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Good cam for a 5.3

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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 04:14 PM
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Default Good cam for a 5.3

Im about to help a friend of mine put a 5.3 in a 3rd gen and was wanting suggestions on a cam for it. He wants it to have good sound and make good power. It will be a cam only car with a vic jr, carb, Th350 trans with 3000-3500 stall. Thanx
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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 04:16 PM
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i was thinking about the Texas Speed Torquer 2 232/234 .595/.598 1800-6400 RPM
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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 05:02 PM
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I'm not sure how it would do in the 5.3, but i'm sure it would wake it up. I have that cam currently and it's got a lot of mid-high rpm power but lacks a bit in the low end.
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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 05:31 PM
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yeah i have put it about 6 ls1 cars
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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 05:49 PM
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I know a guy with a Silverado that has a 224 cam, longtubes, ory, cai, and tune and it runs very good.
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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 05:54 PM
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The single plane is going to have a much higher power and torque peak than an LS6 or FAST intake. If you want the power and torque peaks to be closer to an EFI intake, you're going to need a cam with a 4 degree earlier intake valve open and close and a tad more overlap. None of the cams mentioned above address this.
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2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 06:49 PM
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There are a bunch of folks that recommend a 224/224 112 or lower duration cam with about .550-.600 lift for the 5.3's for s10 swaps and trucks to keep that lower end and to match well with the cubes. Too big and your just going have and LS6 cam situation that makes tons of power up top, but lacks low end punch. Just something to think about. This is not an Fbody engine. Its a truck engine.

Nate
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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 08:56 PM
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Guys, remember the things that make this very different from a typical LS1 cam recommendation:

1. It's a 5.3L, not a 5.7. You're going to need 4 degree smaller duration cam to behave like one in a 5.7.

2. It's a single plane intake. You're going to need a 4 degree earlier intake valve open an close if you want an 1800-6400 rpm powerband. If you don't do this, you'll have more like a 2200-6800 rpm powerband.

3. It's a carbureted application on top of the single plane intake. Again, different valve event requirements.

Bottom line: recommending a cam because it ran good in your buddy's LS1 is doing this guy a dis-service. You'll need a unique cam for best performance.
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2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.

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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 09:01 PM
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what cam would you recomend??? He is looking for somthing used. It will be using a carb no efi. Patric G i know you no your **** so anything you say i will tell him! He wants somthing that sounds good. he loves the way my tsp 231/237 on 112lsa cam sounds.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 02:05 AM
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what about a cam 4sale here local. here is the info Comp custom grind cam 224/232 .610/.595 on a 110.0 LSA
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by SIC LSX
what about a cam 4sale here local. here is the info Comp custom grind cam 224/232 .610/.595 on a 110.0 LSA
That cam would be very close in a 5.3L with a single plane intake, to how a 231/239 112LSA cam would be in a 5.7 with an LS6 intake. Good choice.
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2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
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2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.

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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 07:37 AM
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I agree with Patrick, a cam for the Victor intake is going to be differant than for the LS6/Fast intakes. And then you have less cubes than a 5.7 so you'll also need a little smaller duration.

If he want's it to perform properly skip the used cam and have someone spec one to match that set-up.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 04:15 PM
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Think stock length push rods will be good? 100% stock 5.3 and we will be getting new pushrods and valve springs
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by SIC LSX
Think stock length push rods will be good? 100% stock 5.3 and we will be getting new pushrods and valve springs
If you go with a high lift cam, you're going to need longer pushrods than stock to maintain stock plunger depth on your roller lifters.
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2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
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2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 05:43 PM
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yeah he is getting that cam i posted. Its brand new! What size? I have the 7.4's in mine with 231/237cam. We were thinking about using a push rod measuring tool 1st anyways. Just seeing if ya no
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