1999-06 ls engine question?

[mopower440]

so the bottom end wouldnt need anything for another 200k miles? how does the rod and main bearings and rings go 400,ooo miles?

[Paulster2]

Bottom end is strong ... I don't have a longevity quote for you, but what they are saying above sounds about right. Biggest thing to worry about on these trucks is the 4L60 trans, besides the little wear items (ball joints, bushings, u-joints, etc.). They seem to sneak up on you when you least expect it.

EDIT: To give you an idea about how stout the bottom ends are on these engines, Hot Rod Magazine (or was it Chevy High Performance) did an article a couple of months back utizing a 4.8L motor. They were actually trying to see how much boost they could throw at it before it would break. They put in the neighborhood of 30+ dyno runs on a STOCK engine with 100k+ miles on it, pushing 28+ psi of boost on a twin turbo setup ... thing put out over 1200 FWHP ... and never broke. They ran out of dyno time before they finished what they were doing. Mind you this is a magazine, but I think it should give you an idea of what these engines are capable of.

EDIT #2: Here's the original story in Hot Rod Magazine: The Big Bang Theory What is funny is they originally thought it was a 5.3L, but later found out it was a 4.8 ... gnarley.

[SShanks]

Bottom end is strong ... I don't have a longevity quote for you, but what they are saying above sounds about right. Biggest thing to worry about on these trucks is the 4L60 trans, besides the little wear items (ball joints, bushings, u-joints, etc.). They seem to sneak up on you when you least expect it.

EDIT: To give you an idea about how stout the bottom ends are on these engines, Hot Rod Magazine (or was it Chevy High Performance) did an article a couple of months back utizing a 4.8L motor. They were actually trying to see how much boost they could throw at it before it would break. They put in the neighborhood of 30+ dyno runs on a STOCK engine with 100k+ miles on it, pushing 28+ psi of boost on a twin turbo setup ... thing put out over 1200 FWHP ... and never broke. They ran out of dyno time before they finished what they were doing. Mind you this is a magazine, but I think it should give you an idea of what these engines are capable of.

EDIT #2: Here's the original story in Hot Rod Magazine: The Big Bang Theory What is funny is they originally thought it was a 5.3L, but later found out it was a 4.8 ... gnarley.

I had a 2006 Silverado with a 4.8 with a STS turbo kit running like 9lbs. and somehow it managed to rev to around 9000rpm. It's rev limiter was set at around 6100 rpm. Needless to say it wasn't pretty and I sold the kit. Anything can go at any time. I think it's as much luck as it is maintenance.

[00shortbox]

Haven't really done a lot of engine work to them at the dealer. Two I had to put crankshafts in due to spun rod bearings. Did a couple camshafts due to pitting and causing chirp noises. Done several sets of lifters for ticking, and a set of head gaskets due to an internal coolant leak.