I’m looking for engine upgrades to improve power and longevity but I don’t want to go the supercharger route. I’ve been checking out Livernois heads, but I’m worried they might make it hard to pass smog. Does anyone have ideas or advice?
If you have to deal with smog tests, your options might be pretty limited.
Jensen said:
If you have to deal with smog tests, your options might be pretty limited.
Yeah, California is super strict about smog. I love the truck though, and it’s only got 92k miles on it. Just trying to get a little more performance out of it.
@Fable
You could try registering it in another state. A lot of people do that when they start modifying engines.
@Fable
I get it. I’ve got one with 73k, and I’m in Oregon. The smog rules are just as annoying here.
I had a Whipple Stage 2 supercharger put on my 2010 6.2. The kit comes with everything you need. You won’t regret it.
Honestly, a supercharger is simpler, more reliable, and gives you a real power boost. Most other mods aren’t worth the effort or money.
Taryn said:
Honestly, a supercharger is simpler, more reliable, and gives you a real power boost. Most other mods aren’t worth the effort or money.
I was kind of expecting that. The Gen 1 platform is already front-heavy, so I’m trying to avoid adding more weight to the nose. Has anyone tried relocating the battery to the bed for better balance?
@Fable
You won’t notice the extra weight up front, even on stock suspension. If you’re worried, put it on mid-perch or switch to Geiser springs. What’s the goal here? Is this an off-road truck or just for daily driving? These trucks are slow even when supercharged, and going full NA build is expensive, makes less power, and might hurt reliability.
@Taryn
It’s strictly an off-road truck. I only drive it on the road to get to trails. I’ve already upgraded to 3.0 shocks, which helped a lot off-road. Long-term, I want to do a full HM kit. I know it’s not a speed machine, but having more power for climbing big sand hills would be awesome. It’s wild how these trucks are still going strong with over 300k miles.
@Fable
What about lower gearing?
Your safest bet is to look for bolt-ons with smog legal certifications. Things like headers and intakes sometimes come with CARB-legal stickers.
Cedar said:
Your safest bet is to look for bolt-ons with smog legal certifications. Things like headers and intakes sometimes come with CARB-legal stickers.
I haven’t found any CARB-legal headers yet, but I’d definitely grab some if they’re out there.
@Fable
Yeah, I checked and couldn’t find any info on CARB-legal headers either. That’s a bummer.
I’ve kept my engine stock to make sure it lasts as long as possible. I just stay consistent with oil and filter changes. For a little extra power, I added a better air filter and a Corsa exhaust. I’ve thought about adding an intake, but I didn’t buy this truck to race. It’s all about reliability and getting me out to the trails and back without issues.
A Roush intake and a good exhaust setup will give you around 40-50 more horsepower, and the sound is way better too.