Hey everyone, I was possibly considering getting a cam in my truck. I wasnt originally planning on it, but the go fast bug keeps getting me. I did a little bit of searching but I wanted to get some opinions and some clear direction on what to do with the truck. I would appreciate the help. Thanks

My truck is a 2007 Vortec Max L76 Silverado that is an Extra Cab shorty short bed that is 4x4 and I am running 285/70/17 tires (33") with a 3.73 gear. Right now the truck has AR headers, Y pipe and small cats, volant intake and custom tune. I just ordered a Yank Pro Truck 3200 stall for the truck also. The one thing I know for a fact I dont want to do to the truck is change the gears out. I know a 4.56 would be best for it... but for right now, that is not going to happen.

Currently the truck runs a 15.1 @ 91.5 mph with a 2.35 sixty foot. That is running the truck in 4 high and with the KM2 33" mud tires as well.

I am hoping with the converter I will be able to pull 1.9-2.0 sixty foots and get down to maybe a 14.30-14.40. I am considering getting a cam, because I think it would be awesome to be able to run a 13 second ET in my little 4x4.

So, where do I go from here? I read that it will be best to run a 3 bolt cam correct? For more choices right? Also, I need something that wont kill my torque, especially because of my gearing... So more torque down low and more power up top! doesn't everyone want that?

Sound is also important, but not near as important as how fast the truck actually is. I would love the cam to have a nice lope to it, but I want it to be the most efficient and fastest first of all.

So what cam would y'all recommend? And what all needs to be bought and/or replaced with my motor? It only has 18k miles. Dont I need new lifters because 4 of them have that variable valve timing and DOD crap? push rods? Valve springs?

And finally, if you have some good links to NNBS 6.0 L76 cam swap threads, please send them my way!

Thanks

 

I think the truck would be much more impressive with a 150 shot. But that's just me.

 

I have a 6.0L with the TSP 228R cam and I love it!

 

I used to have a '04 LQ9 GMC Sierra with the VHO package. It was 2wd and ran like a bat outa hell. I kid you not, it only had OBX LTs, no cats, Magnaflow catback, and a VaraRam intake and if I had to guess, I would run a solid low 14, high 13 easy. I raced a manual C6 M6 and was dead even with him till we slowed down. He was speachless at the next light. If he was a half *** decent driver though, he would have easily left me in the dust, but I had a fender on him the whole time. I don't know what it was about that truck, but it ran like no other. It had to have been one hell of a factory freak. I beat everything from WRXs, to a C5, to a C6, to STi's, to a couple 4th gen LT1's. That is the only truck I've ever driven that would light em up at 40mph. To bad it was stolen.

Anyway, I would probably check into something like a Torquer cam, some Patriot springs, hardened pushrods, ported LS6 oil pump, a set of LS7 lifters, and get rid of that shitty truck intake. Should be a pretty good running truck.

Not sure about you, but if I add power, I want it all the time and not to cost me every time...

 

Does your truck have VVT or AFM?

IF not, the cam I run would be good because your truck is much heavier but I promise you it makes awesome torque and power! Mine is a Comp LSR cam 219/235 .607/.621 113+5. These heads can use wider splits because the intake flows so much better than the exhaust port does.

If you have AFM, no cam for you!!!

If you have VVT, Comp makes a cam that will take your engine to 500hp with no torque loss. With a simple cam/springs/phaser limiter/tune.

 

Yeah I bet that would be fun... I've thought about it, but im just not so sure on the whole nitrous thing and keeping and daily driving my truck for the next 5-7 years. Maybe after the cam??

tell me more about it... whats your trucks configuration? How does it run in the 1/4?

Do i need to replace my oil pump? is what i have now enough for it? I only have 18k miles, so i wouldnt be scared to run it for a long time. But i dont want to starve it of oil, so i was just curious if that was neccesary? Also, I heard that the L76 truck intake flowed pretty good? No? I thought it made more torque too... no?


The truck I know had Displacement on Demand. It would go into V4 mode when it was stock, but I had that disabled in my computer tune. I really dont know if it has variable valve timing... i thought it did, but I could be wrong. Does someone know for sure? Also, Active fuel management? I dunno either... but i thought thats what DOD did? it would cut 4 cylinders and the fuel to those cylinders?

 

You have VVT. If the AFM is turned off ie your not using it you might as well remove the AFM lifters and valley cover. The AFM lifters are known to fail.

Keep the VVT and get a cam from theses guys http://www.mastmotorsports.com/catch...ies%20Camshaft

 

The oilpump isn't necessary, but for $100, I'd replace it anyway. Its just a good idea to.

 

AFM = DOD

Active fuel management is GM terminology for what everyone calls displacement on demand. You have to get rid of it by changing the lifters and other parts out, or you cant swap cams.

VVT is awesome, Keep that!! Comp Cams did a cam swap and gained 70hp with not torque loss with a mild cam, beehive springs, and phaser limiter.

 

dang man really? I actually didnt know that you had to take the heads off of a LSX based motor to get to the lifters... which sucks. Im used to older BBC's. I didnt know they were designed diferently. I was hoping I would pop the valley cover and see them sitting there but I guess not.

So it really is absolutely required to change the lifters so I can do a cam swap? Why is that? just because they are prone to failing? do they only fail in cammed motors or stock configuration too? why do they fail?

 

You don't have to change the lifters for a cam change but if they fail you'll be changing them then and maybe other stuff.

They fail in stock application I have heard of a few on the truck site.

Its not that much more to remove the heads. And do it right.

 

I added a 208/216 .554”/.561” 114+4 camshaft to my 2007 5.3 Avalanche 4x4. The cam along with tuning, shorty headers, under/over pullies and a cold air intake netted me more power and torque than the GM 6.0 liter. The camshaft also required stronger pushrods and CompCams springs. The camshaft is a single bolt model and I still use DoD (Displacement on Demand). The package was intended for towing, but only half the power and torque is below 3500 RPM.

 

02 LS6 cam and springs should net a nice gain for a good price.

 

short duration + high lift = torque. Listen to SweetS10V8... you need a large split for the L92 heads. His cam would be great in your truck, or a lower duration for more low-end torque, something like a 215/227 lsr on 113+2

 

I have a 2009 5.3L with AFM, 16,000 miles. I just want to verify initially that this 5.3L has the VVT also. Is there an RPO code for the VVT or is it associated with the RPO for AFM?
I'm a member at gm-trucks.com and I too have read about some of my fellow owners with lifter failure, and/or soft lifters. I'd be interested if there are replacement aftermarket AFM solenoid lifters from summit or something.... I guess I could pick up the phone, lol.
thanks.

 

You need to look for the AFM valley cover and the VVT timing cover. The valley has ridges. The timing cover has a round cover where the cam gear is for the cam phaser. Different valley cover = DOD/AFM different timing cover = VVT. Some have both so look for both. I also invite you to check out performancetrucks.net. The sister site to this one. Tons of good truck specific info over there.