6.0 conversion questions & Socal machine shop recommendation

[mattt]

Cam options are endless. I’ve been contemplating a BTR or TSP cam in my LQ9 swapped Sierra for years, but still running OE cam. If you go with Flat tops and 243s, the CR will definitely require tune and premium gas. I left the 317s on my LQ9 and is still running on the oe 5.3 parameters. I’ve held off on tune due to indecisiveness of going cam/converter route. As another member said, the part numbers between TBSS and NNBS intakes are different but should give you the same end result. The cam I’ve had my eye on is the BTR 30202111 torque cam. When I first did my swap I used the factory y pipe setup, but eventually switched to the Jegs off road catless y pipe. The only additional things I did during swap was to have the rear o2s tuned out for the off road y pipe, and egr parameter tuned out because I deleted it.

Thanks for the recommendation on the cam. I will check that out. Yeah, 243's with flat tops are definitely out as an option. I was thinking either lq4 bottom end with 243's or lq9 bottom end with 317's so the CR stays reasonable, around 10 -ish.

Since first posting this thread a few months back, I did a little research on GM Parts Direct about the TBSS vs NNBS intake. They are in fact the same part number according to GM Parts Direct.


The Y pipe difference is something that I've noticed when looking under Escalade's or Denali's that are parting out. I may pick up the factory 6.0 SUV Y pipe to swap into the Tahoe as well as the corresponding muffler which is also different. I have yet to look up part #'s for the fuel pump module to see if they are different from 6.0 SUV to 5.3/4.8 SUV.

 

[mattt]

If you can afford running 91-93 (both financially and just plain getting in the mindset), go with the high compression. More TQ across the board which will certainly help with towing. 11:1 CR is totally reasonable for a daily driver. Have the 243s checked and shaved cuz they're almost always a good bit over their advertised CC. More cruising TQ means more efficiency which means better MPG which lessens the actual cost of the high octane fuel. A thinner head gasket to get the quench to around .035" would raise the CR a hair but, more importantly, stave off detonation which opens up that tuning window. A small low lift cam is an option for more low-end if you wanna do that while it's apart.

Thank you. Definitely going to have the heads done prior to install. Multi angle valve job, bowl blend, surface & check for flatness. I will add having the machinist checking chamber CC to the list.

 

[mattt]

If you want to go boosted in the future you’ll want the LQ4 pistons and the lower CR but if you plan on staying NA then you probably want the LQ9’s. Cam can net you 30-40 hp over stock depending on what you go with. I’m running a VHP cam, Yella Terra roller rockers, Whipple, triple disc billet converter 2800 stall on my LQ4 and it’s strong.

Thank you. Definitely not going boosted, just building a healthy 6.0 and calling it a day. It will be better than the factory 5.3 that is worn out, and hopefully last 300k+ like my 5.3 did.

 

[Rocket Man]

Thanks for the recommendation on the cam. I will check that out. Yeah, 243's with flat tops are definitely out as an option. I was thinking either lq4 bottom end with 243's or lq9 bottom end with 317's so the CR stays reasonable, around 10 -ish.

Since first posting this thread a few months back, I did a little research on GM Parts Direct about the TBSS vs NNBS intake. They are in fact the same part number according to GM Parts Direct.


The Y pipe difference is something that I've noticed when looking under Escalade's or Denali's that are parting out. I may pick up the factory 6.0 SUV Y pipe to swap into the Tahoe as well as the corresponding muffler which is also different. I have yet to look up part #'s for the fuel pump module to see if they are different from 6.0 SUV to 5.3/4.8 SUV.

The Eskys and Denali’s don’t have an actual y pipe but instead they run dual pipes all the way to the muffler which is a dual in single out, and from the muffler back where it goes over the axle it’s a single pipe. It’s a much more open flowing system imo. If you look at ARH or Kooks you’ll notice they don’t sell a Y-pipe for this year 6.0.

 

[iamdub]

Thank you. Definitely not going boosted, just building a healthy 6.0 and calling it a day. It will be better than the factory 5.3 that is worn out, and hopefully last 300k+ like my 5.3 did.

Build it right (sounds like you're level-headed about it) and it should. I just finished a refresh on my 5.3 to commemorate it's 200,000-mile mark. Left the bottom end as-is except for the obligatory new oil pump, timing set, gaskets, etc. but added a small cam, shaved heads, thinner head gaskets, headers, mild torque converter and servos in the trans. Everything inside looked plenty fine and even surprising for the mileage. I'm right around 10.25 CR. I wanted 10.5-11, but left some extra wiggle room with the PTV clearance due to the aged bottom end possibly slinging the pistons higher than when fresh.

 

[mattt]

The Eskys and Denali’s don’t have an actual y pipe but instead they run dual pipes all the way to the muffler which is a dual in single out, and from the muffler back where it goes over the axle it’s a single pipe. It’s a much more open flowing system imo. If you look at ARH or Kooks you’ll notice they don’t sell a Y-pipe for this year 6.0.
View attachment 250039

Thanks for the picture. You are right, I guess it's not a Y pipe but instead 2 individual pipes that go into the muffler.

Anyone already BTDT and found that these will bolt into a 5.3/4.8 Tahoe? Are the mounts the same or is there re-engineering involved in swapping to the factory 6.0 dual pipes?

My thinking is if it's what the factory did, it was done for a reason as they could've saved a few pennies per vehicle if they had one standard Y pipe setup for all SUV's.

 

[adventurenali92]

The Eskys and Denali’s don’t have an actual y pipe but instead they run dual pipes all the way to the muffler which is a dual in single out, and from the muffler back where it goes over the axle it’s a single pipe. It’s a much more open flowing system imo. If you look at ARH or Kooks you’ll notice they don’t sell a Y-pipe for this year 6.0.
View attachment 250039

I’ve never seen the Escalade LQ9 setup, but on my 2006 LQ4, it has a the dual pipes coming down into the muffler, but my stock was a dual in/dual out muffler and then after the muffler the two pipes flow back into one before the axle to the single out exhaust. Not a dual in/single out like you said. Maybe a specific change to the 2006 model year? Maybe the earlier year 6.0 SUVs had the setup you’re talking about?

 

[Rocket Man]

Thanks for the picture. You are right, I guess it's not a Y pipe but instead 2 individual pipes that go into the muffler. Anyone already BTDT and found that these will bolt into a 5.3/4.8 Tahoe? Are the mounts the same or is there re-engineering involved in swapping to the factory 6.0 dual pipes?

My thinking is if it's what the factory did, it was done for a reason as they could've saved a few pennies per vehicle if they had one standard Y pipe setup for all SUV's.

I believe the only mount before the muffler is the one that bolts to the side of the trans so if you don’t have one of those you could grab one off a Denali/Esky. I believe they did the exhaust different for performance with the 6.0.

 

[mattt]

I believe the only mount before the muffler is the one that bolts to the side of the trans so if you don’t have one of those you could grab one off a Denali/Esky. I believe they did the exhaust different for performance with the 6.0.

Are those the ones that are showing in the picture you posted that look like an L shape round rod after the cats?

 

[Rocket Man]

Are those the ones that are showing in the picture you posted that look like an L shape round rod after the cats?

Yes. I looked up the parts on a dealer parts site and the Tahoes use the same mount although I don’t see those same rods on those y-pipes so you might have to get one from a wrecking yard Denali/ Esky if you don’t have that bolted to the side of your transmission.