This coming spring, I was planning on installing a Gen V, Intercooler, VS Cam, and a built transmission. Well, with 117k miles (probably close to 125k by Spring), I added head gaskets to the list of replacement parts.
Then I got to thinking, why break my back removing and installing heads and cleaning up the block, when it would be 100 times easier to just pull the motor/trans as one, and replace them that way. I'm tossing around the idea of building a "fresh" motor. It will give me a nice Winter Project I can occupy myself with while waiting for warmer weather.
I'm thinking of starting with a L26 short block (junkyard pull), pulling it all apart, replacing the bearings and rings and putting it back together with ARP hardware. I'm going to just throw some home-ported L32 heads (bigger valves, right?) on her with the the LS6 Springs and call it a day.
I'm concerned that with the L26 Block, I'll run into PTV clearance issues with the VS Cam. Am I worrying about nothing? Also, is there any difference between the blocks and heads externally? I don't want to run into any last minute fabrications I need to do. I just want to swap over my stock sensors, covers, and accessories then fire her up to go get dyno-tuned.