5.3 head/cam help
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I would pull the Pistons. There are some online ptv calculators you could enter your engine specs to determine if you need to fly cut.
One thing you might want to know is duration, not lift, is responsible for tighter ptv clearances. So, if you calculate ptv clearance issues on the mouth thumper cam, you could reduce the exhaust duration or go with a bit wider LSA, and you'd be fine.
If you're looking for good grunt and a good choppy idle, look into the tick performance Saturday night special torquemax 2. Specs are . That can gets rave reviews from many users. Shouldn't have any ptv problems with that cam. Will work well with those heads
One thing you might want to know is duration, not lift, is responsible for tighter ptv clearances. So, if you calculate ptv clearance issues on the mouth thumper cam, you could reduce the exhaust duration or go with a bit wider LSA, and you'd be fine.
If you're looking for good grunt and a good choppy idle, look into the tick performance Saturday night special torquemax 2. Specs are . That can gets rave reviews from many users. Shouldn't have any ptv problems with that cam. Will work well with those heads
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someone suggested this cam on gmfullsize. what's yalls opinion on this cam?
" Look into the 226/236 ASA cam from GM. It doesn't have a very high lift @ 0.525 intake and 0.525 exhaust so you can use factory LS6 springs and rip on it hard without worrying. It still sounds nasty. Super heavy thumping idle but overall is easier to tunes and live with. I can't personally vouch for it as I have bought one but haven't installed it yet. But many LS1 guys are happy with it and at 5.7 vs 5.3 you should see similar results. Below is a graph of a firebird on a chassis dyno. Look at how soon the torque kicks in.
" Look into the 226/236 ASA cam from GM. It doesn't have a very high lift @ 0.525 intake and 0.525 exhaust so you can use factory LS6 springs and rip on it hard without worrying. It still sounds nasty. Super heavy thumping idle but overall is easier to tunes and live with. I can't personally vouch for it as I have bought one but haven't installed it yet. But many LS1 guys are happy with it and at 5.7 vs 5.3 you should see similar results. Below is a graph of a firebird on a chassis dyno. Look at how soon the torque kicks in.
We can give longer explanations, but that is the general gist. After a while of playing with cam specs in the calculation programs, you get a feel for it.
Launching!
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Houston, TX
heres my list on what i think he should go with. its basically in order i would do it. the trucker cam dose chop good and would give him a good 8.15 DCR so he should be ok running premium gas.
vinci "trucker" 216/224 .551/.551 115lsa
truckflow 216/220 .560/.560 114lsa or compcam's version 216/220 .525/.532 114lsa
lunati 218/221 .526/.534 116lsa
vinci "trucker" 216/224 .551/.551 115lsa
truckflow 216/220 .560/.560 114lsa or compcam's version 216/220 .525/.532 114lsa
lunati 218/221 .526/.534 116lsa
Last edited by bobfig; May 19, 2015 at 03:45 PM.
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That's what I like the sound of, rough but not too rough. Both of those are the vinci "trucker" right?
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Monroe,NY
Check out the tooley truck cams also http://www.briantooleyracing.com/truck-cams.html
Very easy on the valve train.
Very easy on the valve train.
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Check out the tooley truck cams also http://www.briantooleyracing.com/truck-cams.html
Very easy on the valve train.
Brian Tooley Racing stage 3 truck cam - YouTube
Very easy on the valve train.
Brian Tooley Racing stage 3 truck cam - YouTube
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I guess push rods, rocker arms, valve springs?? The heads have a set of springs on them that are suppose to be "beehives" but idk how to tell if there the right ones or if there actually beehives...
Think I'll still have to fly cut the Pistons why the "trucker" cam?
Think I'll still have to fly cut the Pistons why the "trucker" cam?
Launching!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Check out the tooley truck cams also http://www.briantooleyracing.com/truck-cams.html
Very easy on the valve train.
Brian Tooley Racing stage 3 truck cam - YouTube
Very easy on the valve train.
