01 Tahoe 5.3 cam
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01 Tahoe 5.3 cam I'm thinking of putting in cam part number 12561721 gm performance cam. With this cam do I need to upgrade my valve spring also do a tune? I plan on doing the tune just not right away if I don't need to.
First I've heard of these. Quick search seems to indicate you would not need springs.
However, if your truck has a lot of miles the springs will be worn anyway and it wouldn't hurt. But I would look at something more substantial like the Cam Motion drop in 5.3 cam. It will work with the cheap GM blue/ ls6 springs.
Mine gained 40rwhp over stock with one of those (205/210 duration) and still drives like stock.
However, if your truck has a lot of miles the springs will be worn anyway and it wouldn't hurt. But I would look at something more substantial like the Cam Motion drop in 5.3 cam. It will work with the cheap GM blue/ ls6 springs.
Mine gained 40rwhp over stock with one of those (205/210 duration) and still drives like stock.
+1 for Cam Motion if you want the best cam for your application. The GM cam may gain also but the CM cam I bet will give you more average power and lose less low-end power which is important in a heavy vehicle.
If you are set on a GM cam, I wouldn't waste your money on that cam new. You can find clean, lightly used LS1 factory cams for $50.
Cam then tune later is a bit backwards, IMO. A proper tune will add a little power on an otherwise stock vehicle measured on a dyno but the seat of pants feel, especially revising shifting of the transmission, should be significant and worthwhile. If you don't want to do cam and tune at the same time, I would find a tuner that will re-tune for free or cheap later once you add a cam or other parts, and get the tune first.
If you are set on a GM cam, I wouldn't waste your money on that cam new. You can find clean, lightly used LS1 factory cams for $50.
Cam then tune later is a bit backwards, IMO. A proper tune will add a little power on an otherwise stock vehicle measured on a dyno but the seat of pants feel, especially revising shifting of the transmission, should be significant and worthwhile. If you don't want to do cam and tune at the same time, I would find a tuner that will re-tune for free or cheap later once you add a cam or other parts, and get the tune first.
Last edited by Mercier; Jul 3, 2016 at 06:45 AM.
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I actually just purchased the same GM cam from here yesterday. $75 shipped with only 31k on it and pics looked good. I was going to go with a 205/210 .525/.525 SDPC cam or the cam motion version but at $300 its a cheap but not so cheap cam lol. I should have the GM cam, and new lifters/trays and moly pushrods for the cost of the 205/210 cam alone.
Car craft did a cam test of all the OE cams in a 5.3 and the 1721 (LQ9) cam was the only one without considerable tq/hp loss below 3k. LQ9 cam only lost 8ftlbs below 2500 and gained 40hp at 6k.
Since mine is a stock 99 5.3 with 150k and supercharger pushing 10psi at 5200 I wanted driveability and low RPM grunt being a DD style car. I'll have to tune it a bit more with the LQ9 cam but it should affect my 1700-2200 cruise rpm noticably but when I get on it and spin to 6k should be a huge difference. IF the came made 40hp NA I figure with 10psi I should see about double that.
Car craft did a cam test of all the OE cams in a 5.3 and the 1721 (LQ9) cam was the only one without considerable tq/hp loss below 3k. LQ9 cam only lost 8ftlbs below 2500 and gained 40hp at 6k.
Since mine is a stock 99 5.3 with 150k and supercharger pushing 10psi at 5200 I wanted driveability and low RPM grunt being a DD style car. I'll have to tune it a bit more with the LQ9 cam but it should affect my 1700-2200 cruise rpm noticably but when I get on it and spin to 6k should be a huge difference. IF the came made 40hp NA I figure with 10psi I should see about double that.
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