Nick99Chevy

Let's Talk Torque: LS Truck Upgrades - CPG Nation

madmann26

iTrader: (7)

Do 706s or nothing.

799s work well but won’t pull ahead of the 706s until near redline.

If you’re not running high octane, don’t touch anything IMO.

FFDP

iTrader: (2)

I wouldn't run anything but 89+ octane to be honest. Doing any mods and running 87 octane just isn't right. Around here 89 octane is only 20-25 cents more per gallon instead of 50-60 cents for 93.

swathdiver

How about a new crankshaft for some more cubic inches? Cubes make torque and torque is what gets the load moving!

TFA303

Many thanks to all for these perspectives. This is a very helpful discussion.

1994Vmax

iTrader: (4)

Timing... if your truck is stock you can add a bunch more and if will still run on 87 fine as is. The LQ4 is low enough static compression its begging for more than the 17 degrees wide open that it has. The muffler on those trucks is terrible... you have 2 7/8" dual in which necks down to maybe 2" in the muffler itself.... it feels like a 30 hp gain when you replace it even with the rest stock.

My beater 05 has been tune, intake, catback, e fans and what should have been a 3000 stall (its stock lol) forever. I'm always loaded to near my 8600 pound gvwr so no it's not fast lol.... but its night and day over stock. Next step is 706 heads with 2" intake valves, a 221 single pattern cam, nnbs intake and long tubes. It would be done already but I'm still waiting for my "buddy" to get my heads back. I might actually buy his machine shop business so he can retire.. maybe that will light a fire under his *** lol.

I have run only premium in this truck for close to 10 years... but have had multiple LQ4 trucks with the same tune and ran 87 fine with no notable knock while logging. I have a pile of 243 and 799 heads but I want more than 10:1 compression without a bunch of surface milling with the stock pistons so the smaller chambers were better for me! Plus it's a truck... a slow heavy truck and the smaller intake ports won't hurt it lol.

TFA303

Yes! I was thinking about the muffler - the stock exhaust is dual all the way through the dual-in/dual-out muffler, but I didn't know it was that restrictive. That's a low-buck change, too.

Thanks for pointing that out.

arthursc2

iTrader: (5)

Magnaflow 12909: but you'll have to build a Y to merge your duals into the 3.5 magnaflow

00pooterSS

iTrader: (40)

For sure up the compression and go with higher octane fuel. No only can you get considerably more pep from the higher octane, you'll get more mpg from running more timing and compression and it evens out the additional fuel cost.

When I had my 2004 truck I did a 93 tune, and tune only. Gained 2 mpg and cost me 8 more dollars a tank.. If a tank of fuel lasts you a week, or even more what's 8 dollars? Plus you get another 40 or so miles per tank which could mean adding an extra day or so between fillups

I agree with all the other guys in here too about the exhaust etc, and doing a real good valve job would be about all you need to do to the heads. Get some .045 head gaskets from ws6store to bump the compression a hair further, and tighten up quench which will allow a hair more timing and just really bring it all together.

Then I'd look at something like a 218-222 duration intake 225 ish exhaust duration 600 lift 112 cam.

MikeGyver

iTrader: (5)

Don't even crack the motor open and save the money on all the stuff you already mentioned.
Step 1, Just bolt on a blower, injectors, and get it tuned.
Step 2, Enjoy.
Step 3, Report back in another 150,000 miles and thank us.