Brian Tooley Racing stage 3 truck cam - YouTube
Launching!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 227
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From: Houston, TX
as for rockers stock should be fine.
push rod get the brain tooley 5/16 hardened .08 wall ones but you have to measure what ones you need.
springs im on a set of pac 1218 and they seem like they would work for you or you could splurge and get the brain tooley platinum spring kit.
you also need to get the heads volume measured to make sure i am calculating all this correctly.
Last edited by bobfig; May 20, 2015 at 10:55 AM.
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idk about fly cutting as i dont understand the excel sheet that calculates it.
as for rockers stock should be fine.
push rod get the brain tooley 5/16 hardened .08 wall ones but you have to measure what ones you need.
springs im on a set of pac 1218 and they seem like they would work for you or you could splurge and get the brain tooley platinum spring kit.
you also need to get the heads volume measured to make sure i am calculating all this correctly.
as for rockers stock should be fine.
push rod get the brain tooley 5/16 hardened .08 wall ones but you have to measure what ones you need.
springs im on a set of pac 1218 and they seem like they would work for you or you could splurge and get the brain tooley platinum spring kit.
you also need to get the heads volume measured to make sure i am calculating all this correctly.
Launching!
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Houston, TX
you could also try and do it your self with a large injector and a nice pice of glass or plexi.
youtube how to as its on there. i tried using a flavor injector to do mine and was within 1cc.
also 1mm = 1cc
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I emailed the guys at Vinci Hi performance to see what they say. I'll update Yall when I get a reply
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This is what I sent.
[Quote] Ive got a 2005 extended cab silverado 4x4 with the 5.3l and3.42 gears. 33x12.50 tires with a 3” lift. I’m currently putting a stage 3transmission with a 3000FTI stall in it and 40k transcooler. It also has a coldair intake and AFE throttle body spacer if that makes a difference. Long tubeheaders are on the way and it will be dyno-tuned when finished. I also run 93octane.
I’ve also bought a set of 706 heads that have been ported,polished and milled 0.060 thousandths. I am looking a cam that will work withthese heads, something with low lift for piston to valve clearance if possible(I’m try to get by without having to flycut the pistons). I was recommended onthe LS1TECH the Vinci “Trucker” 216/224 .551/.551 LAS 115 cam. What is yourthoughts on cam selection and do you think it will work with these heads?
Also what kind of accessories, such as rocker, pushrods,valve springs, head gaskets ect. Do you recommend?
The truck is slow off the line stock but has plenty of highRPM power. I’m looking some low end if it means sacrificing a little top, Iplan to do 4.10 gears in the future. I guess I want something all the wayaround, pulling power and speed. It hooks to the sled maybe once a year andhits the strip a couple times a year. Mostly just street driven. Also, I likethe rough choppy sounding idle.
Hope you can help and thanks in advance! [Quote]
Here was his reply
[Quote]
Hi Kyle,
Keeping the lift under controlis paramount with your skinny heads. One issue is using a choppy cam whiletrying to maintain high degree of low end torque. Just about impossible. Your3K converter will help with the low end grunt as will the higher compression.Still 327cid is pretty stall when trying to carry a large duration cam. I thinkthe Trucker is about as intake durated as you could use and still have the lowend you are looking for. When the engine is tuned the tuner should try reducingthe idle timing down to 6 to 8 degrees below 1000 rpm. This will help step upthe chop without hurting the power down low. I would not use anyone’s singlespring package because if one breaks, the engine is toast. We make anaffordable truck specific kit with dual hi tensile silicon steel springs, ultralight retainers, hardened seats and locks and Viton seals for $299.99. Nomachining necessary. We also build a two at a time, heads on engine valvespring replacement tool. $119.99. I recommend the Yella Terra ultralite shaftmount rockers in 1.7 ratio due to your PTV issue. $599.99. Our .080” wall molypushrods are $149.99 per set. With .060 off your heads I would use the factoryGM gaskets. [Quote]
Whats yalls opinion?
