2024 GMC Sierra Denali Receives Texas V8 Swap and 700-Plus Wheel Horsepower

The owner of a one-off GMC Sierra Denali from 2024 went to a Texas tuner to get some serious rework, the tuning project involving some minor detail adjustments and a new power upgrade under the hood.

The power upgrade makes the truck squeeze more than 700 horsepower to the wheels, running on 93 octane, and that’s thanks to a new engine package, a long list of supporting hardware, and a new blower setup.

Late Model Racecraft, a tuning firm from Texas, was the one handling the project. The engineers had to rebuild the whole engine in order to target 700 horsepower at the wheels.

First, they installed a 6.2-liter short-block V8 engine with a special grind camshaft. The package also comes with American Racing long tube headers, a fully-upgraded fuel system, and high-flow catalytic converters. Last but not least, a 2650 supercharger added around 6 pounds of boost, which means enough jump over the truck`s original output.

This 2024 GMC 1500 Sierra Denali now comes with a 700-horsepower output, way more impressive than the standard power. To make a comparison, in stock form, the truck comes with two engines: a 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel with 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque, as well as a 6.2-liter EcoTec V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.

This truck now runs something very different. Power still goes through a ten-speed automatic transmission and reaches all four wheels, although Late Model Racecraft left the gearbox alone for now. That said, the transmission may need strengthening if the owner decides that a gain of more than 150 rear-wheel horsepower still is not enough.

What makes the build more interesting is that it was not meant to become a temperamental monster. The owner wanted the pickup to stay civilized, and the shop addressed that with the Smooth Boost electronic bypass valve. In everyday use, the truck is said to behave like stock, with the extra shove arriving only when the driver asks for it.

Before the keys go back to the owner, Steven Fereday of Late Model Racecraft takes it out on the road to confirm that the truck is not only fast, but also safe and reliable. That balance seems to define the whole project. It still uses the factory mufflers together with high-flow cats, so early departures should not rattle the whole neighborhood. Push harder, though, and the character changes in a hurry, with enough force on tap to leave black marks on the pavement.

Late Model Racecraft has not disclosed the full conversion cost. But given the standard`s starting price of $87,195, this modified build should at least cost $140,000.

2024 GMC Sierra Denali – Video Show-Off

2024 GMC Sierra Denali – Photo Gallery