Is This A Decent Cam For Daily Driver Status?
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 27
Likes: 14
i just purchased a cam from Scoggins Dickey, patterned after an LS6 cam. Supposedly reground to make up for lost low end in a smaller 4.8/5.3, but still really good power gains. price was too good to pass up.
https://sdparts.com/i-24132276?q=powermax
https://sdparts.com/i-24132276?q=powermax
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,290
Likes: 3,615
From: Central Cal.
i just purchased a cam from Scoggins Dickey, patterned after an LS6 cam. Supposedly reground to make up for lost low end in a smaller 4.8/5.3, but still really good power gains. price was too good to pass up.
https://sdparts.com/i-24132276?q=powermax
https://sdparts.com/i-24132276?q=powermax
That cam has the same duration #'s at .050" as the GM Hot cam... just a little more lift. Again, not a bad cam.. My son is running the GM Hot Cam in his 5.3 and it's soggy down low, and lack-luster up top. It does NOTHING well in my opinion. Maybe the higher lift will wake it up a little bit? Otherwise, not a gamble I'm willing to take and the LSA is poop and the price is fly-covered poop for the cam that it is.
LS1Tech Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 1,522
From: Ohio, Georgia, Nevada, Texas
@68Formula thanks for the tag.
OP,
We see you're looking for a cam that has an idle to it and makes good power/torque up to 6,000 rpm. Take a look at our Big Torkinator SUM-8728R1. Specs on it are .600/.585, 212/218, 110+3 with -5* of overlap. This is something we'd recommend for a truck with a 6.0 that wants to use it as a truck and tow with it. We think the 8728R1 will fit the bill well here for you. It might be on the "small" side for a 6.0 but for what you're describing it's sized right.
The intake valve closing (IVC) is one thing we like with this cam for what you're looking for. The earlier we close the intake valve the lower the powerband will start and end. That BTR weekend warrior 224/230 111+2 cam you listed would have a 41* IVC. That's something we'd put in a hot street truck that doesn't mind putting a 2,500+ stall in. The 8728R1 has an IVC of 33* and will work well with a stock stall. It's going to promote strong torque from 2,000 on up and will pull well to 6,500 with our .600" lift SUM-174004 beehives. With a -1* intake valve opening (IVO) it will have a nice steady lope to it. It won't be a chop monster but you'll notice it and it will be easy to get along with. With its -5* overlap this will be very user-friendly with great driveability.
You're going to want some better pushrods. With the 8728R1 we typically see a 7.400" or 7.425" pushrod used. Things can vary so we always recommend measuring for pushrod length before purchasing pushrods. If you don't already have a pushrod length checker we offer the Trickflow TFS-9501. For pushrods, we recommend a minimum of a 5/16" Chromoly pushrod with a .080" wall. You can typically find a set of 16 for around $100. From there you can get into a thicker wall or larger diameter pushrod. For excellent stability and strength check out our 11/32" HDR pushrods with a .120" wall. These have 25% less stress and 28% less deflection than a typical 5/16" x .080" wall Chromoly pushrod.
Something else to help with the install is our cam swap install kit. That is part number CMB-09-0029. This includes the timing cover gasket, water pump gaskets, oil pump o-rings, LS2 timing chain, valve cover gaskets, and harmonic balancer bolt.
OP,
We see you're looking for a cam that has an idle to it and makes good power/torque up to 6,000 rpm. Take a look at our Big Torkinator SUM-8728R1. Specs on it are .600/.585, 212/218, 110+3 with -5* of overlap. This is something we'd recommend for a truck with a 6.0 that wants to use it as a truck and tow with it. We think the 8728R1 will fit the bill well here for you. It might be on the "small" side for a 6.0 but for what you're describing it's sized right.
The intake valve closing (IVC) is one thing we like with this cam for what you're looking for. The earlier we close the intake valve the lower the powerband will start and end. That BTR weekend warrior 224/230 111+2 cam you listed would have a 41* IVC. That's something we'd put in a hot street truck that doesn't mind putting a 2,500+ stall in. The 8728R1 has an IVC of 33* and will work well with a stock stall. It's going to promote strong torque from 2,000 on up and will pull well to 6,500 with our .600" lift SUM-174004 beehives. With a -1* intake valve opening (IVO) it will have a nice steady lope to it. It won't be a chop monster but you'll notice it and it will be easy to get along with. With its -5* overlap this will be very user-friendly with great driveability.
You're going to want some better pushrods. With the 8728R1 we typically see a 7.400" or 7.425" pushrod used. Things can vary so we always recommend measuring for pushrod length before purchasing pushrods. If you don't already have a pushrod length checker we offer the Trickflow TFS-9501. For pushrods, we recommend a minimum of a 5/16" Chromoly pushrod with a .080" wall. You can typically find a set of 16 for around $100. From there you can get into a thicker wall or larger diameter pushrod. For excellent stability and strength check out our 11/32" HDR pushrods with a .120" wall. These have 25% less stress and 28% less deflection than a typical 5/16" x .080" wall Chromoly pushrod.
Something else to help with the install is our cam swap install kit. That is part number CMB-09-0029. This includes the timing cover gasket, water pump gaskets, oil pump o-rings, LS2 timing chain, valve cover gaskets, and harmonic balancer bolt.
