lm7 swap
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 166
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From: Central MN
lm7 swap I'm slowly gathering parts as my wallet allow and I am trying to figure out what the best route would be to go with this.
I've got 5.3 block and heads that I currently plan on using but I may have the opportunity to swap out the heads for something a little more desirable (although still just factory heads)
My long term goals are to have a pretty damn fast turbo car. Short term goals however are to have a running driving NA FI car that I can play around with while I scrounge up more money for the turbo kit and headers and what not.
I'm planning on keeping essentially all stock internals other than the cam so I need help choosing one. here is some info on what the plans are.
A) I beat the living crap out of the car and I will continue to do so no matter what engine is in it. But I do take it on long highway trips also.
B) Idle isn't a super important factor, but it must idle on it's on and not be a terrible driver.
C) I want to be able to use this cam for both my NA engine and then later down the road my turbo build (remember not a ***** to the walls build it's going to have stock internals)
D) I will be stick with a 4l80 most likely and probably a 9" rear.
E) If I don't need to add a vacuum pump to allow my brakes to have enough vacuum that would be great, but not the end of the world.
F) Because this thing gets driven in town and on cruises I don't think I'll be adding a terribly large stall converter (unless someone gives a better reason to)
G) Mileage isn't terribly important as my fact 72 Buick 350 only gets about 12-14 mpg with my heavy right foot. And I am fairly certain the FI 5.3 will get better than that.
Any other things that I should address before finding a decent cam?
I've got 5.3 block and heads that I currently plan on using but I may have the opportunity to swap out the heads for something a little more desirable (although still just factory heads)
My long term goals are to have a pretty damn fast turbo car. Short term goals however are to have a running driving NA FI car that I can play around with while I scrounge up more money for the turbo kit and headers and what not.
I'm planning on keeping essentially all stock internals other than the cam so I need help choosing one. here is some info on what the plans are.
A) I beat the living crap out of the car and I will continue to do so no matter what engine is in it. But I do take it on long highway trips also.
B) Idle isn't a super important factor, but it must idle on it's on and not be a terrible driver.
C) I want to be able to use this cam for both my NA engine and then later down the road my turbo build (remember not a ***** to the walls build it's going to have stock internals)
D) I will be stick with a 4l80 most likely and probably a 9" rear.
E) If I don't need to add a vacuum pump to allow my brakes to have enough vacuum that would be great, but not the end of the world.
F) Because this thing gets driven in town and on cruises I don't think I'll be adding a terribly large stall converter (unless someone gives a better reason to)
G) Mileage isn't terribly important as my fact 72 Buick 350 only gets about 12-14 mpg with my heavy right foot. And I am fairly certain the FI 5.3 will get better than that.
Any other things that I should address before finding a decent cam?
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
You should have your turbo(s) decided before choosing a cam. It will make a huge difference.
Any cam large enough to require a vacuum pump for the brake booster isn't going to make a very good turbo cam unless you have very large turbine twins.
Any cam large enough to require a vacuum pump for the brake booster isn't going to make a very good turbo cam unless you have very large turbine twins.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Central MN
I'll be sticking to a single turbo and like I said, stock internals so I can't/don't want to go to large as I want to be able to drive this thing with my foot without having to worry about cracking pistons or anything else.
And honestly maybe the stock can would be fine in this aspect until I change things up later I don't know?
And honestly maybe the stock can would be fine in this aspect until I change things up later I don't know?
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
Get something mild. My 2 favorite go-to cams for a boost 4.8 or 5.3 are the Trick Flow 216/220 or the JFR Triple 12.
Perform solid out of boost and great in boost. Very friendly and torquey cams.
Perform solid out of boost and great in boost. Very friendly and torquey cams.
