5.3 cam selection?? tricky!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7
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5.3 cam selection?? tricky! Okay guys I have searched and searched and searched with no luck. I come from all old school sbc's and need some help here. I just picked up a great low mileage 5.3 for my project and really need a help with cam choice. background on the car are as follows:
87 Rx7
Should be about 2600 lbs with me in it
4.10 rear gears
Th350 (maybe 400, I have both)
5.3L Carbed with holley 750dp (mechanical secondaries)
car will be street driven but also at the track
Planning on running 100 shot
Trust me here I have searched and searched and searched, all I have found is the swaps into big heavy cars with lower gear which is going to require a bit different cam design. Just how much I'm not sure with these motors. I'm not going to give a set horsepower rating I want to achieve because I know that can be tough. I'm just looking for a cam that will take full potential of the setup and I know you guys have a lot of experience with it. Thanks in advance
87 Rx7
Should be about 2600 lbs with me in it
4.10 rear gears
Th350 (maybe 400, I have both)
5.3L Carbed with holley 750dp (mechanical secondaries)
car will be street driven but also at the track
Planning on running 100 shot
Trust me here I have searched and searched and searched, all I have found is the swaps into big heavy cars with lower gear which is going to require a bit different cam design. Just how much I'm not sure with these motors. I'm not going to give a set horsepower rating I want to achieve because I know that can be tough. I'm just looking for a cam that will take full potential of the setup and I know you guys have a lot of experience with it. Thanks in advance
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 137
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From: chicago
the ls6 cam is not a bad choice just really small it sounds like your wanting more then what that has to offer. tr220 or tr224 are some good proven cams.
car craft magazine used the new comp thumper cam on a carbed 5.3 and made 96 HP from just a cam swap on an engine dyno...stock heads.
cam specs- 227/241 .564/.547 109 LSA ·
intake lift- .564
exhaust- .547
109 LSA
duration intake- 227
exhaust- 241
car craft magazine used the new comp thumper cam on a carbed 5.3 and made 96 HP from just a cam swap on an engine dyno...stock heads.
cam specs- 227/241 .564/.547 109 LSA ·
intake lift- .564
exhaust- .547
109 LSA
duration intake- 227
exhaust- 241
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7
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hmm I was reading and its sounds like the ls6 one doesn't work very well with the carb. With that I would probably go a bit more extreme. The car is really light with a lot of gear so I don't mind losing a little on the bottom if it will pay off on top! There is just a million grinds out there and I need some help. Yes its a factory rear, they'll hold 5-600 if you keep it off slicks and super hard launches.
get ahold of predator-z and have him spec you a cam out
What are your goals for the car? What do you want out of the cam? I could recommend a cam with a really harsh idle for the track aspect, or i could recommend a really mild cam that you wont even hear the lope for the street aspect.
What are your goals for the car? What do you want out of the cam? I could recommend a cam with a really harsh idle for the track aspect, or i could recommend a really mild cam that you wont even hear the lope for the street aspect.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2010
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expectations As far as expectations I'm looking for something that will be more on the race side but still streetable. Honestly I will still probaby drive the car a decent amount but they won't be easy miles! 
As long as its reasonably streetable I'm okay with it. Want a solid track car and a hell of a nasty street car.
I've been playing with the idea of calling someone to just have then spec it but who do you guys think has the most experience with the carbed motors?
As long as its reasonably streetable I'm okay with it. Want a solid track car and a hell of a nasty street car.I've been playing with the idea of calling someone to just have then spec it but who do you guys think has the most experience with the carbed motors?
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Verdad Gallardo cam-motion or bullet can get it done for you no problem.
I would look for something along the lines of a 226/234 area on a 113 + 2. You'll have to shift probably 7300 or so though. Reason the cam is considered on the "small side", is you have less cubes which needs to be taken into consideration as well. Of course, I am no "expert" by means, and you may still consult bullet or cammotion and get their recommendation as well
this will make it friendly off the bottle, and suffice on the bottle as well. Since your only running a 100 shot, anything for a NA car will be fine, but if your like anybody else, your going to want to up the shot eventually.
I would look for something along the lines of a 226/234 area on a 113 + 2. You'll have to shift probably 7300 or so though. Reason the cam is considered on the "small side", is you have less cubes which needs to be taken into consideration as well. Of course, I am no "expert" by means, and you may still consult bullet or cammotion and get their recommendation as well
this will make it friendly off the bottle, and suffice on the bottle as well. Since your only running a 100 shot, anything for a NA car will be fine, but if your like anybody else, your going to want to up the shot eventually.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2010
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Hahaha yea I will eventually. I just want the 100 because I know it will offset what I'm going to lose on the bottom with a decent came.
My big concern was that I wasn't sure how to take into account the light weight of the vehicle and the steep gears...
Guess it's off to have someone design one, lol
My big concern was that I wasn't sure how to take into account the light weight of the vehicle and the steep gears...
Guess it's off to have someone design one, lol
Hahaha yea I will eventually. I just want the 100 because I know it will offset what I'm going to lose on the bottom with a decent came.
My big concern was that I wasn't sure how to take into account the light weight of the vehicle and the steep gears...
Guess it's off to have someone design one, lol
My big concern was that I wasn't sure how to take into account the light weight of the vehicle and the steep gears...
Guess it's off to have someone design one, lol
2 things here.
1. Only you can prevent forrest fires.
2. Only you can determine what is "streetable".
Just so you know. That is a country mile outside of the powerband of that cam.
1. Only you can prevent forrest fires.
2. Only you can determine what is "streetable".
Just so you know. That is a country mile outside of the powerband of that cam.
powerband in a 346 should be about 6500 or so, powerband with a 5.3 will be around 6800 or so. How is it a country mile outside the powerband to shift about 500 RPM higher than peak? I always like to error on the highside than lowside. you tell somebody they should shift at 6500, and thats all their motor can take, then they have a cam that they need to shift at 7000, most get kinda pissy.
