Listen to this guy, he’s done pretty much everything that can be done with an LS.
From what I’ve read and heard, reliability is definitely in the quality of parts you use.
I’d think at a minimum…
You need to freshen up and break in the motor properly (even if it’s just new bearings and rings).
I think (if you’re not replacing the LS rods) that balancing the motor and shot-peening LS rods is valuable if you want to spin it up to 8200. Past that and it’s forged rods and piston time, IMO.
ARP rod bolts are required as far as many people are concerned.
Many people like ARP head studs.
Honda headgaskets should be OK for low boost, but I am considering o-ringing my block if I blow out headgaskets frequently on my setup.
And, have a spare D15B8 laying around to DD when it finally blows up and you got too greedy on the wastegate release pressure :o)