Help with cam for LS1 5.7 Swap in Tahoe
#1
Help with cam for LS1 5.7 Swap in Tahoe
Basically I have a 1996 Tahoe 2 door 4x4 and just found a huge crack in the L31 Vortec 350 so that engine is going bye. I just bought a 2001 Camaro SS and am pulling the LS1 5.7 to put in the tahoe. Considering this thing weighs about 4700 pounds I should get rid of the "car" camshaft. The tahoe does have 3.73 gears at least with 30.5" tires. I'm going to have 1 3/4" long tube headers, 2.5" exhaust, air intake, electric fans, STOCK STALL CONVERTER, either a TBSS intake manifold or LQ4 intake manifold, and 241 heads. I can upgrade the valve springs if needed. I do want something that is capable to tow if I need to, which would be pretty rare. It would be nice to find a cam that increases low end torque and some horsepower up top (which isn't as important) and gets around the same mileage as the stock cam. I would prefer to find a cam with .550"/.550" or less valve lift since I want something reliable, and emissions aren't as issue since I'm in Nevada, but it would be nice to not have a smelly cam. Max rpm for the engine would be 6000. Thanks for any help.
Last edited by Fast 95 Z28; 05-02-2017 at 10:48 AM.
#2
TECH Senior Member
Look into the "truck cams" from Cam Motion, Brian Tooley, Tick Performance, Martin Smallwood, or others. Look for durations around 205/210 to 212/218 or so, lifts up to .550" so you can use LS6 springs. Keep the overlap to -10 or more for smooth running if that's what you want.
#3
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Fwiw valve lift doesnt kill the reliability of the engine, cam or springs. You want torque with a smaller duration for a truck then you've gotta raise the lift.
We have 3 or 4 torque cams thatll work with a stock stall no problem.
Our budget cam kits run $515 for cam and beehive pac1218s which are good to .600 lift. You can reuse your stock prs.
For that setup id recommend a 219/223 with .590 lift on a 111+1 you wont have to pull it above 6k and itll have a nice little lope at idle.
We have 3 or 4 torque cams thatll work with a stock stall no problem.
Our budget cam kits run $515 for cam and beehive pac1218s which are good to .600 lift. You can reuse your stock prs.
For that setup id recommend a 219/223 with .590 lift on a 111+1 you wont have to pull it above 6k and itll have a nice little lope at idle.
#4
Fwiw valve lift doesnt kill the reliability of the engine, cam or springs. You want torque with a smaller duration for a truck then you've gotta raise the lift.
We have 3 or 4 torque cams thatll work with a stock stall no problem.
Our budget cam kits run $515 for cam and beehive pac1218s which are good to .600 lift. You can reuse your stock prs.
For that setup id recommend a 219/223 with .590 lift on a 111+1 you wont have to pull it above 6k and itll have a nice little lope at idle.
We have 3 or 4 torque cams thatll work with a stock stall no problem.
Our budget cam kits run $515 for cam and beehive pac1218s which are good to .600 lift. You can reuse your stock prs.
For that setup id recommend a 219/223 with .590 lift on a 111+1 you wont have to pull it above 6k and itll have a nice little lope at idle.
#5
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No flycutting at all. Your whole drivetrain would suck the power up, but at the crank with your planned upgrades youd see at least 60ftlbs over stock. The horsepower wouldn't be as high due to the 6k max rpm but still a very healthy gain and keep the low end torque.
#6
No flycutting at all. Your whole drivetrain would suck the power up, but at the crank with your planned upgrades youd see at least 60ftlbs over stock. The horsepower wouldn't be as high due to the 6k max rpm but still a very healthy gain and keep the low end torque.
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#8
Look into the "truck cams" from Cam Motion, Brian Tooley, Tick Performance, Martin Smallwood, or others. Look for durations around 205/210 to 212/218 or so, lifts up to .550" so you can use LS6 springs. Keep the overlap to -10 or more for smooth running if that's what you want.
#9
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It made 50hp and 25tq on a gen4 5.3 with an nnbs intake.
Nearly any cam will do at least that and custom ground will make more than that.
Esp with no accessories.
The higher lift cam they have would be a better choice between the two but still is pretty low in gains.
Nearly any cam will do at least that and custom ground will make more than that.
Esp with no accessories.
The higher lift cam they have would be a better choice between the two but still is pretty low in gains.
#10
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Guess I'm late to this party. I'd do 214/224-112+4 for that truck 5.7.
Do not expect to see 450hp though.
Do not expect to see 450hp though.
#11
It made 50hp and 25tq on a gen4 5.3 with an nnbs intake.
Nearly any cam will do at least that and custom ground will make more than that.
Esp with no accessories.
The higher lift cam they have would be a better choice between the two but still is pretty low in gains.
Nearly any cam will do at least that and custom ground will make more than that.
Esp with no accessories.
The higher lift cam they have would be a better choice between the two but still is pretty low in gains.
#12
#13
TECH Veteran
100 guys... 100 opinions! Leave it to a real expert. Call Pat G and let him assist you.
#14
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The tbss intake is the nnbs intake.
I believe the only dyno that uses all accy is the one GM uses due to keeping their SAE-J qualifications and certification.
I could be wrong though but most aftermarket use no accy.
Tusky, while we are not patg, we are professionals in this industry and experts as well, and do not charge to custom spec a cam either.
I believe the only dyno that uses all accy is the one GM uses due to keeping their SAE-J qualifications and certification.
I could be wrong though but most aftermarket use no accy.
Tusky, while we are not patg, we are professionals in this industry and experts as well, and do not charge to custom spec a cam either.
#15
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It'd be a custom grind. One I came up with as a wet dream cam for my suburban. But honestly, it's best to call people who know like Martin Smallwood. I get a kick out of talking cam specs, etc, but even for my own ****, I call people smarter than myself.
#16
The tbss intake is the nnbs intake.
I believe the only dyno that uses all accy is the one GM uses due to keeping their SAE-J qualifications and certification.
I could be wrong though but most aftermarket use no accy.
Tusky, while we are not patg, we are professionals in this industry and experts as well, and do not charge to custom spec a cam either.
I believe the only dyno that uses all accy is the one GM uses due to keeping their SAE-J qualifications and certification.
I could be wrong though but most aftermarket use no accy.
Tusky, while we are not patg, we are professionals in this industry and experts as well, and do not charge to custom spec a cam either.