Need a cam ASAP
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
From: Granite City, IL
Need a cam ASAP Im looking to buy a cam to put into my 5.3L today! The engine is going in my 85 Cutlass which weighs around 3,200 lbs. It is not going to be going to the track to race but I do want the car to take off when I hit the gas & get pretty good mpg. I dont really have a target hp that im looking for since this will be my weekend cruiser but I want something that will pick up a few hp over stock with a nice lope (nothing extreme). here is a little more info incase its needed... Im leaving the engine fuel injected & swapping out the truck intake for the LS1 intake. I have a set of f-body long tube headers, 4l60E, & I plan on running 4.10 gears in the rear with a 29.4 diameter tire. I really dont want to change the converter if I dont have to. I been reading where a few people used a hotcam & picked up some power & someone else said they used a TSP224 with good results. Please tell me what you guys would recommend.
Most everyone on this forum will tell you that you can NOT cam an LS engine
without having a stall converter. While it is a huge expense (quality one) it is
without a doubt the single greatest performance mod to any LS/auto combo!!
Plenty of guys over the years have gone from low 13s to mid 12s with drag
radials and just a converter....ALL stock. Those who have air intakes and
long tube headers are usually knocking at the 11s...still stock longblock. With
that said, I feel the best cam for your application being a 5.3 and not a 5.7
or 6.0, and keeping stock stall; although you do have a lighter car and good
rear gears would be this here.....
http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merc...gory_Code=C237
This cam is by no means big and will not thump but rather have a slight little
burbble at idle but will make about 40 more horse than your factory 5.3 cam
and about 20 more than the GM LS6 cam that most rave about. This kit is a
perfect package with springs and a decent deal considering most cams sell
for between 350-425$. If you are on an EXTREME budget...then I'd suggest
the 01-04 Vette/03-06 LQ9 cam as Car Craft found this to have the best
improvement and least loss of low end torque from the lil 5.3 stick..I happen
to have one of these laying around BTW
without having a stall converter. While it is a huge expense (quality one) it is
without a doubt the single greatest performance mod to any LS/auto combo!!
Plenty of guys over the years have gone from low 13s to mid 12s with drag
radials and just a converter....ALL stock. Those who have air intakes and
long tube headers are usually knocking at the 11s...still stock longblock. With
that said, I feel the best cam for your application being a 5.3 and not a 5.7
or 6.0, and keeping stock stall; although you do have a lighter car and good
rear gears would be this here.....
http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merc...gory_Code=C237
This cam is by no means big and will not thump but rather have a slight little
burbble at idle but will make about 40 more horse than your factory 5.3 cam
and about 20 more than the GM LS6 cam that most rave about. This kit is a
perfect package with springs and a decent deal considering most cams sell
for between 350-425$. If you are on an EXTREME budget...then I'd suggest
the 01-04 Vette/03-06 LQ9 cam as Car Craft found this to have the best
improvement and least loss of low end torque from the lil 5.3 stick..I happen
to have one of these laying around BTW
Last edited by A.R. Shale Targa; Jul 20, 2013 at 01:51 PM. Reason: sp
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
From: Granite City, IL
Thanks for the info. Sounds like I have to start saving for a converter if I really want better performance. Im not on an extreme budget but at the same time I dont want to spend a whole lot of cash on these parts when Im not going to be racing and hitting the track like most people do. I know the performance is kind of limited with the stock parts so I want to put something else in to wake it up a little & get the lope I want. About how much hp do the vette/LQ9 cams you have add when swapped with the 5.3 cam?
Most everyone on this forum will tell you that you can NOT cam an LS engine
without having a stall converter. While it is a huge expense (quality one) it is
without a doubt the single greatest performance mod to any LS/auto combo!!
Plenty of guys over the years have gone from low 13s to mid 12s with drag
radials and just a converter....ALL stock. Those who have air intakes and
long tube headers are usually knocking at the 11s...still stock longblock. With
that said, I feel the best cam for your application being a 5.3 and not a 5.7
or 6.0, and keeping stock stall; although you do have a lighter car and good
rear gears would be this here.....
http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merc...gory_Code=C237
This cam is by no means big and will not thump but rather have a slight little
burbble at idle but will make about 40 more horse than your factory 5.3 cam
and about 20 more than the GM LS6 cam that most rave about. This kit is a
perfect package with springs and a decent deal considering most cams sell
for between 350-425$. If you are on an EXTREME budget...then I'd suggest
the 01-04 Vette/03-06 LQ9 cam as Car Craft found this to have the best
improvement and least loss of low end torque from the lil 5.3 stick..I happen
to have one of these laying around BTW
without having a stall converter. While it is a huge expense (quality one) it is
without a doubt the single greatest performance mod to any LS/auto combo!!
Plenty of guys over the years have gone from low 13s to mid 12s with drag
radials and just a converter....ALL stock. Those who have air intakes and
long tube headers are usually knocking at the 11s...still stock longblock. With
that said, I feel the best cam for your application being a 5.3 and not a 5.7
or 6.0, and keeping stock stall; although you do have a lighter car and good
rear gears would be this here.....
http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merc...gory_Code=C237
This cam is by no means big and will not thump but rather have a slight little
burbble at idle but will make about 40 more horse than your factory 5.3 cam
and about 20 more than the GM LS6 cam that most rave about. This kit is a
perfect package with springs and a decent deal considering most cams sell
for between 350-425$. If you are on an EXTREME budget...then I'd suggest
the 01-04 Vette/03-06 LQ9 cam as Car Craft found this to have the best
improvement and least loss of low end torque from the lil 5.3 stick..I happen
to have one of these laying around BTW
The Car Craft article was an engine dyno..not chassis; but the LQ9 cam only
lost 8 ft./lbs. @ 2500 rpms was dead even @ 3500 & 4500 then jumped up
23 ft./lbs. (24 hp) @ 5500 and 32 ft./lbs. (40 hp) at 6500. Obviously they
upgraded the valvesprings with LS6 yellow springs (have a set of these as
well) and tuned the rev limiter up to 6600. Peak power with dyno headers &
no accesories was 376 hp @ 5900 and 389 tq @ 4500. I'd still suggest a
3200 stall converter for optimum performance but it would still drive nice
without it.
lost 8 ft./lbs. @ 2500 rpms was dead even @ 3500 & 4500 then jumped up
23 ft./lbs. (24 hp) @ 5500 and 32 ft./lbs. (40 hp) at 6500. Obviously they
upgraded the valvesprings with LS6 yellow springs (have a set of these as
well) and tuned the rev limiter up to 6600. Peak power with dyno headers &
no accesories was 376 hp @ 5900 and 389 tq @ 4500. I'd still suggest a
3200 stall converter for optimum performance but it would still drive nice
without it.
