Supercharged 6.0 (dream)

tyhuck · November 18, 2012

OK, I was sitting here dreaming about what I will do to my 05 Z71 when I finally get it paid off. I probably wont lift it any more, or do any more changes on the body, other than maybe a new ram air hood. Most of the mods I came up with would be performance mods, but I want to keep the daily drivability. First thing Im gonna do is change to some 4.56 gears, add some new 2500HD springs, and maybe swap 3/4 tons axels under it (SAS in front), MAYBE. As far as engine mods, I want to either supercharge my 5.3, or drop in a 6.0 and supercharge that. Basically what Im looking for is to increase the towing capability (not nescissarily capacity since the frame will still be a 1500 frame), the reliability with the heavier parts, and the overall cool factor when I hit the gas or pop the hood.

My question is, what will I need to do internally to the engine to acheive the goals of reliable, daily drivable, efficient power increases? Keep in mind Im looking for a boosted tow rig/workhorse, not a race truck, so mild to moderate is acceptable. Im rolling on 35s after all.

I know the trans will need some definate attention, but IM mainly concerned about the engine with this thread. I dont know much about engine building, so any help is appreciated.

Prokopchuk_9 · November 18, 2012

Let me get this straight...you want a bunch 3/4 ton parts, change gearing, a bigger blown engine that will be reliable and efficient towing truck???? LOL

Save ur money from all these said mods, sell ur truck put all cash towards a 2500hd 6.0/dmax...makes hella more sense to me...

tyhuck · November 18, 2012

Well ,let me explain. I use my truck for 80% highway driving, probably 15% towing a 5x10 trailer with my hunting cart on it, and the other 5% towing or hauling with the truck loaded heavily, and throw in some offroading when going in and out of the deer lease, so its not a heavy hauler.

The 2500 parts are just because I like the 8 lug look, and the idea of having stouter axels offroad, not that I push mine to the limit by any means. The springs would be primarily so I could ditch the rear block and still maintain the currnet height of my truck, and to help handle the extra 400lbs of steel Ive added in bumpers and other trail guard gear. But, the 2500 upgrades and the SAS would only be for funzies just because I have nothing better to do. Thats why I said it was a dream.

My primary question was on the engine upgrades, which I am seriously concidering for a post-payoff upgrade. I can see where I may have confused you a bit. When I said reliable and efficient, I meant efficient in putting power to the ground without loosing too much daily driver reliability. Obviously, nobody wants to get 3mpg, but I also understand that such mods can decrease my mpg, especially if I cant keep my foot out of it.

I figure I can do the upgrades for half of the cost or less of a decent used 2500, and WAY less than a new one. Thats the primary train of thought behind upgrading. Does this make better sense or just make me sound even stupider (if thats a word)?

Chris · November 18, 2012

Sounds like a "because I want it". I'm going to be doing a 6.0 when the 4.8 craps out. What people don't get when they tell you to buy something new is how much your truck means to you. I won't get rid of mine because of sentimental value

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kstruckcountry · November 18, 2012

OP, I think you'd be really happy with an engine swap. However, with as much highway you drive, I think it would be better to evolve your IFS than do a SAS. Most of the time, independent works great, and unless you're putting serious long travel obstacles under it offroad, you're not going to break much. There's a lot of time and $ that goes into doing a SAS, but if that's what do want to do, there's plenty of kits for it.

KMGZ400 · November 18, 2012

i think its a cool idea for the swap and it would be fun, but if i personally was in your situation, i would save myself the hassle of paying labor to do all that stuff, or doing it yourself and having a torn apart truck in your garage for a month maybe more and also having to buy and find all of the exact parts you need and all of the tools and i would just buy a used 2500. you can find a 03-06 2500 with probably around the same miles as your truck or even less miles for maybe a couple thousand more than your truck trucks worth or even the same value as your truck is worth.

just my 0.02.

KMGZ400 · November 18, 2012

i think its a cool idea for the swap and it would be fun, but if i personally was in your situation, i would save myself the hassle of paying labor to do all that stuff, or doing it yourself and having a torn apart truck in your garage for a month maybe more and also having to buy and find all of the exact parts you need and all of the tools and i would just buy a used 2500. you can find a 03-06 2500 with probably around the same miles as your truck or even less miles for maybe a couple thousand more than your truck trucks worth or even the same value as your truck is worth.

and with a 2500 your going to get the ground clearance which i know you want for offroading, a more powerful 6.0, and stronger 4L80 trans, and the 8lug which you said you like

just my 0.02.

Prokopchuk_9 · November 18, 2012

I honestly think for what you want in a vehicle doing what you wanna do is so time consuming and expensive. And for what?? You still gonna have a shorter box with a weaker frame.

I know what you are saying, I understand some guys have a hard time letting go of something that has so much time and effort put into already. But obviously your not happy with it, If it was me I would look into a 3/4 ton to start...If you did tie rod sleeves, pitman and idler arm braces you will never look back...

Like Kmz says, find a used low mile duramax 06+ do the proper deletes and get a good tune you won't look back...it will do everything you want it to do. Get WAY better mileage than a blown small block around town, tow better, go fast when you want it too and last longer...just my own opinion. Doing what you wanna do just doesn't seem economical...

KMGZ400 · November 18, 2012

I honestly think for what you want in a vehicle doing what you wanna do is so time consuming and expensive. And for what?? You still gonna have a shorter box with a weaker frame.

I know what you are saying, I understand some guys have a hard time letting go of something that has so much time and effort put into already. But obviously your not happy with it, If it was me I would look into a 3/4 ton to start...If you did tie rod sleeves, pitman and idler arm braces you will never look back...

Like Kmz says, find a used low mile duramax 06+ do the proper deletes and get a good tune you won't look back...it will do everything you want it to do. Get WAY better mileage than a blown small block around town, tow better, go fast when you want it too and last longer...just my own opinion. Doing what you wanna do just doesn't seem economical...

that is true.. and plus dumping all of that money into the truck wont necessarily increase the resale value when the time came to get rid of it

tyhuck · November 19, 2012

I realise that this would not be the most realistic idea. It would all be IF I had the money, and IF I had the time, and IF I had the space, and tools, and.....

You can see its all just a wish list for some project that may never actually come to fruition. Those of you that have responded to some of my other threads know that I occasionally have these off-the-wall questions that never actually go any further than the act of having the thought and asking the question. I wasnt really concerned about practicallity of the project. I was just asking about the specs required to pull it off.

Im sure that when my 5.3 poops out, I will swap in a 6.0 (probably stock) and that will be fine with the 4.56 gears. Heck, I may even could get by with a set of 4.10s with a 6.0 under the hood. But, like i said before, it was just a thought I had.

tyhuck · November 20, 2012

OK, turning away from the blower idea, is it within the realm of possibility to have a V8 with a mild cam that will increase torque without decreasing fuel efficiency. I know, I know, someone is dying to say, "its a lifted truck, why are you worried about fuel mileage?" Dont fool yourself folks, we are all worried about fuel mileage. Its just a matter of how low are you willing to go. Personally, I can handle my current 14.5 mpg, but dont want ot drop too terribly much under that.

in my experience with 2500s with the 6.0, the mileage is around 14 in a stock 2wd. Would it be better to just put another 5.3 with a mild cam and some headers to try to keep some of my mpg, or would a cam just make it worse?

I realise I had some really outrageous expectations at first, but isnt that how we find that happy meadium between mild and wild. Im really just looking to add some power, while keeping reliability, daily drivability, and keep my milegae from dropping too much lower.

Again, please dont mock me. Im just trying to figure things out.