Ok well off point for a min I have a buddy that I'm helping build a 6.0l engine from bottom up. All new bearings and rings an all. Do ya'll know of any good places to buy main bearings and connecting rod bearings an piston rings, probably not gonna replace pistons but just wondering? I know they have kits but they cost like $2k. So mainly just looking to buy rings and bearings separately. And on the pistons would you just use the factory pistons or do some new mahle pistons(or any other pistons)? And what kind of outcome would he have if he ran everything back stock and put some of the competiton flattop pistons in it? I would start a new thread but I want the people I've been talking to on heres opinions. But really wondering if anyone has ever put the elite diesel competition pistons in a street based engine with stock valvetrain.

And has anyone tried the elite diesel zero-gap piston ring set?

Can't really comment on your buddies truck without knowing some things. What are his plans for the truck, would probably be the most important question... building for fun, or is a rebuild necessary? Was anything destroyed? HP goal when done? How far does he want to go and how much does he want to spend? Going to be a daily driver still? Sled puller? Drag racer? Grocery getter? All of the above???

Did you ever figure out the problem?

I would love to hear the final answer to this puzzle. my truck is basically doing the same. cups were changed along with orings. smokes white, no power and very rough idle.:scare2: