OK, here we go.

application:

Reg Cab Short Bed 2wd 5.3 auto

what i want....... Low rpm Torque, ( this 5.3 doesnt' seem to have the capability, but i'm stubborn )

Everywhere i look, it's all about hp numbers, not torque. In a truck that weighs like 4300 lbs, i need more grunt to get out of the hole. I don't want high stalls and high gears, ( not that i don't plan on changing a lil, but i don't wanna skip rpms and such, to jump to the powerband in my engine )

i want total drivability, and i want to lower my power band. I"m shifting at 6000 rpm on the stock motor, stock stall and 3.42's. i want to up the horsepower and torque production, and move it down in the rpm range, shifting at a max of 6000 still. I don't want a high stall (3000 and up. I was thinking 2600-2800 max), and i want to go to 3.73's, only to help me help my shift overlap.

Cam's i've been suggested, and seen good numbers for

TR 220/220 .551/.551 112 ( seen really impressive dyno and track numbers for this one )

LPE GT2-5 222/222 .566/.566 112 ( just a hair bigger, no actual numbers seen anywhere, but i like this one, and the price 250 )

TR 224/224 .563/.563 112 or 114

Crane 222/224 .566/.568 112 ( i like this one, because of the split pattern higher exhaust flow, being condusive to street exhaust with catalytic converters and tailpipes )

now these are the cams i'm considering, but i'm considering variations of all.

any of these cams with 114 lsa's advanced 2 or 4 degrees to flatten out the power curve for my automatic, and to move power down in rpm.

Any of these cam's on a 112 advanced 2 or 4 degrees ( either with adjustable timing set, or ground into it ) to move down the curve.

any input as to what i'm thinking and trying to do here? I want you guys to think outside the standard box of "high gear, high stall, rev that motor" thinking if possible. i'm going to match my drivetrain to my cam.... so whatever i go with, i'll decide on stall and gear afterwards. I just want to somehow make some torque to make it more drivable, with less pedal, and not have to turn rpms to do it.

thanks a ton guys, and have fun... all suggestions and thinking welcome.

maybe some new ideas will pop up?

 

Try over on the truck forum, but I think those cams may be too big for what you are seeking. There seems to be a good deal of success with some of the VHP cams for trucks over there.

 

The truck forum, has seen a ton of cam threads, i came over here, looking for a lil more internal engine knowledge, from more people. I want bigger cam numbers.. i just want to move the rpm range down. thanks for the input though.

 

the 220 and the tank 2600 stall i heard work well together but as far as idle to 2600 power i think it's going to suffer a lil w/o some professional tuning then you could do better tahn stock more likely than not.

you will def want 3.73's if not 4.10's i ahve 4.01's and absolutely love them

but what do i know i'm cam shopping myself

 

we'll be tuning it with hptuners. that won't be an issue.

 

Super Chevy did a 3-cam comparison article that shows some dyno graphs. Here's the link:
http://www.superchevy-web.com/techni...en3/index.html
Note that the cams are being run on 5.7l displacement. 5.3l displacement will make any given cam act bigger than it does on a 5.7l.

Those cams that you mentioned would turn your 5.3 into more of a hotrod-high rpm motor than it would add off-idle torque. To get the torquey lowend, you need a cam that raises the dynamic compression in the lower rpm range. Spec'ing a cam with an earlier intake valve closing event (IVC) will help build the dynamic compression. Another way of building dynamic compression is to raise the static compression, but let's leave that for another discussion.

As mentioned above, Vinci/Crane has a good selection of these types of torquey cams with early IVCs. I run a CompCams 206/212 on my 5.7l. The off-idle torque increase is noticeable. It would be a perfect match for what you are looking to acheive if you had a 5.7l. I installed it so the IVC occurs at 38*, IIRC. Look for cams with IVCs in this range or a little bit lower.

 

thats a good write up :thumbsup:

 

It seems like 50% of this forum is cam threads, with 95% of them being the same thing again and again and again.

