake really isn't that bad. Cam would be one suggestion, as would LT's since the headers need to come off partly...

 

The shop did a compression check on cylinders, and one on the passenger side had low compression and there was a misfire on two cylinders on driver side. He said it could just be an intake manifold gasket and not the head gasket, but wont know until its torn apart. Didn't know why the manifold gasket would cause compression loss though. . . I duno either. I didn't tell them it was a head gasket, just that it was running poor, low idle that would die and no power. I was kinda happy it was a head gasket and not a crack, but I guess that could still be an issue.

If I have them mill down the heads to boost compression, how much do I have it done? And what would I expect to pay for a cam swap at the same time, if any idea? The head gaskets are quoted about $1500. What about rockers? I've heard about doing rocker kits. Do any of the mods work with the stock programming?

Thank you.

 

They took it apart today and found it was a broken exhaust valve spring. Said they still have to pull the head to send it to the machine shop, and check the piston and cylinder wall. I might call the machine shop and see if they can "work" the heads to give it a little more snap. I said pull both heads since its torn apart that much already.

 

Just leave the stock rockers alone. Comp makes a $140 trunnion upgrade kit for the rockers, but it's fairly unnecessary in your application.

You can tell the machine shop to take .030" off the heads, since that is a pretty safe amount. That and a valve job is all you really need since you're not going to be getting a big cam or anything.

Speaking of cams, you could just get one of Comp's small grinds or one of their truck cams. Keep the duration below 220 and you'll retain your bottom end torque.
Pair that with a set of LS6 springs(~$60) and you'll be good to go.

Lastly, you are going to need a custom tune. Black Bear and Wheatley are probably the two best options unless you have someone good local. Even if your truck was stock, a custom tune would give it more power and make it much more enjoyable to drive.