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Old Oct 9, 2015 | 08:55 AM
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Default Worth the trouble???

Hey guys,
Building a G-Body wagon in my HS AUTO CLASS with a 5.3L in it.
I wanted to build a little more torque in it so, we have a 01 or 02 LQ4 cam laying around and my students and I are wanting to know if there would be ANY gain at all from swapping this LQ4 cam in our 02 5.3L??
I am kinda thinking that there MIGHT be a little gain on upper RPM's.
But I don't know if it is worth the trouble or not.
Wagon isn't very heavy and i'm still too new at this LS stuff to know if it is a good swap or not, I'm sure someone has done it.

Thanks in Advance for your time reading this.
Anxiously waiting to read responses?

Mike
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Old Oct 9, 2015 | 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by juveteach
Hey guys,
Building a G-Body wagon in my HS AUTO CLASS with a 5.3L in it.
I wanted to build a little more torque in it so, we have a 01 or 02 LQ4 cam laying around and my students and I are wanting to know if there would be ANY gain at all from swapping this LQ4 cam in our 02 5.3L??
I am kinda thinking that there MIGHT be a little gain on upper RPM's.
But I don't know if it is worth the trouble or not.
Wagon isn't very heavy and i'm still too new at this LS stuff to know if it is a good swap or not, I'm sure someone has done it.

Thanks in Advance for your time reading this.
Anxiously waiting to read responses?

Mike
Somebody just brought up this article yesterday which specifically answers your question (same cam as LQ9: 196/207 .467/.470 116 right?):

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/...st-comparison/

Yes, it definitely is worth 40 (flywheel) HP at 6500 RPM or 24 HP at 5500 RPM...not too shabby for a stock cam.
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Old Oct 9, 2015 | 10:10 AM
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If anything, I would think it would be a good learning experience for the students.
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Old Oct 9, 2015 | 11:26 AM
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That article should not have published numbers like the 40hp at 6500, because 6500 is beyond where either cam is used. A good resource if you understand it.
Better stated as a peak to peak and average gains
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Old Oct 9, 2015 | 12:09 PM
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Thanks guys for the info.
I saw that article and that is why I am asking the question.
I figured someone on here has already experienced the swap 1st hand and could give some feedback.
This would be our 2nd swap in class. We finished the 84 Silverado.
It made 340RWHP with just a cam and tune.

Does anyone know what a STOCK 5.3L should make for power with just headers and a tune? I was kinda thinking 280-300rwhp?...how far off am I?

That's why I wanted to do this cam swap to make like 300 at the tires, really perk up this old UGLY wagon.
Thanks
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Old Oct 13, 2015 | 08:54 AM
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From: Charlotte NC
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Originally Posted by juveteach
Thanks guys for the info.
I saw that article and that is why I am asking the question.
I figured someone on here has already experienced the swap 1st hand and could give some feedback.
This would be our 2nd swap in class. We finished the 84 Silverado.
It made 340RWHP with just a cam and tune.

Does anyone know what a STOCK 5.3L should make for power with just headers and a tune? I was kinda thinking 280-300rwhp?...how far off am I?

That's why I wanted to do this cam swap to make like 300 at the tires, really perk up this old UGLY wagon.
Thanks
That seems very optimistic without full bolt ons.
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