Utinator

I agree with the Truck Norris cam. From all the dyno results I have seen, that cam is pretty impressive. It's obviously not meant for drag racing, but I think it would work well for your purposes.

ETriggs

The more I read and watch about the Truck Norris cam, the more I think that’s the way I’m gonna go. I’ve seen several use it with a TBSS intake and get good results apparently. Now to find a Trailblazer intake to clean up.

LS1Formulation

iTrader: (13)

I have a complete Trailblazer SS intake/fuel rail/throttle body/injectors that I might be willing to part with. Let me know if you're interested. It's still in the vehicle I bought for the donor LH6 going in my Firebird, likely will be coming off next weekend.

ETriggs

Attached the balancing specs. I may have to hold off buying the cam and heads for a bit, I have to check the 327 in my 57 right now as the cold spell may have done some damage. Found some coolant on the garage floor.

LS1Formulation

iTrader: (13)

Here's the intake, in case you wanted to see it. Got it taken off yesterday:

ETriggs

Ok, back on the engine. Had some other things take precedence. I picked up my heads, a set of 706 with LS6 springs. I chose those for two reasons. 1. They were $779 rebuilt with the upgraded springs and no core charge. 2. I am trying to restrain myself with this engine as it will go in a cruiser/long distance driver (57 Chevy 4 door hardtop). They’ve clearly been checked for crack and all sorted out. I got a set of the ARP head bolts as advised here and advised by my machinist.

I am restricted to .550 lift on the cam so as suggested before the Truck Norris cam is as the top of the list. I’ve also added these for thoughts.

Truck Norris. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/b...make/chevrolet

Others
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/h...make/chevrolet

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/c...make/chevrolet


I’m assuming a standard set of LS7 lifters would be fine with stock push rods. I will check to see how much was milled off my heads, he told me and I forget. I don’t think it was much. I am planning on just a Chevy replacement timing cover and stock parts.


Another question, which is the most durable timing chain set?

I know there is a ton here. Any help / advice is certainly appreciated.

Utinator

The "LS2" timing set has been the standard "go-to" timing set for years. There are more durable aftermarket timing sets, but you are not building a race engine. Any gen-4 timing set with the damper will work. Just look for a "factory replacement". The factory spec LS7 lifters are a good choice as well. BTR usually has good prices on those. Besides the Truck Norris cam, any brand stage 1 or 2 truck cam would work. Just look for something in the 209-212 intake and 215-218 exhaust duration area. Most of those are going to have about .550 lift. I think the BTR cams have .553, but that's close enough.

I think you paid too much for those heads, but I guess it's too late now. I would definitely recommend the 706/862 heads for this build. That is the size valve/chamber you want for this.

ETriggs

Probably did pay a premium for the heads, but the guy that does my machining is absolutely first rate and I know whatever he sells to me is machined and assembled to the best quality. Only engine problems I've ever had from his parts is when I assembled something wrong. One thing I am shocked with is how lightweight aluminum heads are. I'm used to cast iron heads and blocks and these are super light! I have looked mostly at the BTR, Gwatney Perf., Howards, Comp, and Summit cams. Are there any other manufacturers that I should be looking at? I've used Comp Cams in all of my previous SBC and BBF builds. I will put a Howards roller retrofit cam in my current 327 SBC that's in my 57 right now and use it in a later build.

Utinator

As far as cam quality goes, they are all about the same. There are only a few cam manufacturers. I think it's just Comp, Cam Motion, and maybe one or two others that actually make cams. All the other brands get their cams from these few companies. Summit, BTR, and TSP get their cams made to their own specs, but they don't manufacture them themselves. So, I wouldn't worry about the brand name on the box. They all come from the same place (made in U.S.A.).

When I look for cams, I look at the specs first, then the prices. I usually get a military discount with Summit, so it's really hard to beat their prices (plus free shipping on orders over $100). Last year, I was lucky enough to get a BTR truck cam (V1) from Summit for about $200. BTR had just come out with the V2 truck cams, so the V1 was discounted. Most of the Summit brand cams are listed for about $300. That's about what I paid for their stage-1 turbo "Ghost cam" earlier this year.

I have a TSP cam in my LS1 Camaro. I put a BTR cam in a 5.3L "truck' engine last year. I put the Summit cam in a 6.1L turbo engine this year. All these cams are good quality, and perform as expected.

Utinator

The cams you posted links to above are not what I would consider if this is still your goal. Those are 220-230 duration cams. I would stay below 220 duration. Any truck cam will make more than 400hp in a 5.3L engine. The stage-2 truck cam is the biggest I would use in a 5.3L that is kinda like a "daily driver". The bigger cams are gonna be more "racy" in a 5.3L. You will definitely need a higher stall converter with those bigger cams, and they are gonna be choppy. Even the stage-2 truck cam will sound cammed.

ETriggs

Sounds good. Its sounding like the Gwatney LLT1 might be a good option then.
https://gwatneyperformance.com/produ...6-0l/#camshaft

Utinator

They don't have the specs posted, so I have no idea what they are trying to sell you. I wouldn't buy a cam without knowing the specs. The price is kinda high too. Spending more money doesn't always mean more power.

Here's a few that I would recommend:

400-415hp cams
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/b...make/chevrolet
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet


415-430hp cams
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/b...make/chevrolet
I really like this cam, but you would need different springs. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet

Full Power

. YES. Occasional fresh valve springs, regular oil changes: I'd expect 400,000 miles

ETriggs

Thank you for those links! I sure appreciate the advice! Now to try to decide.