andrewlong

im looking to finally start my build!
Im thinking i want to make 6-700whp and it still be a street truck
My biggest question is which engine (4.8L,5.3L, or 6.0L) can take the most boost with stock bottom end (will have a fully built top end).
Also what transmission would y'all recommend? Ive heard good things about the new 8L90 transmission, BUT I love the idea of throwing a 6 speed in there, maybe a t56....
i plan on buying the powertrain and building that first then buying a roller for it. probably going to stick it in a 03-07(classic) silverado single cab.

Anyways its going to be my first big project like this so any advice would help. also im sure there is probably already a thread somewhere for this so if you want to direct me there that would be cool too!

arthursc2

iTrader: (5)

Gen4 6.0s hold the record I believe, I don't recall the numbers but you can google "LY6 dyno record" and find it I am sure

also, nothing about your plan is "budget" imo. A budget build is a used motor that gets a cam if it's lucky, big injectors, big boost and a good tune

aside from that, I do not suggest the T56. If you want a manual the TR6060 is the best bet. Otherwise a 4L80 and 6L80 are well known and proven swaps depending on truck vintage. 4L80 is basically preferred depending on power level

andrewlong

thanks for the response! I plan on having $5-7k in the engine/trans

madmann26

iTrader: (7)

You better have $10k in reserves.

You're going to break ****, plain and simple.

andrewlong

I plan on it! FULL SEND

arthursc2

iTrader: (5)

5-7k is gonna eaten up by buying a motor and "doing a full top end build"

I think you need to up your budget. 7k for motor, 4k for trans, couple k for boost

dantheman1540

T-56 is not known to hold up well in heavy truck applications. The most popular and proven swap seems to be the 4L80E.

I completely agree with the above comments about having plenty of money in reserve. I planned to spend $2500 or less on a 6.0 with a cam and cleaned up heads. That quickly snowballed into the heads costing nearly my entire budget. Heck I have over $500 just in ARP head and main studs. I think If I were to do it again I would buy a long block built from a reputable shop.

arthursc2

iTrader: (5)

10k into my 408 build and I couldnt agree more

dantheman1540

I learned a lot but having a warranty would have been cool too.

FFDP

iTrader: (2)

Why should a 4L80e cost $4,000+ though for what he wants?? He did say budget and most know what a good 4L80e will handle in something half assed lightweight. A new rebuilt 4L80e is what like $2,000 give or take. I bet even cheaper if you had a good core transmission that just needed a transmission shop to do the rebuild. Then a good torque converter is $500-800. He'll realize that 600-700whp on the street is useless in a light weight truck anyway and have it backed way down to 450-500hp to have fun in without killing tires all day.

7k for a 6.0 with rods and pistons to make 500-700hp? Peoples wallets must be real thick lol.

But engine/trans + boost for 7k is not really going to happen.