6.0 LS or build a 406?

[olblue81]

Originally Posted by 68 TT

If you want to make more than about 350 hp then the 406 gets expensive very quickly. A decent pair of aftermarket heads put it right at the cost of the 6.0 swap but when you throw in a steel crank & good rods you go way past the 6.0 swap.

As stated earlier a simple cam swap in the 6.0 can build amazing power with no other changes except tuning for the cam.

I am figuring on 425-450 hp so I was looking at SCAT or Eagle rotating assemblies and AFR 180cc heads. I thought anymore than that would be risky with a 2 bolt GM block but I know others would disagree.

Once I started adding it up, I got to thinking about the 6.0 swap. L92 heads and a cam swap put a 6.0 up to 550 hp according to Car Craft and that's way more than what I want or need.

[68 TT]

With the 400 blocks larger main journals most racers prefer the 2-bolt blocks. More meat in the main bearing saddle area. With only wanting 450 hp you can get away with just main studs in the 2-bolt block. You don't need to spend the bucks to install splayed main caps.

You can't go wrong with the Scat forged rotating assembly. I have used several of them on past projects and really liked the quality. My engine builder swears by them and hates the poor tolerances of the Eagle stuff.

At 450 hp you can also get away with running a good aftermarket iron head and save some more cash. The Sportsman II is a great lower cost performance head. The cost savings over the AFR's will nearly pay for your bottom end. You just won't have the cool factor of the aluminum heads.

[Manbearpig]

Get a 6.0 LQ4 and build it to a 370

[olblue81]

68TT- you're right about the heads. They would be a splurg and would be overkill. But there's no kill like overkill.