What cam should I go with? L86 daily driver

[kgkern01]

So I'm getting an AFM lifter tick now on cylinder #1, so instead of just replacing the AFM lifters with new ones, and since I have to take the heads off anyway to replace the lifters, I figured I should go ahead and get rid of AFM and put in a non-AFM/DOD cam and lifters.  This is my daily driver, so I don't want to go too extreme, but some extra hp and tq would be nice to have.  I am thinking of either a "stage 1 or 2" truck cam, that will work with the stock converter and won't completely kill the mileage.  The truck is a daily, with occasional towing of a 21' boat and may pull a single car trailer from time to time.  I may get the intake ported when I do this, and I am going to add headers as well instead of re-using the stock exhaust manifolds, and slightly thinner head gasket to bump the compression just a bit.  
So my question is for anyone who has actually done a cam in the L86, which cam(s) do you recommend and what are your reviews of the cam you have?

[Snowcamo]

I suggest contacting Brian tooley racing and let them know how you want to use the truck. They can set you up with a cam motion grind that will be easy on the valvetrain. Been around in the cam development field way longer then texas speed and know their stuff.

[pokismoki]

if u pulled the heads, send them over to Katec for a cnc blend and porting, maybe oversize the intake valve while they're in there.. truck will feel like a low boosted l86

 

i would stay away from adding more lift, this causes wear and tear. choose a cam that holds the valve open longer

Edited January 14, 2022 by pokismoki

[CamGTP]

I see no reason to run thinner head gaskets, these are already "high" compression engines as they sit.

[kgkern01]

2 hours ago, CamGTP said:

I see no reason to run thinner head gaskets, these are already "high" compression engines as they sit.

No reason not to go with the thinner gasket for a little more compression either.  I run E85 99% of the time, except on road trips when it’s not available I run 93.  More compression is more efficient and slightly more power.