Steve88

iTrader: (5)

I have a 02 ECSB Z71 with a 5.3. I have been thinking of doing a build up on the truck for a while. I was thinking of going with a turbo set up since I have been dealing with turbos for 15 years on GN's but then again I would like to do something different and build a nasty NA motor. I would want the truck to be as fast as possible NA and I would put some nitrous on it also. The truck is not a DD and does no towing or other normal truck type duties. I would want the truck to be 100% streetable and retain A/C. What would you recommend? Would a big displacement LSX based stroker be worth the extra cash over a 408? If I went 408 should I go iron or aluminum block?

Richard@WCCH

iTrader: (3)

Several years ago there were few options at best. Today there are a variety of choices depending on your budget.

IMO start with how much you can budget towards an engine of this caliber. Performance and cost are not directly proportional. There is a durability variable that also should be considered ie. quality parts usually mean greater costs but the engines live longer.
Generally, stroker engines usually start at $5500 on the cheap side and can run to $20,000 on the expensive side.
The 408's with small cams and L92 heads seem to offer the best bang per buck. Start with some sort of package like this and then tailor it to suit your needs. Consider your converter stall, rear gear ratio, tire diameter, vehicle weight and intended useage.

Good luck,

Richard