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Cam install - 5.3 into a vette

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Old Jul 15, 2010 | 06:02 PM
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Default Cam install - 5.3 into a vette

Hey guys, long time lurker first time poster here.

The car: 1984 Corvette, 3.73 gears, auto transmission, 5.3l truck engine install currently in progress.

I am retiring the old crossfire engine and installing the 5.3 truck engine into her. The engine will have an LS1 intake to clear the hood. Next mission is the cam install. The car must remain drivable as I pretty much use it as a daily driver, although I have a beater for rainy days.

A friend of mine suggested that I go with something in the 228-230 duration 590 lift and 114 LSA Area. That should give me a nice cam, some good sound but great drivabilty. He mentioned running the 918 comp springs with it.

After calling comp cams, I was recommended to use 530 to 534 220/224 and 112 lobe separation.

Considering my 3.73 gears, and the fact that I will be installing a torque converter to match that of the gears and the cam, what numbers or cam should work best for this application? I will need to change the push rods, lifters and springs, but will I need to change the rockers as well? Comp cams says I wont have to with their set-up. THANKS!!!

For those interested, this is the resurrection that took place to save my vette... http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...ight=back+dead


The car!
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Old Jul 15, 2010 | 06:37 PM
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first off..AWESOME car and story, love the wheels. My first car was an 85 vette that i picked up with a blown motor and rebuilt with my dad.

just sold my 95 vette I miss her heads/cam fun car until it met a median at a decent amount of speed lol

anyways, I think a 230 cam may be a little big for a dd in a 5.3l that would be more suited in the 5.7l you can have a custom cam spec'd for you by a reputable person here on ls1tech, tell them exactly what you want from the car and you will get it. theres a few guys that are very good at it lurking here on ls1 if you look around.

also you wont need to replace the rockers or the lifters( have to remove the heads to do lifters on these engines) it wouldnt hurt to do the lifters but its not necessary at all.
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Old Jul 16, 2010 | 02:47 PM
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EPS has a nice cam that should work good for you.
222/226,113lsa
http://www.engpwrsys.com/index.php?a...od&productId=8

There's also the Futral F4 (226/226) with either a 112 or 114lsa.
http://www.futralmotorsports.com/fms....asp?pf=1&pg=5
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Old Jul 16, 2010 | 02:58 PM
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228-230 is a little too big for what you want in a 5.3. Comp was pretty close to what I would do. We have a 221/226 .565"/.560" that we use in alot of 5.3s that would fit the bill great for what you are doing. Our old version was actually a 220/224 like they recommended, but the latest testing for revisions left us favoring this grind a little more.
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Old Jul 16, 2010 | 03:15 PM
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how much power does that 221-226 cam in a 5.3L make?
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Old Jul 16, 2010 | 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Scoggin Dickey
228-230 is a little too big for what you want in a 5.3. Comp was pretty close to what I would do. We have a 221/226 .565"/.560" that we use in alot of 5.3s that would fit the bill great for what you are doing. Our old version was actually a 220/224 like they recommended, but the latest testing for revisions left us favoring this grind a little more.
What was the reasoning behind going with a 221/226 over a 220/224? Would your cam result in a rougher idle / more lope or less?

Thanks for the response btw!
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Old Jul 16, 2010 | 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by 99Bluz28
EPS has a nice cam that should work good for you.
222/226,113lsa
http://www.engpwrsys.com/index.php?a...od&productId=8

There's also the Futral F4 (226/226) with either a 112 or 114lsa.
http://www.futralmotorsports.com/fms....asp?pf=1&pg=5
Thanks for the suggestions. From the two you listed I believe the first one from EPS will suit my build better.
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Old Jul 16, 2010 | 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by crazyelf
first off..AWESOME car and story, love the wheels. My first car was an 85 vette that i picked up with a blown motor and rebuilt with my dad.

just sold my 95 vette I miss her heads/cam fun car until it met a median at a decent amount of speed lol

anyways, I think a 230 cam may be a little big for a dd in a 5.3l that would be more suited in the 5.7l you can have a custom cam spec'd for you by a reputable person here on ls1tech, tell them exactly what you want from the car and you will get it. theres a few guys that are very good at it lurking here on ls1 if you look around.

also you wont need to replace the rockers or the lifters( have to remove the heads to do lifters on these engines) it wouldnt hurt to do the lifters but its not necessary at all.
Thanks man! These old vettes are pretty fun, but they keep breaking LOL... I most likely WILL replace the lifters. The engine is out of the car now and on a stand, so I might as well while I have it out and apart. Thanks for the tips
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Old Jul 16, 2010 | 03:29 PM
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Good luck with the build man and welcome to LS1tech. I think you will be pleased with that engine in that car. Should make for a fun little ride.
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Old Jul 16, 2010 | 10:35 PM
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I have an 04 5.3/4l60e in my s10 and running a Comp Cam 222/228 581/588 112+2 and love it.Made 65hp over stock.Just my 2 cents.BTW Very nice car and love those wheels too.Good luck,Mike
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 01:08 AM
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Originally Posted by odarabla
Good luck with the build man and welcome to LS1tech. I think you will be pleased with that engine in that car. Should make for a fun little ride.
Thanks

Originally Posted by chevysten
I have an 04 5.3/4l60e in my s10 and running a Comp Cam 222/228 581/588 112+2 and love it.Made 65hp over stock.Just my 2 cents.BTW Very nice car and love those wheels too.Good luck,Mike
Thank you for the compliments. 65hp over stock is pretty impressive with just a cam! Do you happen to have a video? Just curious as to what kind of idle I can expect. Thanks
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 01:20 AM
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I think comp did a good job picking the cam. Its just the right size for a 5.3. I will b upping mine to a lunati 221/221 soon should make it plenty strong up top. The cam u went with is gonna b great to listen to lopey idle. U will def know there is a cam in it.
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 06:42 AM
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tr224 or comp54-455-11 ,and some pac 1218 springs.or EPS.
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 01:29 PM
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Originally Posted by LTX355
I think comp did a good job picking the cam. Its just the right size for a 5.3. I will b upping mine to a lunati 221/221 soon should make it plenty strong up top. The cam u went with is gonna b great to listen to lopey idle. U will def know there is a cam in it.
I will be going with the cam that comp cams suggested. Now it's time to start locating parts and and getting everything ready.

Thanks for everyone's help
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