I have a lq9 out of a 05 Cadillac Escalade going into my 97 Chevy c1500. My plan is to go with a set of prc 227 heads, Holley hi ram, 1 7/8 headers while running a 11.2:1 CR. The only issue is that I’m stuck between two cams the tsp tsunami cam ( 235/240 .629/.615 111lsa) or the tsp 233/239 .600/.600 112 lsa cam. The vehicle would most likely be a weekend cruiser with it being used 80% of the time on the streets and sometimes on the highway so I would like to keep driving manners as much as possible but I do want it to take off if I ever feel like giving it some gas.

 

I think that cam will be a slug down low on the street. A lower duration truck cam or Summit Ghost Cam would probably be a better choice in a heavy truck.

 

I'd agree.

What transmission, rear end ratio, and tire size are you planning? Also, is there a higher stall converter planned, if going auto?

 

Quick question would adding a 3600-3800 stall and 4.10 gears as well as switching to a tbss intake help with low end torque and somewhat resolve this problem?

 

I plan on having a 4l80e,4.10/4.11, still haven't figured out which tire size to go with yet, and as for the converter if 3600-3800 seems sluggish still most likely will go for a higher stall converter

 

Go with the btr red hot cam. You have a decent stall and rear gears. The red hot will be a beast from 3500-7k while staying valvetrain friendly. Go with .625 lift pac1219 springs and enjoy.

If you are set on a tsp cam, go with the bald eagle na cam or the 6.0 chopacabra.

 

A 3600+ stall stall will slip well past the rpm point that is considered low rpm torque < 3000 rpm.

If you want good off idle throttle response and power in the 1500-3000k rpm, raise compression, and put a mild cam(Holdner Truck Plus), with a Circle D 2800 converter.

 

Too big for a truck IMO. I would do the Truck Norris or Red Hot cam.

 

OP,

We’re with the others. The cam and converter you’re looking at are more than most truck users want to put up with unless it’s a drag or hot street build. If you want a 3500+ power band and don’t mind roughness down low, it’ll work. However, if you’re after stronger low-end and good mid-range to 6,500+, a smaller cam and less stall will be a better fit.

Since it’s going to be a cruiser most of the time, manners matter more than peak power. We’d point you toward either:

• SUM-8720R1: .600/.600, 218/227, 112+2, -1° overlap
  
• SUM-8713R1: .550/.550, 222/232, 112+5, 3° overlap
• Honorable mention SUM-8714R1: .550/.550, 226/230, 112+4 with 4* of overlap
  

Then fine-tune from there. 4.10s are a solid move, no matter which way you go, if fuel mileage isn't a big concern. Let the community know what you're thinking, and we'll be happy to assist from there.

 

Just a question in regards to the cam the OP listed?
Will it have any kind of vacuum for power brakes?

 

^^^^^^^^^This, BIG time^^^^^^^^
A cam like that, some nitrous, and a blower, with more cubes, and pretty soon you're looking at Farm Truck #2!!!

 

Haven't met a person yet that didn’t regret going to a large cam and stall in a truck. They just aren’t fun to drive at all and you end up hating it. It ends up only being any good at the drag strip

The 3600-3800 stall isn’t too terrible if it’s an efficient stall. Easy way to make sure of that is don’t cheap out on the stall. Call yank or circle d and discuss exactly what you want. It’s easy to get the wrong stall, like I did with my first stall lol. I bought a pro yank extreme for a 350 hp car and it was doo doo.

The gears will help too, and I would try to run 30” or so tall tires as well

The cam can really make or break a truck though, I would do closer to a 226-227 intake lobe cam, traditional split, 112 ish LSA

Cathedral port heads are also a nice choice with trucks to make them more fun to drive.

What transmission with you be running

 

Don't go with baby cams like the nay-saters mention. Summit 8710r1(230/242 113 or WS6store Thunder Racing THAK cam(231/234 113) will run best in that. Wide power and and fun without bad manners.

 

Shouldn't need 10° split from intake to exhaust duration, especially in a truck. If OP is running 4.10 gears, a 2,800-3,000 stall should be good. Depends on tire size, though. He hasn't made up his mind on that yet. But tire size should be considered one of the first things he should figure out. If he's gonna run 38"-40" diameter tires, he'll need at least a 4.10 gear, and a higher stall. If it was my build, I'd go with no larger than 35" tall tires, the 4.10 gear, a 3,000 stall, and a cam with .575"-.600" lift with 228°-232° duration on a 112°+4 LSA. I'm assuming a 4L60E or 4L80E trans. The 4L60E would be good with a 4.10 gear, but a 4L80E would probably work better with a 4.56 if running 35" tires. If it were my truck I wouldn't go over a 3,000 stall. I agree with @wannafbody on wild cams in a truck. One of the worst things guys do with cars, and ESPECIALLY trucks, is go too aggressive with a cam, then be unhappy with the street manners. My .02......

EDIT!!! I see OP is going with a 4L80E, which I think is a smart choice. BUT, it has a much higher (lower numerically) first gear than the 4L60E, 3.06 in the 60, 2.48 in the 80. OP, if you run the 4L80E, I urge you to shoot for a 4.56 gear IF you run 35", or larger tire. I would prefer a 4.56 with a 2,800-3,000 stall, over a 4.10 with a 3,500-4,000 stall. Most trucks end up with a trailer hitch and do some towing sooner or later. You put a 3,600 stall in there with the 4L80E, and try pulling a heavy boat, or whatever, up the boat launch, you'll get that tranny fluid hot pretty quick!!

 

@grinder11 I agree with basically everything you wrote. The only thing ill say is that many cam manufacturers are seeing awesome gains from cams with even bigger splits than 10 degrees. The truck norris cannot be beat up to 5k rpms and is a 212/224, 107.5 + 1.5 cam. Big splits help the cams carry up top and the tight lsa (and corresponding low icl) makes these a beast down low and in the mid range.

The 228/232, 112+4 cam would rock, especially up top. And the stall and gears would help the car get going. But the chopacabra 6.0 cam would truly be a monster pretty much everywhere. 220/228, 108+2. Very similar to the little chopper which is compared to the lil lope in this video. Lil lope is very similar to the truck norris.