I bought a set of 5.3L Ported/Polished heads with 2.02"/1.57" Milled 0.030.

I know the milling is going to set me back and was wondering what is the biggest, roudiest, loudest, and powerful cam I can install without flycutting? I was looking at the Torquer V2 and was hoping that would fit.

Would thicker gaskets help? I wish they weren't milled really. Any help would be great.

EDIT: If the TV2 doesn't fit, what about the TSP 224/581/112? Also, will I need shorted pushrods?

 

ttt....

 

I have that cam and love it. I just hate that I'm limited and can't move up to something bigger later.

 

Flycut and go with the TV2 or the MS3. Or, mill the heads, run a thicker gasket and get a custom high lift 228ish cam. A 228 on LSK lobes would make TONS of power down low and have pretty decent peak numbers as well.

 

5.3L Heads Ported/Polished 2.02"/1.57" 0.030 Milled

I don't want to flycut. Is the TV2 out of the question? What is my next bet?

 

I PM'd you about your query.

 

I would contact TSP about the p-to-v on the TV2.... I would not run a larger head gasket because it would hurt your quench. JMO

 

If you are running optimum dynamic compression....8.7:1 or so then the TQ'er 2 is out of the question without flycutting. I have a 228/232 XER 114lsa and 11.65:1 static compression (I have an LS2) and it is the limit. With a smaller bore 5.7 liter you will not get to that compression level even with this cam so I would advise a tighter LSA to make up the DCR loss but remember that cam advance also eats up P/V clearance.

What is the car used for? Drag racing is more immune to low RPM power loss from lack of compresson so if you want the dyno numbers get the TQ'er 2 and run lower compression. If you want more area under the curve then optimize compression and run what fits: 226/230 or 228/232 XER cams. Personally I think you are better off with the smaller cam optimized.

 

I want a cam that sounds like a cam. I want it to lope. It doesn't really have to be sloppy, just as long as it sounds better than a stocker. My goal is 400+ rwhp. Not necessarily a drag car, it is a DD. I do all sorts of things with it. But 400+ rwhp is the main goal.

 

then you need overlap, not necessarily bigger, like:
226/230, .585/.592 110+1 XE-R
With 8* overlap, it will lope as much.

 

Sort of like a really big guy that cant lift much in the gym. You want a cam that shakes your car but you dont care about what is a better performer and what works optimum??? You sound like the guys on the corvette forum that waste 1400 bucks on an exhaust knowing it will not net you 1 single HP....lol. I would never go with a non-optimum set-up just to have a shake. In other words you put in the biggest cam that fits....period....lope should be secondary but you will have it at 226/230 on a 110.

The cam suggested to you will lope fine and you will need less static CR to acheive a good dcr. Even a 224/228 xer would shake at 800rpm and sound better than the stocker. I had that cam too and it lopes fine. You could save a lot of time if you just lower your idle to get the car to have a mean cam sound with the shake. All cams (even the stocker) lope but the idle speed is shifter higher depending on overlap. Just for laughs lower your idle 150-200 rpm and see what I mean.

Good luck with the car.

 

Of course I want power, I just want it to sound good. I don't like the regular steady idle of a stock cam. Like I said, it doesn't have to be super choppy. I just want something that produces a nice sound. I don't really race it that much. I am on a college budget.

 

Just ridin ya....all in fun.

I had 224/230 114+2 XER
228/232 114+0 XER

Both shake, sound awesome, and both need a bump in compression. They fit safely and you will be happy either way. I think the cam suggested by PredZ is the way to go since on a college budget it will still have great DCR without going into the heads right away (but you will need good springs).

Good luck with it.

 

226/230, .585/.592 110+1 XE-R

I am guessing that would be a custom order and could order it from TSP?
Also, the comp cams 918 springs would work fine?
Last thing: pushrods. What size would I need?

 

7.40 with stock gasket (.054 graphite)

 

Check out this cam... it was a friend of mines. Nasty *** cam. low lift so it should work good for you...

https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...18#post5355918

 

Well thanks for all the information everyone. I really appreciate it. I am going to order the cam and I will post the dyno results once I get it tuned.