Should I?

[Mikloangelo]

A bit of back ground. I have stock 2001 Chevy Silverado 2500hd 6.0L 4x4. Most will be a daily driver with minimal towing. Towing will involve moving my mahindra 4500 (45 hp) tractor around, which will be my heaviest load. I have a ton of work ahead of me and will be replacing a ton of things that are high mileage items or is leaking in my engine bay. This involves replacing air intake manifold gasket and swapping over to 799 heads. So im pretty mechanically inclined and have a ton of tool, but never have torn into an engine to this extent. I figure while I have this thing tore apart maybe i should do a cam swap and change the lifters. Again i have never done this, but have watched a few videos on the install and its definitely something i could do. Ive watch videos on measuring push rods and achieve zero lash. I know to put the engine at TDC when doing the cam.
A few things i wanted to ask.

Which cam would suit my needs but help with a bit of HP? Asking AI it recommends a Texas Speed stage 2 low lift. I take certain AI responses with a grain of salt, so i wanted to ask here.

Do i stay with stock lifters? or upgrade?

Also considering changing out my headers, so recommendations are appreciated.
what are your tips for tackling this project?

 

[99Sierra2500]

112 LSA going to have a noticeable idle, not too bad though. I like Comp so I generally go with them, I also like going through summit and one can read what people write.

The TS S2 cam feels sort of somewhere like:

COMP Cams 54-451-11 COMP Cams XFI Xtreme Truck Camshafts | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - COMP Cams XFI Xtreme Truck Camshafts with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Camshafts at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

COMP Cams 54-408-11 COMP Cams XFI RPM Camshafts | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - COMP Cams XFI RPM Camshafts with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Camshafts at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

COMP Cams 54-412-11 COMP Cams XFI RPM Camshafts | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - COMP Cams XFI RPM Camshafts with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Camshafts at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

COMP Cams 54-414-11 COMP Cams XFI RPM Camshafts | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - COMP Cams XFI RPM Camshafts with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Camshafts at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

A lot of different choices, imo closer to the 408 or 412 would be good for stock plus a bit.

 

[stutaeng]

Is the engine otherwise healthy? If so, I probably wouldn't open it up TBH.

I put a mild Summit Racing (8718R1) towing cam on my 06 Suburban 2500 6.0. I had an intermittent lifter tick, so I initially was thinking only lifters and cam. I wound up pulling the engine block after removing the head, and did new cam/rod/main bearings, piston rings, got the 317 heads remachined and gaskets. I had 265k miles though. I think i spent like $1200 IIRC.

That Texas Speed Stage 2 cam always has good reviews. Cam Motion has a similar version as do others. Just stay away from the larger cams because they generally shift the torque to a higher rpm range.

 

[Mikloangelo]

decided to go for it. Bought the TSP stage 2 cam, after reading reviews and verifying. Also replacing the lifters and trays and rockers and springs. Planning on a tune after, just have to research one for my area. Hoping for an extra 75-100HP. Realistically I should do the main and pistons,

 

[stutaeng]

Sweet!

Here's the thread I created for my 6.0 rebuild. There's a service manual PDF I highly recommend you print out and have handy...

TTY head bolts with engine in-vehicle

Hello. I'm doing a top end refresh on my 06 Suburban LQ4 (lifters, cam, refreshed heads, gaskets). I removed the heads yesterday and found the rear most head bolts are pretty tight to the firewall. I happen to have just bought a 24" flex head ratchet, which was perfect for the job (admittedly ...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

Interested in your progress and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll do well and will be happy with the results...

 

[Mikloangelo]

Sweet!

Here's the thread I created for my 6.0 rebuild. There's a service manual PDF I highly recommend you print out and have handy...

TTY head bolts with engine in-vehicle

Hello. I'm doing a top end refresh on my 06 Suburban LQ4 (lifters, cam, refreshed heads, gaskets). I removed the heads yesterday and found the rear most head bolts are pretty tight to the firewall. I happen to have just bought a 24" flex head ratchet, which was perfect for the job (admittedly ...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

Interested in your progress and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll do well and will be happy with the results...

Great thread. Thanks for the pdf and i appreciate the offer to help with my questions. I see you are in Dallas, Im east of Dallas on the other side of Lake Ray Hubbard I will be sure and take pictures of my progress. I was telling the wife i should get those meta raybans so i can record everything as i go. Im already over spending on this project as is, so i guess the ol' phone will do the job.
To add to my ever growing project cost, I am looking at new injectors, headers and exhaust system.
The condition of this truck was rough, and engine condition was kind of an unknown. So I am being overly cautious.

 

[stutaeng]

Great thread. Thanks for the pdf and i appreciate the offer to help with my questions. I see you are in Dallas, Im east of Dallas on the other side of Lake Ray Hubbard I will be sure and take pictures of my progress. I was telling the wife i should get those meta raybans so i can record everything as i go. Im already over spending on this project as is, so i guess the ol' phone will do the job.
To add to my ever growing project cost, I am looking at new injectors, headers and exhaust system.
The condition of this truck was rough, and engine condition was kind of an unknown. So I am being overly cautious.

Awesome!

Let me know if you need to borrow any tools. I bought a Harmonic balancer remover and installer tool for my rebuild. It's one of those tools, you basically only use once, or twice...

I live in Oak Cliff, but work in Richardson, so that's kinda closer to you, I think?

These GMT800 trucks have HUGE potential, and are honestly underrated, in my opinion.

 

[ORVietVet]

Great thread. Thanks for the pdf and i appreciate the offer to help with my questions. I see you are in Dallas, Im east of Dallas on the other side of Lake Ray Hubbard I will be sure and take pictures of my progress. I was telling the wife i should get those meta raybans so i can record everything as i go. Im already over spending on this project as is, so i guess the ol' phone will do the job.
To add to my ever growing project cost, I am looking at new injectors, headers and exhaust system.
The condition of this truck was rough, and engine condition was kind of an unknown. So I am being overly cautious.

After this whole list of goodies and how it keeps expanding, "ever growing project cost", you honestly said........."So I am being overly cautious".

 

[Mikloangelo]

After this whole list of goodies and how it keeps expanding, "ever growing project cost", you honestly said........."So I am being overly cautious".

haha. Yeah well... there was a lot wrong and a lot things that should just replaced out of caution due to high mileage. But the cam and heads and all that go along with it are more for smiles over function. Admittedly, i think of something new almost daily that i should do while im having shit torn apart. Fortunately, im in a place where i can do this. Otherwise, Id do only what is necessary.

 

[xdmtoter]

I am all too familiar with the "while I'm in there, I might as well" sentiment.