Editing LS turbo motor

Sometimes there is a thread that I think should be saved so that we can access it later. This on one of those threads......

gonzo08383
My truck is a 2003 Chevy. The motor is a stock 4.8 and has 200k miles on it. The transmission needs rebuilding and the motor runs fine. Well, not fine. It has zero power (duh). In true hot rod fashion I've decided that now is a great time to build a 4l60 replacement and motor combo as I have another 4.8 sitting in storage. I don't want another motor, I wanna keep it all "stock". But I also want more power. So here's my questions:
1) Is it worth my time to do a angle job on the valves?
2) is it worth porting the heads?
3) polish the crank or not so much?
4) since I'm using stock flat top pistons, heads, and intake, what cam will work best for NA and small turbo later on? 
I ask these seemingly silly questions because I've never done an LS before or anything fuel injected for that matter. The goal is a daily driver truck that can haul butt if needed. What say you oh mighty Internet mechanics? Remember: using the 4.8, don't tell me to swap a 6.0, ain't happening, lol

hcompton
There is a great article on the net about this motor. Turbo an LS i think its called they get close to 1000 hp or something with this. its notable cause they didnt realize it was a 4.8 until it was torn down and still didnt make a difference.
Later LS heads are the way to go i think they are pretty cheap and easy to come by in good shape with 200K miles i would assume the motor needs some work. 
I will try to find the article.

hcompton
Here you go.
How To Make Big Power With a Junkyard LS, eBay Turbo, and Holley EFI
I think there is a part two and three to this iirc.
Wait thats wrong its this one. LOL 
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/pro...k-build-part2/
Ok maybe there both good.... 
Either way a few bucks and you will have all the power you need. be sure to get a good rebuild on that trans.

64nailhead
Flip the manifolds, weld up a crossover, grab a VS Racing denmah kit with either GT45 or VS 7875 T4 and hold on - 500 whp is a snap if you have someone local that can tune with HP Tuners (almost a guarantee that someone local to you is using it.) I'd strongly urge you to not put a bloody red cent into your 4.8. Replacement 4.8's are almost free due to the lack of demand for them. Run your stock cam and upgrade the injectors to a set of 80lb'ers and upgrade the fuel pump to either 340 Walbro or Bosch 044. If you want to upgrade something, then find a 4L80E and never worry again about 4L60E issues again. 4L60E's were a fine (mostly) transmission for stock NA builds, but once the turbo hits they are a time bomb no matter how much money you throw at them. 
If, or when, the you pop the 4.8, just grab another. If you keep it in the 500hp range (sub 20 psi)it will last for a long time if tuned conscientiously and conservatively.

ForceFed86
I agree. 4.8 is a great underrated engine. No one wants them so they are plentiful and cheap. Buy them up! 2005+ are the better ones. Don't waste any money on machine work. Don't even take the heads off the motor. You can pick up a decent amount of power with a cam and spring upgrade. I'd say do that first. Then add turbo parts. 200k is fine if the motor is still in good shape.
My mild cam (212/212 @ 112 .565 lift) bone stock 4.8 went 9.1x @ 151mph at 19lbs of boost. (S476 turbo). Thats 870ish hp! It really doesn't take much! Could have gone much faster with more boost. This was on cheap home build turbo kit with stock manifolds. Untouched stock heads and stock bottom end.
Also agree with the trans comment. 4L60e is garbage. Go 4l80e or Th400. You can put a tall enough gear in a turbo car that you don't need OD. Can easily pull a 3.00 gear with a turbo 4.8.