2004 LM7 cam options
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Teching In
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2004 LM7 cam options I am trying to build 5.3L LM7 motor for my Chevelle. I was wanting to make a stroker to around 396ci but after reading a bunch and talking with people, I think the better way to spend the money would be just to do a cam swap, with headers, ls1 intake. etc. My questions are, do I have to change the heads to put the LS1 intake and injectors on the 5.3? and what cam should I get? and if I change the cam do I have to put hardened push rods and different valve springs in it? I heard that the 02 LS6 cam was a good option to wake up the 5.3 and with some headers and the LS1 intake would make good power and would have good economy. I am not looking to make a screamin' machine just something to have fun with now and then. I am planning on going with a T56 but I heard that the LS6 cam would not give me very good low end. Since I have 3.55 gears in the car and with that 6th gear in the tranny being high, I don't want it luggin' at highway speeds, ya know?
Advice would be cool from you all of you fine people at LS1tech that know more than I do. lol
Advice would be cool from you all of you fine people at LS1tech that know more than I do. lol
first off dont waste your time with the ls1 intake, pick up an ls6 one from the boards on here, itll work out much better for you and no you dont have to change the heads to use that intake.
Second if your gonna do a cam swap , do a an actual aftermarket cam not the ls6 your gonna wish you went bigger later on (been there). If your not looking to go crazy i would pick up a comp cam XR265HR , which is a 212/218 on .522/.529, this will allow you to use the cheap ls6 valve sprigs, but no matter what cam u need to do hardened pushrods. If you wanna go slightly bigger the 220r from TSP with the 580 lift is an EXCELLENT cam for the 5.3l , if you go on the truck forums youll see many people get great numbers from them
Second if your gonna do a cam swap , do a an actual aftermarket cam not the ls6 your gonna wish you went bigger later on (been there). If your not looking to go crazy i would pick up a comp cam XR265HR , which is a 212/218 on .522/.529, this will allow you to use the cheap ls6 valve sprigs, but no matter what cam u need to do hardened pushrods. If you wanna go slightly bigger the 220r from TSP with the 580 lift is an EXCELLENT cam for the 5.3l , if you go on the truck forums youll see many people get great numbers from them
Like was said, don't bother with a LS1 intake. Use the LS6 intake or if you have room under the hood, just use a truck intake (they make great torque).
What injectors you use depends on the fuel rails you have and wiring harness.
A cam swap should include upgraded valve springs and hardened pushrods. Most vendors have cam kits with everything you need. A 2002+ LS6 cam would work, but there are better cams available. The 212/218 Comp Cams that was mentioned is popular with the 5.3 truck guys because it has lots of low end torque and you can use a stock torque converter. Since you are not as heavy as the trucks and are using a manual trans, I'd go a little bigger. The Texas Speed 220R would be a sweet choice.
What injectors you use depends on the fuel rails you have and wiring harness.
A cam swap should include upgraded valve springs and hardened pushrods. Most vendors have cam kits with everything you need. A 2002+ LS6 cam would work, but there are better cams available. The 212/218 Comp Cams that was mentioned is popular with the 5.3 truck guys because it has lots of low end torque and you can use a stock torque converter. Since you are not as heavy as the trucks and are using a manual trans, I'd go a little bigger. The Texas Speed 220R would be a sweet choice.
Teching In
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How about the XR281hR 0.571/0.573 lift split 228/230 duration on 112 LSA I hear ther very good on the 5.3s I'm in the same boat on tryng to choose a cam still tryng to find more information runing the Texas speed ms3 237/242 603/609Lift 111LSA an 243 heads
The OP was wanting a cam that had good low end torque that wouldn't lug in high gear. AR's, sounds like you want something bigger, which is cool. I would not get a MS3 for a 5.3 motor though, you won't like the street manners. Take a look at Tick's SNS torquMAX stage 2 cam.
