why keep the cats anyways? its a new truck so there are no emmissions for like 8 years. i got a 2016 and never had to smog it. just run it dirty 'til its emmissions time.
if you want Perf cats.. the Isuzu NPR HD has extreme high flow cats on the 6.0L LS motor, these things are huge 12" diameter
CAI are a waste of money, as the stock system out flows the heads when you pull the restrictor panel out.. I like the idea of swapping out the entire muffler and running a remote turbo, , with no intercooling.. if boosting the TB and Manifold is a cheap fix restriction by swapping to the 6.2 induction. . would luv to see what a 5.3 with the entire 6.2 Induction does, from cam , manifold TB
I believe you can flash our ECU's with the S/C vette or Camaro ECU software file for a quick safe tune, after you improve the fuel system to LT4
instead of Boosting, you might be able to make 80-120hp with a stock N/A set up with simple bolt in upgrades. the weakest link is the trans tuning and torque converter
i would say $6-8000 would get it done right..