[Quote] Ive got a 2005 extended cab silverado 4x4 with the 5.3l and3.42 gears. 33x12.50 tires with a 3” lift. I’m currently putting a stage 3transmission with a 3000FTI stall in it and 40k transcooler. It also has a coldair intake and AFE throttle body spacer if that makes a difference. Long tubeheaders are on the way and it will be dyno-tuned when finished. I also run 93octane.
I’ve also bought a set of 706 heads that have been ported,polished and milled 0.060 thousandths. I am looking a cam that will work withthese heads, something with low lift for piston to valve clearance if possible(I’m try to get by without having to flycut the pistons). I was recommended onthe LS1TECH the Vinci “Trucker” 216/224 .551/.551 LAS 115 cam. What is yourthoughts on cam selection and do you think it will work with these heads?
Also what kind of accessories, such as rocker, pushrods,valve springs, head gaskets ect. Do you recommend?
The truck is slow off the line stock but has plenty of highRPM power. I’m looking some low end if it means sacrificing a little top, Iplan to do 4.10 gears in the future. I guess I want something all the wayaround, pulling power and speed. It hooks to the sled maybe once a year andhits the strip a couple times a year. Mostly just street driven. Also, I likethe rough choppy sounding idle.
Hope you can help and thanks in advance! [Quote]
Here was his reply
[Quote]
Hi Kyle,
Keeping the lift under controlis paramount with your skinny heads. One issue is using a choppy cam whiletrying to maintain high degree of low end torque. Just about impossible. Your3K converter will help with the low end grunt as will the higher compression.Still 327cid is pretty stall when trying to carry a large duration cam. I thinkthe Trucker is about as intake durated as you could use and still have the lowend you are looking for. When the engine is tuned the tuner should try reducingthe idle timing down to 6 to 8 degrees below 1000 rpm. This will help step upthe chop without hurting the power down low. I would not use anyone’s singlespring package because if one breaks, the engine is toast. We make anaffordable truck specific kit with dual hi tensile silicon steel springs, ultralight retainers, hardened seats and locks and Viton seals for $299.99. Nomachining necessary. We also build a two at a time, heads on engine valvespring replacement tool. $119.99. I recommend the Yella Terra ultralite shaftmount rockers in 1.7 ratio due to your PTV issue. $599.99. Our .080” wall molypushrods are $149.99 per set. With .060 off your heads I would use the factoryGM gaskets. [Quote]
Whats yalls opinion?
Launching!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 227
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From: Houston, TX
[QUOTE=shortpump;18812444]This is what I sent.
Here was his reply
[Quote]
Hi Kyle,
Keeping the lift under controlis paramount with your skinny heads. One issue is using a choppy cam whiletrying to maintain high degree of low end torque. Just about impossible. Your3K converter will help with the low end grunt as will the higher compression.Still 327cid is pretty stall when trying to carry a large duration cam. I thinkthe Trucker is about as intake durated as you could use and still have the lowend you are looking for. When the engine is tuned the tuner should try reducingthe idle timing down to 6 to 8 degrees below 1000 rpm. This will help step upthe chop without hurting the power down low. I would not use anyone’s singlespring package because if one breaks, the engine is toast. We make anaffordable truck specific kit with dual hi tensile silicon steel springs, ultralight retainers, hardened seats and locks and Viton seals for $299.99. Nomachining necessary. We also build a two at a time, heads on engine valvespring replacement tool. $119.99. I recommend the Yella Terra ultralite shaftmount rockers in 1.7 ratio due to your PTV issue. $599.99. Our .080” wall molypushrods are $149.99 per set. With .060 off your heads I would use the factoryGM gaskets.
