underpowered

iTrader: (1)

ok i know this is mainly a car site, but i have a few questin reguarding the 5.3 in my 2003 silverado 4x4.

i am looking into a cam. but not sure what i need exactly. my truck will be used to tow some but not a whole lot, a few quads once or twice a month. it is my DD, but i am looking for some decent power. a lope would be cool but thats jsut it, i don't have to have the lopey sound but jsut think it would be cool lol. as i said on fullsizechevy, i am looking to bein the area of 300+ RWHP with a cam, headers, and a PCM tune. stock for my truck usually shows around 220-240 depending on the dyno and truck. what would be a good cam for my application? some have suggested a stock Z06 cam, others said a vinci trucker cam, any others?

also, how are pacesetter headers? seems to be a cheaper header than most, but also have good reviews on most forums i am on. any input?

thanks in advance

Old SStroker

I saw a "B-SPEC" 5.3 truck cam recently which looked pretty much like what you are looking for. Little to no lope however. Sorry.

underpowered

iTrader: (1)

lope is not really necessary. i just think it would be cool. no other reason lol.

where can i get a b-spec cam?

Dock Rocker

check the sister site www.performancetrucks.net

Old SStroker

Not from this forum, unfortuantely.


So what is the significance of the name "1792", one of my favorite bourbons, underpowered?

underpowered

iTrader: (1)

you mean what is the significance of my username? just a name i use on all formum from my days of a 4 cyl. 22re yota 4runner 4x4 and a stock honda 300ex quad. both of which have since been upgraded and are not so much underpowered, but there is always that want for more lol

gametech

iTrader: (1)

In my twisted little world, I would put in a TR224 with Dynatech headers for your goals. Then I would be dissapointed, and install a side mount whipple twin screw. Then I would be happy, but question how much more power I could make. Of course, by that time I would be knee deep in trans issues. Wait, what was I talking about?

slow trap

iTrader: (22)

something like a 220/224 or similar would be a decent performer. for towing that cam or a cam similar would have great bottom end but give up some power up top compared to a 224.that heavy truck will like a torque cam so i would look for a cam that would maximize your tq curve but still gain hp up top also.

silver-mod-o

iTrader: (15)

TR220 cam, TT3000 Yank converter, some 4.10's if you dont already have them being 4WD... and a GOOD live tune, that will get you to 300 in a 5.3 truck... some pacesetter headers and ORY will help a ton too if you do the cam or not... If you have any more questions, PM me or post it up on performancetrucks.net... tons of knowledge on these trucks over there...

and on your question on the pacesetters... I run them nd have absolutely no issues...

Old SStroker

Thanks. It's always interesting to know why people choose screen names.

I was referring to a bourbon called 1792, the year Kentucky joined the Union, if I recall. When I think of KY I think of bourbon. You probably think of New York City when you think of NY, my home state. We live in the pretty part with rolling hills, 30-40 mile long lakes and relatively few people per square mile.

underpowered

iTrader: (1)

others have recomended the 220 cam, but then said that i may lose bottom end. i am looking for alot of low end mainly, but it will see redline a few times to so i don;t want the curve to just drop off up top either.

underpowered

iTrader: (1)

i plan on doin pacesetters and the ORY no matter what. it iwll get a tune as soon as i get the rest of the stuff so i can do it all at once.

as for the converter, will it hurt to leave the stock one in for now? i plan on upgrading the tranny and converter but just not at this time. sfn 4.10 are in order soon as i plan to do a small lift and larger tires, possibly 4.33's or even 4.56's depending on tire size.

matt94z

iTrader: (49)

Get a custom grind from Patrick G, he will design it for what you want.

Steve Bryant

iTrader: (1)

If you are going to really use your truck as a daily driver and occasional light towing, you don't want to have to go to a non-stock torque converter, so a cam in the 220 range is out of the question. With the drive train losses you will have with four wheel drive and relatively large tires, you need something no bigger than a 206/212 or a 212/218 cam which will produce some broad band torque. If you are going to keep your stock heads, a cam with a lift over .550" may have a negative impact on overall power. Also, if you look at the displacement to weight ratio for a truck (especially a normally aspirated 4X4), you'll discover that you want to emphasize torque and forget about HP almost entirely. As for truck headers, I like my Thorley Tri-Y's and there are some good long tubes on the market (depends on the price you're willing to pay. A good tune is a must.

My main advice is to go over to the sister site performancetrucks.net and pose this question or better yet, do a search. Just click the tab a the top of the web page. Search is working well now and this question has been asked many times. One warning . . . don't be swayed by someone has a short bed regular cab truck with a 3,500 RPM stall torque converter or five speed and a 224/230 type cam. That won't work for what you're talking about.

Steve

2xLS1

iTrader: (25)

First graph. Took a bone stock 05 5.3 truck and threw in a TR 220 cam, a set of 918 springs, and a 91 octane tune. Nothing else.
Second graph. Added a cold air kit and cut the cats off. Still no headers.
Forget the peak gains, look at the gains at 5800 rpm.
Don't know how you can say a 220 cam is out of the question.

Steve Bryant

iTrader: (1)

2xLS1,
In answer to your question, I ask that you re-read my post and then study this thread https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/683617-do-any-shops-market-small-cams-anymore-why-not.html. The thread is all about people being fascinated with big cams and higher HP numbers when it's really torque that counts for a street driven vehicle. The transfer case and added rolling resistance of four wheel drive (even when the front hubs are disengaged) soak up probably 20 HP. Big tires and a vehicle that probably weighs 5,000 pounds make it harder to get to the 4,500 - 5,000 RPM's where a bigger cam really shines. Add this to the fact that a big cam doesn't really start to wake up until 3,500 RPM's or more and you've got a real problem with a relatively small displacement truck that needs grunt at 1,800 to 3,000 RPM's.

Now, all this assumes that underpowered really is going to use the truck as a daily driver and will be towing occasionally. If he wants something geared more for the strip on the weekends, he should get a RCSB 2WD truck and drop a used 6.0 L in it and go with a bigger cam.

Steve

underpowered

iTrader: (1)

thanks guys.

looks like i am gonna do a smaller cam to allow me to keep other drivetrain components stock for now.

silver-mod-o

iTrader: (15)

given your setup and what you want out of it, I'd go with some of the suggestions Steve Bryant said... but even a 212/218 cam and a Yank 2800 converter will wake you up all over the power range, and still allow you to turn whatever tire you want.

bluecajun5.3

iTrader: (31)

the 220 will be to big for you.
steve bryant has the idea.

underpowered

iTrader: (1)

what about one of these? i think the hot cam will be to big, but what about the other two?

1.Copy of the 2001 ZO6 cam .525 lift 114 LSA
2.214/220 .520/.527 114 LSA
3.LS1 hot cam on a 114 LSA