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5.3 cam options and pistons

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Old Jul 27, 2014 | 07:45 AM
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Default 5.3 cam options and pistons

I am getting prepared to do a 5.3 build mainly stock with possibly some enginetech 4.8 flat top pistons if there any good, havent seen anyone using them on here.

What would be a good cam for stock converter and possibly the same valve springs? Just looking some lower RPM torque to get a heavy c10 moving.

Thinking about running these 4.8L OHV V8 Vortec LR4 (8)HYPER-EUTECTIC FLAT TOP PISTONS from ebay and looking advise. Trying to stay on as low of a budget as possible. ANy thoughts??
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Old Jul 27, 2014 | 08:28 AM
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http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/1307_ls_cam_test_comparison/
Also Tooley just released some new cams for trucked designed to work with a ls3 spring.
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Old Jul 27, 2014 | 10:43 AM
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If you want to stay "low budget" and think stock valvesprings are worth reusing then just drop it in bone stock.

Reusing stock valvesprings might have worked in the 70s but for the past few decades spring pressure has been kept low to reduce parasitic loss. Hell most engines gain power from a valvespring up[grade on a stock cam, so you are putting the cart before the horse.
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Old Jul 27, 2014 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
If you want to stay "low budget" and think stock valvesprings are worth reusing then just drop it in bone stock.

Reusing stock valvesprings might have worked in the 70s but for the past few decades spring pressure has been kept low to reduce parasitic loss. Hell most engines gain power from a valvespring up[grade on a stock cam, so you are putting the cart before the horse.
With that said i will change them. This is the first LS i messed with. I still want to keep the torque converter if possible.
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Old Jul 27, 2014 | 05:55 PM
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If you want a stock converter keep the stock cam.

Ideas like reusing stock springs and keeping a stock converter suggest your ideas of how to modify a vehicle are stuck in the 70s and 80s, because even by the 90s those ideas were all wrong..

I know places will list cams as working with a stock converter but that just means it will drive OK, not that you will get appropriate performance gains. I made this mistake in my LT1 went from a stock cam to a ZZ4 crate motor cam, drove like stock but wasn't any faster till I gave it some stall and gear which made a HUGE difference.
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Old Jul 28, 2014 | 04:43 AM
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For a cam with plenty of lower rpm torque, and a stock stall TC it needs to be small.
For shelf grinds I recommend the following cams:
Lunati VooDoo 20540710 (212/218 113lsa+4, lift .531"/.531", IVC 35, overlap-11*) .
This is the largest cam I recommend with the stock TC stall, and have the best peak HP & TQ of these 3 cams but even then a 2600-2800 stall would be recommended for best performance.

Comp Cams #54-451-11 (208/212 115lsa+4, lift .554"/.558", IVC 35, overlap-20*) .
Should run as smooth as stock and have better peak HP & TQ than the smaller Comp 408 cam, and work very well with the stock TC stall.
#54-408-11 (206/212 112lsa+2, lift .515"/.522", IVC 33, overlap -15*) .
Should run very smooth and work very well with the stock TC stall, it should have the best off idle power of these 3 cams.

With all 3 of these cam I still recommend a 2600-2800 stall TC and a good tune for the best possible performance.
I also recommend a set of PAC 1218 valve springs for all 3 of the cams.
http://www.ws6project.com/user_stor/...valve-springs/

Last edited by 99Bluz28; Jul 28, 2014 at 05:00 AM.
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Old Jul 28, 2014 | 11:04 AM
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We offer 3 cams specifically for truck applications.

We have a special right now on a truck camshaft and new .560" lift springs for $419 shipped.

http://www.briantooleyracing.com/btr...-camshaft.html
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Old Jul 28, 2014 | 11:24 AM
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I just installed a Cam Motion Stage 2 "drop in" cam into my truck over the weekend. It is a 205/210 .510"/.510" 115+4.

I used the blue GM Performance beehives which can be bought dirt cheap. The truck has 170,000 miles on it or I would have considered using the stock springs for such a mild cam. Nothing else was changed other than oil change, fuel filter, water pump gaskets, and crank pulley bolt.

As soon as I can get back on the dyno for post cam results I can write a more detailed review, but seat of the pants I would say the truck runs like stock from idle to 2000rpm or so then begins to pick up over the stock cam. Butt dyno would say the gains are mild, but noticeable and it doesn't seem sacrifice low end grunt. Any larger and I feel either a converter or gears would start to be necessary to prevent a soggy low end.
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