I need help with Cam install.

BlueAvi · July 3, 2004

I'm new in the chevy performance world and I need a little help.

I have a friend who races his '01 Z-28 and he gave me his factory camshaft and springs to use in my Avalanche. I have the 5.3L (LM7) and I was wondering if anyone had done this and if it worked?

We're think that the Z's OE cam would act as a "wake-up" stick for the 5.3L but my concern is in intake, exhuast, and PCM mods that would be needed.

Any help is appreciated.

snoman · July 3, 2004

I'm new in the chevy performance world and I need a little help.

I have a friend who races his '01 Z-28 and he gave me his factory camshaft and springs to use in my Avalanche. I have the 5.3L (LM7) and I was wondering if anyone had done this and if it worked?

We're think that the Z's OE cam would act as a "wake-up" stick for the 5.3L but my concern is in intake, exhuast, and PCM mods that would be needed.

Any help is appreciated.

If it came out of a 350 SM block it will not fit in 5.3. I am not familiar enough with a 01 Z-28 to know what block is in it.

99Silver6.0 · July 3, 2004

01 Z has an LS1. It will work! 01 LS1 cam specs are 207/196 .479/.467 116. Stock 99 5.3 cam specs are 191/190 .466/.457 115. The tighter LSA of the LS1 cam will push power up in the RPM's just a tad. You will want some higher shift points because the cam will pull pretty hard up top. One thing you could do is get an adjustable timing gear set and advance the cam 4*. That would bring some of the power back down in the RPMs. It should yield decent gains, especially in the upper RPM's. You wouldnt have to change springs with the LS1 cam. Stock 5.3 springs are good to like .500 lift. Pull the old cam out and put the new cam in. Probably take 2-3 hours. A good tune will also help along with the cam. Allen Nelson put an LS1 cam into a 99 5.3L x-cab, and it is a completely stock engine with like 100K miles. I think it did have a flowmaster though. The truck ran a 16.8 in the 1/4. After he tuned it, it came down to a 16.1. After the cam he ran 15.5 in the 1/4. Which isnt bad for the money when you look at it. He also got the cam for free!!

snoman · July 3, 2004

01 Z has an LS1. It will work. Not sure if it will be a great cam in a heavy truck thogh. Id have to look the cam specs up to tell for sure. One thing you could do is get an adjustable timing gear set and advance the cam 4*. That would bring some of the power back down in the RPM range.

Good idea but even then it may be a bad move unless truck has pretty deep gears and a higher stall converter would help to say 2200 to 2400 or so as not to get too radical.

BlueAvi · July 3, 2004

Would you recommend a different cam to beef-up my 5.3? I don't really have any other mods...yet.

Thanks for the info!!!

99Silver6.0 · July 3, 2004

Would you recommend a different cam to bee-up my 5.3? I don't really have any other mods...yet.

Pardon part of my last post. I was thinking of the LS6 cams. They have a pretty tight LSA. They are soem pretty high revvin cams with a 119.5LSA. I dont think you could go wrong on the LS1 cam if its free. If not, Id look into a split duration Comp grind if you dont mind spending a bit on a cam, springs, rods, etc.

BlueAvi · July 3, 2004

As far as the computer tuning goes do you have suggestions. I don't have the money to shell out for LS1 edit and a laptop. Could any hand helds do the job?

99Silver6.0 · July 3, 2004

As far as the computer tuning goes do you have suggestions. I don't have the money to shell out for LS1 edit and a laptop. Could any hand helds do the job?

It will run fine on the stock tune. The handhelds wont be able to come close to what should be done after a cam install. I think the Diablo will be the only handheld that might be able to. But I see you are in Texas. Allen Nelson of Nelson Performance is San Antonio. He can tune your truck for you. The gains will be immense! Hes tuning for my cam in Wichita, KS next weekend.

Nelson Performance