I picked up a 5.3 with only 60k on it and tore it down lastnight and its pretty clean and the internals are still in great shape, I'm wanting to do a basic bolt on w/H/C build. I have my bolt on's figured out and heads but I need help with the cam decision. I'm wanting to be making around 350-380hp but I have no idea which cam to get. I've researched and alot of people say if on a budget to get an 03 ls6 cam and springs since they are cheap, then I read more and it says that the ls6 cam doesn't make that big of a difference and to go with something else.

I haven't done any engine builds in the past, this is my first, so I'm looking for some help on which cam to get. The car will be a DD for awhile so I don't want something to crazy that will kill my mpg (I'm getting 13 w/ my ls1 right now), but I'd like something that will still lay down decent numbers like I mentioned in the first paragraph.

Thanks Zac.

 

I really wouldn't expect good help choosing a cam without telling what heads. Which casting number, and who ported them, to which stage.
The power level you're asking for is pretty easy, even with a "baby cam" if the heads are good enough. The TFS top end kit for the 5.3L does 456 HP on an engine dyno, with a 216 / 220, -114, 560 / 560 cam.
A pure stock LS1 can see 440 HP from the 212 / 218 -113+4, 531 / 531 Lunati VooDoo cam, on an engine dyno. That's a good mild cam, elsewhere demonstrated to be 30 horses up from the '02-'04 LS6 cam.
Or did you want your 380 horses at the rear wheels? If so, which transmission will you be using?

 

consider some trick flow small bore heads,or a 243 heads with stock valves.$25 more for a custom cam from Patrick-G over a shelf cam.what intake do you have?243 heads with a good valve job a tr224 at 112 lsa,with a ls6 intake mite make 380 rwhp.

 

The motor came with 862 heads, I was going to use them until I found a set of 243's of 315's for cheap. I was looking at 380 at the flywheel. I have a truck intake and ls1 intake which from what I've read are pretty much the same but the truck intake gives a little more power up top but I was planning on buying a ls6 intake if I could find one for cheap.
And I have a t56 to pair with the motor.

 

I would go with a 230 232 cam not 2 big but also not to small. A pair of stock ls6 heads n a good tune u should be at 360rwhp with not a problem.