Whats yalls opinion? sounds like he is saying the trucker is about as big as you want.
goes on saying to get his spring kit all matched up for $299 would go with the brian tooley kit as more people run them and have had no problem. http://www.briantooleyracing.com/660...ers-sk001.html im honestly thinking it may be better in this instance to get hevier springs just because of possible clearance issues.
says to get their spring tool for $120, look at the trick flow TFS-90306 for $80 i have it and its nice.
says to get new $600 rockers that are the same ratio as stock. don't see it helping other then maybe lightening the valve train and wallet.
factory gasket imo was the plan anyways.
brian tooley push rods are good and are $94 a set
biggest reason i think the trucker cam is the best choice for you is because it would put your Dynamic compression at around 8.07 vs the BTR truck stage 3 cam that would put you at a 8.76. just a little to close for me and to run premium gas.
also something is e'ffed up with your post formatting. so many font and size bracketing.
Ive got a 2005 extended cab silverado 4x4 with the 5.3l and3.42 gears. 33x12.50 tires with a 3” lift. I’m currently putting a stage 3transmission with a 3000FTI stall in it and 40k transcooler. It also has a coldair intake and AFE throttle body spacer if that makes a difference. Long tubeheaders are on the way and it will be dyno-tuned when finished. I also run 93octane.
I’ve also bought a set of 706 heads that have been ported,polished and milled 0.060 thousandths. I am looking a cam that will work withthese heads, something with low lift for piston to valve clearance if possible(I’m try to get by without having to flycut the pistons). I was recommended onthe LS1TECH the Vinci “Trucker” 216/224 .551/.551 LAS 115 cam. What is yourthoughts on cam selection and do you think it will work with these heads?
Also what kind of accessories, such as rocker, pushrods,valve springs, head gaskets ect. Do you recommend?
The truck is slow off the line stock but has plenty of highRPM power. I’m looking some low end if it means sacrificing a little top, Iplan to do 4.10 gears in the future. I guess I want something all the wayaround, pulling power and speed. It hooks to the sled maybe once a year andhits the strip a couple times a year. Mostly just street driven. Also, I likethe rough choppy sounding idle.
Hope you can help and thanks in advance!
I’ve also bought a set of 706 heads that have been ported,polished and milled 0.060 thousandths. I am looking a cam that will work withthese heads, something with low lift for piston to valve clearance if possible(I’m try to get by without having to flycut the pistons). I was recommended onthe LS1TECH the Vinci “Trucker” 216/224 .551/.551 LAS 115 cam. What is yourthoughts on cam selection and do you think it will work with these heads?
Also what kind of accessories, such as rocker, pushrods,valve springs, head gaskets ect. Do you recommend?
The truck is slow off the line stock but has plenty of highRPM power. I’m looking some low end if it means sacrificing a little top, Iplan to do 4.10 gears in the future. I guess I want something all the wayaround, pulling power and speed. It hooks to the sled maybe once a year andhits the strip a couple times a year. Mostly just street driven. Also, I likethe rough choppy sounding idle.
Hope you can help and thanks in advance!
Here was his reply
[Quote]
Hi Kyle,
Keeping the lift under controlis paramount with your skinny heads. One issue is using a choppy cam whiletrying to maintain high degree of low end torque. Just about impossible. Your3K converter will help with the low end grunt as will the higher compression.Still 327cid is pretty stall when trying to carry a large duration cam. I thinkthe Trucker is about as intake durated as you could use and still have the lowend you are looking for. When the engine is tuned the tuner should try reducingthe idle timing down to 6 to 8 degrees below 1000 rpm. This will help step upthe chop without hurting the power down low. I would not use anyone’s singlespring package because if one breaks, the engine is toast. We make anaffordable truck specific kit with dual hi tensile silicon steel springs, ultralight retainers, hardened seats and locks and Viton seals for $299.99. Nomachining necessary. We also build a two at a time, heads on engine valvespring replacement tool. $119.99. I recommend the Yella Terra ultralite shaftmount rockers in 1.7 ratio due to your PTV issue. $599.99. Our .080” wall molypushrods are $149.99 per set. With .060 off your heads I would use the factoryGM gaskets.
