L33 5.3, BTR Cam too big?
#1
L33 5.3, BTR Cam too big?
I’m about to ask a question I should have asked before doing what I did.
I upgraded my L33 with a BTR stage 2 cam:
227/238 .620/.605 113.5+2.5
I took the recommendation of the shop and my tuner says it’s too big a cam for the 5.3.
I also had trunnion bearing upgrade so I’m wondering if i should just run this, or go to a smaller cam?
I upgraded my L33 with a BTR stage 2 cam:
227/238 .620/.605 113.5+2.5
I took the recommendation of the shop and my tuner says it’s too big a cam for the 5.3.
I also had trunnion bearing upgrade so I’m wondering if i should just run this, or go to a smaller cam?
#3
TECH Senior Member
I’m about to ask a question I should have asked before doing what I did.
I upgraded my L33 with a BTR stage 2 cam:
227/238 .620/.605 113.5+2.5
I took the recommendation of the shop and my tuner says it’s too big a cam for the 5.3.
I also had trunnion bearing upgrade so I’m wondering if i should just run this, or go to a smaller cam?
I upgraded my L33 with a BTR stage 2 cam:
227/238 .620/.605 113.5+2.5
I took the recommendation of the shop and my tuner says it’s too big a cam for the 5.3.
I also had trunnion bearing upgrade so I’m wondering if i should just run this, or go to a smaller cam?
#5
TECH Senior Member
The LS1 intake is only OK, but feeding a 5.3 rather than the 5.7 it came on might help some there.
If it were me, I would put a High Lift Hot Cam in it for a bit more low end, but that's just me.
#6
Last edited by Elthirty3; 09-16-2020 at 01:08 AM.
#7
TECH Enthusiast
Are you referring to the GM Ls Hot Cam?
https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/88958753.html
https://www.gmperformancemotor.com/parts/88958753.html
http://www.ws6project.com/user_stor/...oducts_id=8746
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G Atsma (09-16-2020)
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#8
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
With the 4l60 and the 3000 stall it will be fine, in fact I think you will love that cam. If you haven't already bought the stall though I would go a little higher on stall speed.
Its certainly a large cam but not TO BIG that you will not be able to have it tuned to drive good.
The intake would be the main thing I would wanna change.
Its certainly a large cam but not TO BIG that you will not be able to have it tuned to drive good.
The intake would be the main thing I would wanna change.
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Bob570 (09-16-2020)
#9
What's the rear gear? And what's the max rpm you intend to shift? On the plus side, the car is pretty light and you have at least a decent stall (although 3600+ would be better for that cam). But it'll need gears too (3.73 or 4.11s), and unless you plan on shifting at 7k, you'll not really take the advantage where that cam makes peak power in a 5.3L.
Also, keep in mind, if your tuner is telling you it's too big, then he may struggle to get it driveable. WS6's version of the Hot Cam mentioned above would probably be a much better choice for what you're doing.
Also, keep in mind, if your tuner is telling you it's too big, then he may struggle to get it driveable. WS6's version of the Hot Cam mentioned above would probably be a much better choice for what you're doing.
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00pooterSS (09-16-2020)
#10
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (1)
I had that same cam, BTR stage 2 in my 5.7. I didnt like the street manners, So I took it out and put a summit stage 1 ghost cam in. 222/233. Its what I was after in the beginning. I can imagine the btr stage 2 being even more rowdy in a 5.3. Definitely wouldnt be my choice.
Honestly it didnt lope very hard. Its just like it was lacking low speed tq, so the idle was weak. I had another very experienced tuner try and tune it for me. I left the car with him for a week. He said it has a weak idle and maybe I had some leaking valves in the heads. I didnt think I did but I was planning on changing to 243 heads anyways....that made zero difference. My problem is, the idle rpm it seemed to like and sound the best, it was just too weak to not die in parking lot maneuvers or throttle blips while not moving.
honestly, knowing what I do know, and how much my tuning skills has progressed, I could get it to work, but the stage 1 ghost cam seemed to make just as much power and drives much better....so I see no point. my .02
Honestly it didnt lope very hard. Its just like it was lacking low speed tq, so the idle was weak. I had another very experienced tuner try and tune it for me. I left the car with him for a week. He said it has a weak idle and maybe I had some leaking valves in the heads. I didnt think I did but I was planning on changing to 243 heads anyways....that made zero difference. My problem is, the idle rpm it seemed to like and sound the best, it was just too weak to not die in parking lot maneuvers or throttle blips while not moving.
honestly, knowing what I do know, and how much my tuning skills has progressed, I could get it to work, but the stage 1 ghost cam seemed to make just as much power and drives much better....so I see no point. my .02
#11
What's the rear gear? And what's the max rpm you intend to shift? On the plus side, the car is pretty light and you have at least a decent stall (although 3600+ would be better for that cam). But it'll need gears too (3.73 or 4.11s), and unless you plan on shifting at 7k, you'll not really take the advantage where that cam makes peak power in a 5.3L.