Everybody would love to have big cam numbers but with the power lower in the range and with decent drivability. That just isn't possible. If you want big cam numbers, you need a big cam. Anything else and you will leave something on the table. It's a give and take.

 

Big cams are for going fast but they need higher stalls and more rpm. If you want to stay under 6000 w/ a small stall save your money. Put an 01 LS6 cam in it and advance it 4*.
I like big cams. Driveabilty is a relative term. It's something you get used to, learn how to tune for, and don't think about when your foot is on the floor.

 

Not sure I fully agree. I put a VHP cam in my Vette that makes peak power at 5,800 RPM. It has 5* advance ground in. The difference throughout the RPM range was very noticeable and the idle is near stock. My approach won't make big peak numbers or turn eye popping RPM, but that was how I wanted to set up the car as I don't put in on the track. As mentioned earlier, its all in how you want to trade off the different parameters. I don't even think he would need to change his stall with this type of cam, but VHP would be the one's to talk to on this.

 

Way to sum it up!
Can someone make this a sticky?

 

I definatly know that big cams, with big stalls and gears is tried, and true. And if it comes down to it, i'm not afraid to go that route. Drivability will suffer a lil, yes. But i'm not scared.

I'm trying to think a lil outside the box here, because the vehicle weighs so damn much, i'm thinking if i move the power down, and make the curve flatter, i can get this this motivating a lil better. I'm open to all kinds of weird crazy ideas. I'm just trying to do something that's not the normal, and who know.... maybe stumble across an idea that works, or maybe leads me to another idea etc...

The 5.3 just makes no low rpm power, even from the factory. It doesn't do anything until after 2500 or so, 3000 being it's sweet spot. I thought if maybe we could move this power down, and increase it, i might be ahead of the game. If this just isn't possible, then standard methods will be put into place. even if i can only increase the curve, and i have to extend it past 6000, fine. My biggest concern is moving it down too, if possible. I know this seems unlikely. I was just hoping maybe someone's brain has some things in it on this idea, that mine doesn't.

i appreciate everyone's input on this. Thanks for postin up

 

have you thought about a positive displacement blower, I.E. Magnacharger, whipple, etc? If you want torque down low, thats the place to go, nothing else will compare to it.

 

Im with blkz28spt on this one. The factory cam is almost as flat as the torque curve will get (relatively speaking). If you want more low end grunt you need more motor or a blower/turbo. There just isnt any way to make a small motor make big torque numbers down low. Put a Trex and a 4500 stall in it. I bet nobody else has done that to a truck...hehehe.

Nick

 

Your cam choice is going to depend heavily on exhaust. Most of the cams you're considering are great cams when running headers and a stall. Your signature shows neither. Since you mentioned a stall converter, you're on the right track. But headers will be a must if you consider a cam with more than -5 degrees of overlap on a 5.3L. Anything bigger is going to give you too much reversion. If you run headers, you want to tighten the LSA and advance the intake centerline (ICL).

Run something like a 212/222 112LSA 108ICL if you don't run headers.
Or 216/222 110LSA 106ICL if you run headers. Both cams will make peak power around 5600 in a 5.3L and have TONS better low end torque than the cams you've been looking at.

 

Patrick knows his cams. Get a free flowing exhaust (even if you still have to have cats) and run this cam. I dont think you'll be disappointed.

 

A friend od mine just installed Pacesetter Headers and an ORY pipe along with a Comp 224/228 .581/.588 I think ona 114 lsa +1. After tuning he made 345 rwhp. The tuner could not believe it, projected power was 290/300 rwhp out of the 5.3L truck.

 

i've heard alot of good things about comps cams in that range in the 5.3 200 and up range

 

Is there any more information on this setup? I'd like to know where he made peak hp at and what the torque curve looked like.

 

I too am in the same boat "truck" mine is older with no catts and all...I will watch this one cause I want one too.
Dave