6.0 heads and cam

[iamdub]

It is the whole escalade.

I've backed off on the heads and cam honestly. I was thinking just a head swap with some 706/862's would be sufficient for my desires, but i'm not sure now. I want more useable power down low and around town, but the cost of everything piling up is a little daunting. I was just gonna get a set of 862's with new springs and seals locally but it seems like the compression ratio will be a little too high for pump gas 91.

I am about to install long tubes, y pipe and a si/so borla, then I plan on getting it tuned by a local shop for 91. I do not have 93 readily available near me so that's a no go, as well as e85 swap.

I am hoping with the better flowing exhaust and tune, it will appease me and save me lots of money on a head/cam swap.

I have a gt4 rear end, no g80 though. That was another thought down the road, but that kinda install is very intimidating to me doing it on my own.

I just changed the fluid and filter on my 4l65e, added the corvette servo and a new tru cool 40k cooler this weekend. So that should all be buttoned up for future mods.

The stock tune is very conservative and sloppy. If the shop very experienced, they can fix the factory shortcomings and that, alone, will make it feel more powerful and responsive. It'll also help to lengthen the life of the trans.

 

[Tamcphail89]

The stock tune is very conservative and sloppy. If the shop very experienced, they can fix the factory shortcomings and that, alone, will make it feel more powerful and responsive. It'll also help to lengthen the life of the trans.

That's what I'm hoping for. Long tubes and a good tune, torque management taken out, should be sufficient for a bit haha

 

[skyhighsami]

I am in a similar situation with my Yukon although I swapped in a LQ9 from the 5.3. I had a 416ci LS3 in my Trailblazer SS that I ran for years with a set of Stage 2 WCCH LS3 heads with a 240/250 .623 .617 114 cam and a stock L92 intake manifold. The motor had an 11.8 CR that I ran on 93 octane. I ran 28" drag radials, the stock 4.11 gears, and a Yank SS3600 stall. I really needed to swap in a 4200 or 4400 stall but with that compression the motor was INCREDIBLY responsive. So much so if I don't go FI I'm going to mill some 243s a little to get the compression up to 11.2-11.3 because the LQ9 is 10.5 with 317s and 10.9 with 243/799. Basically an iron block LS2. With 243s and a TBSS intake with 90mm TB you're very close to the 395hp LS2 in a stock Trailblazer SS.

 

[THarber]

If you're running a stock tune, anything will wake it up. I don't know what your Esky has but I bet it has almost no advance in the timing at all. You might just start there and see if it makes you happy before anything else. After that, just keep your eyes open for a good set of used heads. You don't need anything exotic for a truck since its mostly low end that you're after. Keep the rpm's usable and that makes life easier.

 

[Tamcphail89]

Still haven't pulled the trigger on any of this yet haha, was unemployed for a bit so playing catch up now.

I'm still planning on the truck norris cam and a 91 tune. I can still find some new heads locally for pretty cheap, but idk if it's worth the time and money. Hopefully the cam and fresh tune will really wake this thing up. Mid-range power right now with just a stock tune and long tubes is really strong, down low not so much lol.

 

[Mudsport96]

On an LQ9 i wouldnt worry about heads. Your compression will jump high enough that towing could cause detonation that the computer will pull enough timing to aviod piston damage. Thus negating any advantage to more compression. Leave the heads and just do a cam and springs. Long tubes would help you too.

 

[Tamcphail89]

On an LQ9 i wouldnt worry about heads. Your compression will jump high enough that towing could cause detonation that the computer will pull enough timing to aviod piston damage. Thus negating any advantage to more compression. Leave the heads and just do a cam and springs. Long tubes would help you too.

OK thank you for that. I have long tubes and y pipe already in. As well as a corvette servo and tru cool 40k cooler to help keep the tranny happy

 

[Tonyrodz]

OK thank you for that. I have long tubes and y pipe already in. As well as a corvette servo and tru cool 40k cooler to help keep the tranny happy

I have similar mods on my LQ9 swap. I don't remember--has your trans been rebuilt at all? If so, is it needed up--other then the servo?

 

[Tamcphail89]

I have similar mods on my LQ9 swap. I don't remember--has your trans been rebuilt at all? If so, is it needed up--other then the servo?

Yea it has been, and I put new fluid and filter in it this spring when I put the servo and cooler in

 

[Tonyrodz]

Yea it has been, and I put new fluid and filter in it this spring when I put the servo and cooler in

Good. Blew my (stock) trans 1st time I romped it.