Wanted to get opinions on what cam to run on a carbed 5.3 motor, so far I've got ported and polished 799 heads with Patriot springs good for .650" lift, DP 750 cfm, Vic Jr, SW LT's, 3600 stall, 3.90 gears, empty car weight 3100 lb...am lookin for the biggest cam I can run on a 5.3 without loosing too much bottom end, car is a weekend only car so drivability is not big of a deal...any input would be appretiated.

 

A limiting factor is the safe RPM range of the shortblock. If it is a stock shortblock. I would stay in the 230s on the intake duration at .050". Otherwise this thing is going to make power at a dangerous RPM level.

I tend to error on the conservative side. So, I would say something like 232/236 on a 107 ICL with a 108 LSA. Lift will depend on your manufacturer/lobe choice. But since it is a weekend warrior with good double springs, you might as well sneak up on .650" lift.

 

Dished pistons i assume?

 

Yep, stock dished pistons..heads have been milled to a 61cc chamber, il be using stock head gasket thickness.

Speedtigger, is there a camshaft off the shelf close to those specs, or should I just custom order it, and what would be the limit rpm on the bone stock 5.3 ls motor?

I was looking into the tsp 228r but might want to go with something bigger...!

 

There are not a lot of off the shelf cams that have the tighter lobe centers that most recommend for single plan carbureted LS combos. One exception is Lunati who has a complete line of carbureted LS camshafts.

http://www.lunatipower.com

They have a PDF catalog that you can download. Just look for the LS Voodoo series and you will see their line of carbed LS cams.