5.3 LM7 Questions
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 12
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From: Louisiana
5.3 LM7 Questions What's up everyone.
I've been a lurker for a while and decided it was time for my first post.
I'm building a 1985 S10 with a 5.3 LM7 with a 4L60e transmission. I'm looking to build a fun little street truck that I can daily if I want, nothing crazy! I'm new to the LS platform so I've been doing a ton of reading and research and I'm starting to dive myself crazy!
The 5.3 I got is supposed to be less than 90k miles, but I seriously doubt that. There are signs that the engine was smoking, and for that reason I'm going through the entire motor and going to freshen it up with new bearings, and rings.
My plans for the build is:
TBSS Intake
90mm TB
LS3 Timing Gears
LS7 Lifters
LS9 Head Gasket
PAC 1218 valve springs
Stock 862 heads with new seals
3000 Stall Converter
Does that seem like a decent parts list? If not, what would be better?
Where I'm having trouble decided is which cam to go with. I want a cam that will give me a nice choppy idle, but I don't want it to be a turd down low. I've been eyeing the TSP Chopacabra, the BTR Truck Norris, or a Summit Pro LS cam.
What cam would yall recommend going with, even if it's not one I listed?
I've been a lurker for a while and decided it was time for my first post.
I'm building a 1985 S10 with a 5.3 LM7 with a 4L60e transmission. I'm looking to build a fun little street truck that I can daily if I want, nothing crazy! I'm new to the LS platform so I've been doing a ton of reading and research and I'm starting to dive myself crazy!
The 5.3 I got is supposed to be less than 90k miles, but I seriously doubt that. There are signs that the engine was smoking, and for that reason I'm going through the entire motor and going to freshen it up with new bearings, and rings.
My plans for the build is:
TBSS Intake
90mm TB
LS3 Timing Gears
LS7 Lifters
LS9 Head Gasket
PAC 1218 valve springs
Stock 862 heads with new seals
3000 Stall Converter
Does that seem like a decent parts list? If not, what would be better?
Where I'm having trouble decided is which cam to go with. I want a cam that will give me a nice choppy idle, but I don't want it to be a turd down low. I've been eyeing the TSP Chopacabra, the BTR Truck Norris, or a Summit Pro LS cam.
What cam would yall recommend going with, even if it's not one I listed?
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 1,158
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
The Truck Norris will give you a bunch of low end. Don't use LS9 gaskets, get BTR small bore LS9 style gaskets. You don't want that extra dead space up top. If you're going to use LS7 lifters, try to find genuine GM ones, NOT Delphi. They are known to fail. Otherwise, that combo sounds like it should scoot.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
@LS1Formulation are you referring to these head gaskets?
https://briantooleyracing.com/btr-sm...r973010-2.html
https://briantooleyracing.com/btr-sm...r973010-2.html