Teching In
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The OP was wanting a cam that had good low end torque that wouldn't lug in high gear. AR's, sounds like you want something bigger, which is cool. I would not get a MS3 for a 5.3 motor though, you won't like the street manners. Take a look at Tick's SNS torquMAX stage 2 cam.
Just my opinion, but the MS3 cam uses the old aggressive XER lobes and is too way too big for the 5.3 (you'll have nothing in the low range). PM or call Martin with Tick Performance and see what he recommends.
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Verdad Gallardo If you are looking for a idle lope or chop, a lower LSA will give you that without going too big on duration. The SNS torquMAX stage 2 cam I mentioned earlier has a low LSA. Listen to one of Tick's sound clips (follow the link at the bottom). With a smaller displacement motor like the 5.3, you'll probably have even more lope.
http://www.tickperformance.com/tick-...1-ls6-engines/
http://www.tickperformance.com/tick-...1-ls6-engines/
Personally, I'd use the GM MLS gaskets, they seal up the best. So, pistons are true flattops with no valve reliefs? If so, using average deck height, you should be at about 9.5 CR.
Right, I figured 234 heads milled .020". Milling them .030" would give you another quarter point of CR or you can use Cometic .040" gaskets instead of the GM ones. I use ARP bolts because they are reuseable. The GM bolts are fine, but they are TTY and can only be used once. As for studs, I'd still use ARP. Not heard much about other brands.
Thread Starter
Teching In
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first off dont waste your time with the ls1 intake, pick up an ls6 one from the boards on here, itll work out much better for you and no you dont have to change the heads to use that intake.
Second if your gonna do a cam swap , do a an actual aftermarket cam not the ls6 your gonna wish you went bigger later on (been there). If your not looking to go crazy i would pick up a comp cam XR265HR , which is a 212/218 on .522/.529, this will allow you to use the cheap ls6 valve sprigs, but no matter what cam u need to do hardened pushrods. If you wanna go slightly bigger the 220r from TSP with the 580 lift is an EXCELLENT cam for the 5.3l , if you go on the truck forums youll see many people get great numbers from them
Second if your gonna do a cam swap , do a an actual aftermarket cam not the ls6 your gonna wish you went bigger later on (been there). If your not looking to go crazy i would pick up a comp cam XR265HR , which is a 212/218 on .522/.529, this will allow you to use the cheap ls6 valve sprigs, but no matter what cam u need to do hardened pushrods. If you wanna go slightly bigger the 220r from TSP with the 580 lift is an EXCELLENT cam for the 5.3l , if you go on the truck forums youll see many people get great numbers from them
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Like was said, don't bother with a LS1 intake. Use the LS6 intake or if you have room under the hood, just use a truck intake (they make great torque).
What injectors you use depends on the fuel rails you have and wiring harness.
A cam swap should include upgraded valve springs and hardened pushrods. Most vendors have cam kits with everything you need. A 2002+ LS6 cam would work, but there are better cams available. The 212/218 Comp Cams that was mentioned is popular with the 5.3 truck guys because it has lots of low end torque and you can use a stock torque converter. Since you are not as heavy as the trucks and are using a manual trans, I'd go a little bigger. The Texas Speed 220R would be a sweet choice.
What injectors you use depends on the fuel rails you have and wiring harness.
A cam swap should include upgraded valve springs and hardened pushrods. Most vendors have cam kits with everything you need. A 2002+ LS6 cam would work, but there are better cams available. The 212/218 Comp Cams that was mentioned is popular with the 5.3 truck guys because it has lots of low end torque and you can use a stock torque converter. Since you are not as heavy as the trucks and are using a manual trans, I'd go a little bigger. The Texas Speed 220R would be a sweet choice.
If you use a F-body wiring harness, then any injector that will fit a LS1 will work. Just use the LS1/LS6 fuel rail if you plan on using a LS6 intake. The truck 5.3 heads are not bad and they keep the compression up. Of course they would be better ported or at least milled a little.