Camaro73

I have a 5.3 out of an 06 Silverado. While it's out I want to put a cam in it. I don't plan on switching up heads yet. They have 862 on them but I will be going with an ls6 intake. Id like a big mean lope sound but have been told I can't go very big on the lope (ex. Tsp cam that has a .615 lope) just wondering what suggestions anybody has or what anybody with a 5.3 is running. This will be a performance motor but driven quite often.

Sales@Tick

iTrader: (3)

Peak valve lift doesn't have any impact on the sound an engine makes at idle, but lobe centers and duration do.

What type of vehicle is this going in?

Camaro73

I'm putting it in a 73 Camaro.

Sales@Tick

iTrader: (3)

What transmission will you be running? If an automatic, what stall speed? What rear gear ratio?

codyseals

^^ this, super important. Drive ability comes into play without some advancing in the drivetrain

Camaro73

I'm going to go with a 700r4 & I've done some asking on nastyZ28 & since I'm running stock heads/compression I should go with a mild cam in the 220-230 range with a mild LSA. I know the bigger the cam the bigger the stall so I'm thinking at least a 3000 with a cam in that range. The car is going to have the street strip attitude but it will be a lot more "street" than strip.

Camaro73

And Martin I was actually referred to call somebody at tick by one of the guys on the nastyZ28 forum.

Sales@Tick

iTrader: (3)

I have a few very nice single pattern camshafts that work great in 4.8 and 5.3 truck engines/applications.

I also have some with 2-4 degree splits that work well too. It all depends on the application.

Camaro73

It's a stock 5.3 with 862 heads but will be getting an ls6 intake and the cam swap for now. Will do a head swap,later on down the road.

Just want to get some good power out of a good cam that sounds nasty although I can't get as nasty as I want since I have power brakes which is the reason I was recommended to stay in the 220-230 range for enough vacuum.

Sales@Tick

iTrader: (3)

With a 3000-3200rpm stall I would recommend 217/221 .605/.609 112+2.

I feel most over cam these 5.3's. I get great power out of my 215/215 112lsa cam in a 5.3 so I feel little need to go larger unless the customer would like a choppier idle.

Camaro73

I figured a 3200 stall I was just thinking at least 3000 for the cam I stated above. What are your prices for the cam you just suggested? Or maybe one with a bit more lope at idle?

Sales@Tick

iTrader: (3)

All of the cams I've suggested will lope at idle. Most think that they need a huge camshaft to sound good while idling, but in reality it doesn't take much valve overlap to achieve.

Especially in a 5.3 with less displacement. The 217/221 camshaft would have a nice idle for sure.

Custom grind Comp camshafts are 400 dollars. We also are a dealer for Bullet and just recently I was asked by Kip Fabre to become a dealer for Cam Motion. Both Bullet and CM camshafts are 450 dollars shipped.

Lots to choose from!

codyseals

That lift will clear flat tops?

Sales@Tick

iTrader: (3)

Max lift has no bearing on P to V clearance. When the valve is at max lift the piston is traveling down the bore to bottom dead center. The piston is pretty much as far away from the valve as it will ever be when the valve is at max lift.

During valve overlap when the piston is approaching and or at TDC is the only time to be truly concerned with valve lift. As this is when the piston is closest to the valves as it will ever be.

Camaro73

What's your opinion on this cam

226/229 Duration .575/.578 lift and 112 Lsa

It's on craigslist for only 140$ I'm thinking that'd be good since it'll keep me into vacuum range and it's not a radical cam.

Sales@Tick

iTrader: (3)

My opinion is that it's too large for a 3000-3200 stall and too large for a 5.3.

If you bumped the stall speed up to 4000rpm and didn't mind sacrificing some driving manners it will work great.

Quick Ranger

iTrader: (2)

Nice Martin, i wanted you to spec me a cam, but would not use a Comp core. Nice that you can now have Cam Motion grind it.

Camaro73

Maybe I should wait till I do a head swap to do a cam. What about an ls6 cam for now?

Sales@Tick

iTrader: (3)

I also apologized to Kip as well. I have great respect for anyone with the knowledge that he has.
LS6 cams work very well in smaller displacement engines. I think you'd enjoy it, but you'd miss out on the muscle car lope. To some that isn't a deal breaker, but to others it is.

Camaro73

Well I've done research and a lot of guys do the ls6 cam and it'll still give me power over the stock cam for half the price of a custom cam + springs. I recently just saw an ls6 cam with springs for only 200$. & since I'm on a tight budget like most it seems like the best route FOR NOW.