hey im jake i bought my 96 1500 z71 two years ago it has a 350 completly stock (the engine is). the truck has a 6 in fabtech with 35x14.50 super swamper boggers. just put a new to me 4L60E trans, with 90,000 original miles. front and rear diff and transfer case still stock. but the main thing i need some help on is the engine. im goin to do a complete rebuild. im goin to keep the bore and stroke stock. but i want to change the cam, intake manifold, get new pistons, rocker arms and lifters and pushrods, and new exhaust. im lookig for tips on what to use for the engine to produce as much low end torque as possible. im not worried about horse power. this is a mudtruck. but i do want to keep it street legal. i aslo plan on rear gearing the the diff any suggestions on that.i wan to spend about 1500 on parts for the engine. id appreciant any help thank.

 

If you are going throught all that trouble its a good idea to bore it .030 or more, espicially if your getting new pistons anyway, this way your certain that the rings will set good. Do you plan on keepin it fuel injected or switching to carb? Your cam choice will be based on that. As far as exhaust a good set of long tube headers and a free flowing exhaust sytem will be best.

 

i planned on keeping it fuel injected but are there any advantages to carb and what would it consist of.

 

No not really, With the vortec heads you can only have a cam with .480 lift max, unless you have the valve guides machined down, or buy special beehive type valve springs and retainers. This link kinda explains how large of a cam you can run with the factory fuel injection. comp cams 280xfi hr13 is about as bis as you can go but since you in pursuit of torque you would be more likely to chose smaller anyways http://www.hotrod.com/pitstop/hrdp_1...p_up/index.htm,

 

with 35x14.50 super swamper boggers. just put a new to me 4L60E trans, with 90,000 original miles.
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i would also save up for a tranny also. with what your plaining, that 4L60 will NOT LAST VERY LONG. there **** poor for stock/lightly modded vehicles let alone turning 35" tires in the mud. ether a FLT level 4 or a 4L80E..

good luck