kendogg

iTrader: (2)

So, I'm putting a 5.3 in my Volvo wagon soon, and want to do a cam and get it out of the way so I don't have to yank the motor to do any mods. I was looking into LS6 cams, but it seems that alot of people are claiming that they lose a bunch of torque down low?

From the headflow data I've seen, the stock 5.3 heads benefit greatly from a high-lift cam, as airflow doesn't seem to flatline past .600" valve lift. I wish I had the money for LS6 heads, but maybe another engine. This engine is going to stay BONE stock sans the cam, and headers. So long as the hood will clear it, I'll be keeping the stock truck intake as well. Flows better than an LS1, and isn't worth the extra cost to get an LS6 + all the other add-on's needed to make it fit.


So, what says LS1Tech? My goal is ~325 whp with a 4L60e with as little loss of low-end grunt as possible. Hopefully a cam, and small primary, 2.5" outlet headers can get me there. This is going to *mostly* be a daily driver. It won't get strung out past 6k rpm very often, but it WILL get autox'd occasionally, and might get to Road Atlanta once or twice once the suspension is sorted as well. Thanks guys!!

Bilster

iTrader: (21)

The LS6 cam is a popular swap for the truck crowd. I doubt there is that much torque loss. If you are really concerned about it, stay with the 2001 LS6 Cam. Specs are as follows:

207/217 int/exh @ 0.05" duration

0.525" / 0.525" int/exh lift

116 LSA

garygnu

if you get some comp 918 springs you can use comp cams 54-408-11,good toque.

kinglt-1

iTrader: (26)

there is not much tq loss from the dyno charts I have seen.

kendogg

iTrader: (2)

I have no idea what any of that is. Please keep in mind, this is my first venture into american V8 land.

Thats the problem, it's hard to find an actual STOCK motor dyno, seems people mod the **** out of these motors with all kinds of pointless, useless crap.

chrisfrost

iTrader: (8)

Hello , go over to Car Craft mag online and search Chevy 5.3L builds , there are 2 ( I believe ) occasions those guys took junk yard 5.3L's and built them up some to see what they could do . With 1 they started out putting a carb and an MSD spark controller and headers and dyno-d it for baseline #'s which were 335hp 350 tq , then they put in a thumper cam and aftermarket valve springs and those mods brought it to 431 or 433 hp with like 360 tq and raised the redline from 5600 to 6800 , then they tried a cpl different heads the best of which were cnc'd and with those heads it produced 459 hp and 398 tq . Not too bad really .

kendogg

iTrader: (2)

I'm not looking at baselines with carburetors, thats retarded. I was pretty specific with what I was asking for, and that isn't it.

TechCam97

iTrader: (5)

You're going to get a lot of "should make" and "might make" from most on this site. The truth is that the 5.3 isn't really looked at in the F-Body community. Your best bet is to contact a shop who knows all of these Gen III and Gen IV motors and can take into account your wants and needs and help you pick a cam and complimenting bolts on to achieve your goal. I'd recommend contacting Jon over at Texas Speed. He's helped a lot of my friends out and really knows his stuff. He's also a member on here, I believe his screen name is Jon@Texas-Speed.

garygnu

if you use some valve springs that are better then stock gm valve springs you will have alot more cams to chose from.the ls6 cam is a good cam and won't cause toque loss in the lower rpms,it was designed for a different head .go to comp cams website and look at ls cams,54-408-11 or 54-455-11 mite work for you..what head casting numbers do you have?consider a small cam from TSP,they have a good price on cam pkgs,cam,springs,harden push rods.

kendogg

iTrader: (2)

I guess I'll try sending this Texas Speed an email. Hope they respond better than Thunder Racing (who hasn't responded to my email from a month and a half ago).

kendogg

iTrader: (2)

Well, it's Thursday, and still no response from Texas Speed. I guess I'll email one of the real cam companies then.

'02 WS6

iTrader: (73)

Can't go wrong with either of Thunder Rancing's 220 or 224 cams. Most guys in the 5.3 truck scene (not your application I know) run cams in the low-mid 220s duration range and between .540-.590 lift.

kendogg

iTrader: (2)

Ya, but they also have alot more mods than I do, so it's really not a fair comparison. And I refuse to buy from an internet company that won't answer a simple email.

'02 WS6

iTrader: (73)

Go custom then. PM Pat G on here and get the process started.

kendogg

iTrader: (2)

I've never heard of that person. When referring a forum newb to custom products, it's generally good forum etiquette to provide them with a REASON for using said person, or perhaps examples of their work. As of now, thats just another joe blow who probably won't respond to me either. I'll send emails off to Crane, Lunati, & Comp Cams first. They might actually want my business, and they really aren't primarily e-companies either.

mx5.3

iTrader: (1)

search "custom cam" and Pat G and you might find some of his work.

kendogg

iTrader: (2)

I just got off with a live tech agent from Comp Cams, and he recommended this:

http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/c...csid=1248&sb=0

Specifications Intake Exhaust
RPM Range: 1000-6000
Valve Timing: N/A Duration: 254 264
Lobe Separation: 116* Duration @ .050" Lift: 202 212
Intake Centerline: N/A Valve Lift: .507 .500



Looks VERY similar to the early LS6 cam specs, as well as '98-2000 F-Body (I guess first year LS1??) found here:

http://www.smokemup.com/tech/ls1.php


1998 - 2000 Fbody
202/210 int/exh @ 0.05" duration
0.496" / 0.496" int/exh lift
116 LSA

2001 LS6 cam
207/217 int/exh @ 0.05" duration
0.525" / 0.525" int/exh lift
116 LSA




Thoughts? Guy claimed I shouldn't see hardly any fuel economy lost, with great low-midrange torque increases. What would change from that Comp Cams if I went with one of the stock cams above, or even the later, hotter LS6 cam?

99MUSTANG5.3L

Check over on Performance trucks website(tab at top of page), there are lots of good write ups over there. In particular is a guy that swapped in a stock LS1 cam and knocked off something like .8 seconds off his 1/4 mile times. Check it out.

kendogg

iTrader: (2)

I'm not really sure that this pertains to anything I've asked. This is not a drag race vehicle, it'll never go to the strip, and drag racing has little to do with low-end (~2500 rpm) torque.

'02 WS6

iTrader: (73)

OK here. Here's a link to Pat Gs profile. Just send him a pm, and within a day or two he'll respond and will answer any and all questions you have. He can also spec you a cam, and set you in the direction of who to order it from, which is usually Geoff @ EPS. There's even a link in his sig that will take you directly to his camshaft page.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/member.php?u=210