Whats yalls opinion?
goes on saying to get his spring kit all matched up for $299 would go with the brian tooley kit as more people run them and have had no problem. http://www.briantooleyracing.com/660...ers-sk001.html im honestly thinking it may be better in this instance to get hevier springs just because of possible clearance issues.
says to get their spring tool for $120, look at the trick flow TFS-90306 for $80 i have it and its nice.
says to get new $600 rockers that are the same ratio as stock. don't see it helping other then maybe lightening the valve train and wallet.
factory gasket imo was the plan anyways.
brian tooley push rods are good and are $94 a set
biggest reason i think the trucker cam is the best choice for you is because it would put your Dynamic compression at around 8.07 vs the BTR truck stage 3 cam that would put you at a 8.76. just a little to close for me and to run premium gas.
also something is e'ffed up with your post formatting. so many font and size bracketing.
Last edited by bobfig; May 21, 2015 at 03:18 PM.
I think that cam looks pretty similar to the street sweeper that "fusion" was suggesting. IMO, you probably won't notice much difference between the two down low. Up high, the street sweeper will pull away.
He is correct, you can tune a choppy idle into your setup by cutting ignition timing at idle and make the bed rattle if you want it to lope. Never pick a cam for how it sounds at idle. Pick for how you want to drive.
I would not recommend Yella Terra's over the stock rocker. The steel rocker will have less fatigue and flex, and the roller on the YT actually adds weight over the valve. MOI and rocker stiffness are best on the stock rocker. Just do the trunion upgrade or else get some stock rockers that have already had them done.
Last point, lift has no effect on PTV. Only duration and ramp rate. When your valves reach max lift, the piston is way away from TDC. Two quick illustrations:
1. A 250/250 cam at 112 LSA with 0.500" lift will bang into your Pistons on first rotation,
2. A 210/210 cam at 112 LSA with 0.800" lift will clear easily.
Duration and ramp rate affect PTV, not lift.
He is correct, you can tune a choppy idle into your setup by cutting ignition timing at idle and make the bed rattle if you want it to lope. Never pick a cam for how it sounds at idle. Pick for how you want to drive.
I would not recommend Yella Terra's over the stock rocker. The steel rocker will have less fatigue and flex, and the roller on the YT actually adds weight over the valve. MOI and rocker stiffness are best on the stock rocker. Just do the trunion upgrade or else get some stock rockers that have already had them done.
Last point, lift has no effect on PTV. Only duration and ramp rate. When your valves reach max lift, the piston is way away from TDC. Two quick illustrations:
1. A 250/250 cam at 112 LSA with 0.500" lift will bang into your Pistons on first rotation,
2. A 210/210 cam at 112 LSA with 0.800" lift will clear easily.
Duration and ramp rate affect PTV, not lift.
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Here was my next question I asked him that he responded to:
"Alsodo you think with the heads milled this much, and all of these parts includingthe cam will let me get by without having to flycut the Pistons?"
This is what he said:
"Iam pretty sure the cam will fit. To be absolutely positive the cam should beinstalled and the PTV clearance checked. It will be close. A smaller cam couldbe used that would work for sure. .530" lift and 210/218 on duration wouldfit, for sure but of course it will not have as strong an idle. Perhaps a camwith similar specs to the trucker could be used to check the PTV. that would bethe best move."
Sorry about the different font or colors, I just copy and pasted from the email.
"Alsodo you think with the heads milled this much, and all of these parts includingthe cam will let me get by without having to flycut the Pistons?"
This is what he said:
"Iam pretty sure the cam will fit. To be absolutely positive the cam should beinstalled and the PTV clearance checked. It will be close. A smaller cam couldbe used that would work for sure. .530" lift and 210/218 on duration wouldfit, for sure but of course it will not have as strong an idle. Perhaps a camwith similar specs to the trucker could be used to check the PTV. that would bethe best move."
Sorry about the different font or colors, I just copy and pasted from the email.