Edelbrock E-tec heads are aluminum vortec heads. Engine quest also makes a nice set of iron vortec replacements with screw in studs and thicker decks to prevent cracking. Keep your stock intake and do the CFSI to MPFI conversion. That'll give you reliable fueling to around 400 hp. Everything I've read about the stock computer says it has a fuel cutoff at 5800 rpm that can't be programmed around, so there's no sense in throwing a huge a cam in it. Unless you want to do a 0411 PCM swap to get around that, stick with a cam around the size of the LT4 Hotcam and settle for 350-375 hp. Maybe a few more if you put in longtube headers and a full exhaust.
I've heard about that conversion but don't know much about it.
I've never heard of the fuel cut off before?
I would like to not have to change my computer if possible. I did some research in the past about tuning and according to HP Tuner's website my truck can be tuned using their software being that it's a '98?
A 100+hp increase is still a pretty good and I could probably live with that haha.
I've seen many people say this, but I've confirmed via Torque that my V6 truck shifts at around 61-6200 with a BBP tuned factory black box. Unless there's another reason for the 400RPM discrepancy in there somewhere, I don't see how this is possible.
EDIT - Whoops, I was off by about 500RPM. Double checked my info and my V6 actually shifts at about 5700, so the 5800RPM cutoff on the black boxes might be legit.
My truck always shifts around 5000 to 5200 rpm at WOT. Not sure if that is normal or not for a stock Vortec?
That cam would be miserable in a street driven 350, especially in a 4500lb+ 4wd truck. It would still be borderline in a 383. Also, it would produce peak hp well over 6000 rpm which you would never see unless you address the PCM.
So would the LT4 cam be a better choice for drivability and lower end power?
Like I said, talk to a tech at Summit before you order anything. That is what they are there for. Keep us posted, on what you do
Yeah there is definitely a lot more research to do. When I do anything it probably will not be for another 2 to 4 years. (I just got the idea and wanted to learn more) I may start collecting parts sometime in between then but with college coming soon I don't see a full engine build coming any time soon. Then there is also the issue of not destroying my 4L60E haha