Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Crane Cam direct Fit cams?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 10, 2015 | 01:24 AM
  #1  
LSFool's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, SC
Default Crane Cam direct Fit cams?

Sup guyzzzzzz, quick question.
Any personal experineces with the Crane Cam Direct fit cams for the 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0 truck motors???
Apparently it's a plug and play using stock valvetrain. Cam only deal to gain around 50hp.

Let me know what intel you all have
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2015 | 05:38 AM
  #2  
HCI2000SS's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,137
Likes: 20
From: Howell & Fenton MI
Default

So no aftermarket valve springs and 50 hp to boot...I don't think so lol. What do they mean by plug and play?
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2015 | 06:24 AM
  #3  
vettenuts's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,092
Likes: 13
From: Little Rhody
Default

I would think springs are required as well. I would also stay with the beehive design springs when you change them. Not sure which motor you have, but there was an article about a year ago where they swapped several GM cams into a smaller truck motor (5.3 as I recall) using the LS1 cam, LS6, LS9, etc. and got excellent results.
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2015 | 12:38 PM
  #4  
Mr. Rego's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Default Crane cam direct fit.

Plug and play is what it meant, put it in and go. This cam is meant to run with factory springs. They have 3 cams 1. 380hp 2. 411hp and 3. 442hp.
They did a big test with the Ls cams at CarCrarft. It's online if you google best cams for 5.3 or Ls.

Here's what it said about the Crane cams.

To finish up the Ultimate LS cam test, we decided to test a trio of LS grinds offered by Crane Cams. The cams range from a mild Direct-Fit cam, designed to drop right into a 5.3L truck or other LS application without need to swap springs, to a healthy (but still streetable) performance grind that offered up 130 hp over the factory LM7. The first cam from Crane offered 0.502-inch lift, 200 degrees of duration, and a 113-degree LSA. This Direct-Fit cam offered substantial torque gains, besting all of the factory offerings for peak torque production—impressive given the mild specs (smaller than most of the factory offerings). The Direct-Fit line is perfect for LS owners looking to swap cams without the need to change springs. Cam number two sported 0.551 lift, a 210/218 duration split and 116-degree LSA (think LS6 with slightly more intake duration). This cam offered 411 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, bettering the LM7 from 2,800 rpm through 6,500 rpm while besting the LS2, LS3 and LS6 grinds. The final cam was the high-horsepower and torque champ of the test, with 0.590 lift, a 224/232 duration split and 115-degree LSA. This cam shared the exhaust specs with the LS7 and LS9 and lift specs with the LS7 (with 1.8 rockers). The 224 cam from Crane increased the power output of the 5.3L to an impressive 442 hp and 412 lb-ft of torque while offering less of a trade off in low-speed torque than the LS6, LS7, or LS9 grinds. In fact, the 224 cam was consistently up by 25 lb-ft over the LS7 and LS9 cams and equaled or bettered the LM7 cam from 2,900 rpm to 6,500 rpm.
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2015 | 02:29 PM
  #5  
Darth_V8r's Avatar
Moderator
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 10,450
Likes: 1,873
From: My own internal universe
Default

Not to put a damper on the mood here, but remember engine dyno vs chassis dyno. Engine dyno usually means long tube headers also, and a good 15%-25% higher number.

Lots of these articles are done on an engine dyno, and then we can't duplicate the results in our cars. They also try to remove all the restrictions on power they can do the cam is the only thing holding it back. Which is good scientific method, but not necessarily identical to your vehicle.

Also, cam only is a relative term. Some people say cam only, but they also mean long tube headers, ported throttle, aftermarket intake, etc. other people read cam only and think they actually mean cam only and all else bone stock.

So you put one of these in your truck, but leave the stock manifolds, you don't get 50, because of reversion and back pressure, and because you're looking for 50 at the tires. You need to gain 60-65 at the motor to get 50 at the tires.

Not saying they aren't good cams for what they do or better than factory options. They are. But don't put one in your suburban and think you're gonna put 400 down on a dyno jet. You'll put down 330-350.

Hope that helps.
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2015 | 03:52 PM
  #6  
redbird555's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,444
Likes: 9
From: Pompano Beach FL
Default

I agree, on a dyno with stock springs and light bolt ons I would expect 15-20hp. But barring that I dont understand why someone would bother changing a cam but not springs? Springs really arent that expensive and its damn good insurance for a healthy valvetrain
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2015 | 08:27 AM
  #7  
thunderstruck507's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,358
Likes: 27
From: Northwest AR
Default

https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...hp-22rwtq.html

Designed to work with stock springs, but for $40-60 a set of ls6 springs is well worth the cost as the stock springs will have a lot of miles on them.

Keep in mind with any cam, even a different stock GM cam, the pcm will need a tune. Especially if it's using an aftermarket cam in conjunction with the older operating system in the PCM which will pick up a **** ton of false knock due to harmonics from the more aggressive cam.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:38 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE