Bspeck82

Looking to tear into a 5.3 in a truck that weights more than a couple tons. Just looking to add some character to it, wake it up. While retaining the ability to haul around our real muscle cars. It will be accompanied by stock 799s heads, longtubes and full exhaust with a stall converter. The usual basics. Any recommendations on a cam? I need as much torque as possible from around idle on up. Dont care what it revs too. Dont care how it sounds.

00pooterSS

iTrader: (40)

Check out the drop in truck cams. They are built for what you're looking for and retain stock pushrods and valve springs.

If you're handy pull the heads (unless you mean they'll already be off) and mill them a little too for a little more low end, efficiency, torque, power etc and to get back some of the dynamic compression you'll lose with the cam.

Dragls

How dare you say that on LS1tech!

slogo

http://sdparts.com/i-22100614-sdpc-s...0-525-115.html
don't know if scoggin and dickey are vendors or not. if not google sd0053

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

What stall converter are you going with?

1FastBrick

iTrader: (16)

FYI, Yes SDPC is a sponsor on this board.

00pooterSS

iTrader: (40)

Good one. Requires LS6 springs and last time I looked them up at scoggin dickey they were only about $70

G Atsma

I would go a bit stouter than LS6 springs, like a PAC 1218 (I THINK that's it..) . Call it life insurance for your valvetrain...

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

LS6 springs are perfectly fine for a NA engine with mild lift under .59X". Their lower seat pressure will be better for noise and valvetrain wear.

Bspeck82

The entire valvetrain minus rockers will be changed. I will run high lift springs, probably duals. As for the converter it will be a circle D budget truck converter.

00pooterSS

iTrader: (40)

Dual springs/high pressure springs is just more parasitic drain and more wear and tear if they aren't necessary. That's not really an area where overkill is better.

G Atsma

I was under the (possibly mistaken) impression that LS6 springs were only good for .550 or slightly above, but not approaching .600.

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

The LS6 cam itself is 0.551" / 0.547" int/exh lift. There is some headroom there, but as it is .55X" of lift is plenty given proper duration. The reported cases I've seen were all for lift above .6XX". For the intended purpose of this truck cam, there is no need for lift above .6XX".

Darth_V8r

iTrader: (4)

Your best play might actually be some rockers. Put a set of 1.85's or such on there to gain the lift and cylinder pressure. That would give it some more pop ont he exhaust note without sacrificing any off idle torques. Less invasive, too

00pooterSS

iTrader: (40)

You are correct, thing is the "truck" cams range from around .500-.55x IIRC, with most being under .550

Agreed

I never considered rockers only, have you seen any literature with results from rockers only I could read on? Or know someone that's tried it? Curious how they liked it, especially if they did it on a truck.

G Atsma

One other thing I forgot to mention was that LS6 springs were a bit "soft" for the application, with the result that some knowledgeable people don't even like them much in their intended application. BUT this might just be "internet rhetoric"....

Darth_V8r

iTrader: (4)

Most of the rockers only stuff I've seen was all tq gains. Like 8/18 hp/tq. Trucks like high idle vacuum for good off idle torque. A simple rocker upgrade won't affect that. Might even improve it

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

If you spend a lot of time above 5k rpm, then that's fair to say. Most street cars don't see this kind of use, especially trucks. The LS6 valvetrain was designed for spirited street use with track capabilities. There is some trade-off to be said about springs that are too snappy on an already noisy LS valvetrain, including extra stress on lifters. The latest LS6 springs, IMO, provide a happy medium of driveability and performance with little compromise. For racing applications, a custom valvetrain is prescribed.

G Atsma

OK, thanks for clarifying!

Bspeck82

What lobes are recommended for heavy truck applications with torque and durability in mind?