Also, keep in mind, if your tuner is telling you it's too big, then he may struggle to get it driveable. WS6's version of the Hot Cam mentioned above would probably be a much better choice for what you're doing.
Also, keep in mind, if your tuner is telling you it's too big, then he may struggle to get it driveable. WS6's version of the Hot Cam mentioned above would probably be a much better choice for what you're doing.
Well, lesson learned here, should have done my own research before. Thanks for all the great info.
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G Atsma (09-16-2020)
#12
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (24)
So just as a reference point. My LM7 is running a 266/268 (advertised duration)(214/216 @.050) .595/.596 112+4. I have MMS 205 heads (55 cc), ported Fast 92 intake, and 1.75 primary headers. I run a 3200 stall and the street manners are rather good in my semi tuned current state(still working my VE table). This thing loves to live above 4000, and shifts at 7200. I am also in a Chevy II, so my weight is very similar to the OP. I currently have 3.08 rear gear, so that does hamper things a bit.
#14
TECH Senior Member
And "drivable" is VERY subjective. While some might think a cam that bucks and lopes like a dog shi--ing peach seeds "drives like stock", others would prefer a more "civilized" experience.
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68Formula (09-16-2020)
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#16
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (40)
That's a lot of cam for a 5.3, but with a light car and a big converter you can get away with that.
It's gonna be rowdy, which I personally think fits that car.
I would do a 4000 stall, and some 4:xx gears, sticky tires, and maybe a 150 shot on top of it
G brought up a good point, heads.. You're gonna want more compression. I would pull them and shave them 20-30 thousandths and run a .040 or .045 gasket (ws6 store sells .045 headgaskets for like $70 a set) and get a better intake manifold and you can make that cam work out. You can always leave the cam and do other upgrades as you go.
Typically I would say that's too much cam, but you have the right car for "too much" cam. I'd say you're at the upper borderline of what I would put in it, but with the right setup it'll work.
It's gonna be rowdy, which I personally think fits that car.
I would do a 4000 stall, and some 4:xx gears, sticky tires, and maybe a 150 shot on top of it
G brought up a good point, heads.. You're gonna want more compression. I would pull them and shave them 20-30 thousandths and run a .040 or .045 gasket (ws6 store sells .045 headgaskets for like $70 a set) and get a better intake manifold and you can make that cam work out. You can always leave the cam and do other upgrades as you go.
Typically I would say that's too much cam, but you have the right car for "too much" cam. I'd say you're at the upper borderline of what I would put in it, but with the right setup it'll work.
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G Atsma (09-16-2020)
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#20
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That cam is on the large side for a 5.3 and wouldn't be our 1st choice. Agree with others with a stall converter and some gears would help tame it. It will have a rowdy idle in a 5.3. Being in a lighter Nova vs. a heavy truck will help.
If a customer contacted us with this combo we would recommend the Ghost cam that Kfxguy mentioned. Specs on it are .600/.575, 222/233, 115+3 with -3* of overlap. It's a stealthy/smooth idling cam that packs a punch. It will have excellent street manners and be easy to tune. With the common PAC .600 lift beehive spring pack, it will be happy to run out to 7,000 rpm. We carry those through Trickflow TFS-16918-16. Your converter would be plenty sufficient for the Ghost cam.
If you wanted something that had some bark to it but didn't require a high stall converter look at our stage 3 truck cam SUM-8713. Specs on it are .545/.545, 222/231, 112+5 with 3* of overlap. It will have a lopey idle with its 4* IVO. With its 38* IVC will have a great mid-range and good top-end out to 6,700+ rpm. Being a lower lift cam it will pair well with the budget-friendly LS6 springs. We have our own version of LS6 springs as part number SUM-174002.
If a customer contacted us with this combo we would recommend the Ghost cam that Kfxguy mentioned. Specs on it are .600/.575, 222/233, 115+3 with -3* of overlap. It's a stealthy/smooth idling cam that packs a punch. It will have excellent street manners and be easy to tune. With the common PAC .600 lift beehive spring pack, it will be happy to run out to 7,000 rpm. We carry those through Trickflow TFS-16918-16. Your converter would be plenty sufficient for the Ghost cam.
If you wanted something that had some bark to it but didn't require a high stall converter look at our stage 3 truck cam SUM-8713. Specs on it are .545/.545, 222/231, 112+5 with 3* of overlap. It will have a lopey idle with its 4* IVO. With its 38* IVC will have a great mid-range and good top-end out to 6,700+ rpm. Being a lower lift cam it will pair well with the budget-friendly LS6 springs. We have our own version of LS6 springs as part number SUM-174002.