5.3 Cam?

neckredjr · October 9, 2008

I have a 2008 GMC SIERRA short bed single cab with flowmaster super 44 series headers back,airaid cold air, poweraid throttle body spacer, jet mass air flow sensor, edge evolution programmer and a LS2 cam but I have been researching and I think Im ready for a LS6 cam maybe bigger. If you got any useful info hit me back.

Ryan00TJ · October 10, 2008

I ran an 02 LS6 cam in my SS for a few months. It idled like the stock LS1 cam especially after a tune. No noticeable lope. Due to its valve events it really does not come alive until 4400rpms+. Mine peaked at 6000rpms and held flat to 6500rpms. It only added 5-8 rwtq under 4500rpms compared to the stock cam.

It's a topend cam for sure. I swapped it out for a TR 224/224 .563/.561 112+4 cam. All around better performance and lowend power. I made the power numbers in my sig with it and a set of Stage II heads with all supporting mods, headers, pulley, intake etc.....

neckredjr · October 10, 2008

I ran an 02 LS6 cam in my SS for a few months. It idled like the stock LS1 cam especially after a tune. No noticeable lope. Due to its valve events it really does not come alive until 4400rpms+. Mine peaked at 6000rpms and held flat to 6500rpms. It only added 5-8 rwtq under 4500rpms compared to the stock cam.

It's a topend cam for sure. I swapped it out for a TR 224/224 .563/.561 112+4 cam. All around better performance and lowend power. I made the power numbers in my sig with it and a set of Stage II heads with all supporting mods, headers, pulley, intake etc.....

Well for now im going to keep the stock heads cause im supposed to not void the warranty haha. As for pulley replacement what do you suggest? Also where did you get your cam from? I need more low end torque because the truck is insane after 4000 rpm and pulls hard all threw the 4 gears but my off the line torque has dropped since adding all my other mods. Thanks for the help.

merlin5577 · October 10, 2008

I have a 2008 GMC SIERRA short bed single cab with flowmaster super 44 series headers back,airaid cold air, poweraid throttle body spacer, jet mass air flow sensor, edge evolution programmer and a LS2 cam but I have been researching and I think Im ready for a LS6 cam maybe bigger. If you got any useful info hit me back.

The cam is not a good fit IMO for your truck. The LS2 cam (which is based off the LS6 cam, IE higher RPMs) was designed with horsepower in mind, not torque. Thats why you are loosing so much in the lower RPM band. Also, with a higher lift cam (like the LS2 cam) and a stock torque converter, you are loosing even more in the lower RPMs. If I was you, I would call comp, or crane, or whichever cam company you like, and tell them the mods you currently have, your goals, and what your future plans are, and they can suggest a cam to fit your needs. Remember, its a truck (heavy) and is not going to react in the same way a car will. Good luck.

66nova · October 10, 2008

I have a 2008 GMC SIERRA short bed single cab with flowmaster super 44 series headers back,airaid cold air, poweraid throttle body spacer, jet mass air flow sensor, edge evolution programmer and a LS2 cam but I have been researching and I think Im ready for a LS6 cam maybe bigger. If you got any useful info hit me back.

The cam is not a good fit IMO for your truck. The LS2 cam (which is based off the LS6 cam, IE higher RPMs) was designed with horsepower in mind, not torque. Thats why you are loosing so much in the lower RPM band. Also, with a higher lift cam (like the LS2 cam) and a stock torque converter, you are loosing even more in the lower RPMs. If I was you, I would call comp, or crane, or whichever cam company you like, and tell them the mods you currently have, your goals, and what your future plans are, and they can suggest a cam to fit your needs. Remember, its a truck (heavy) and is not going to react in the same way a car will. Good luck.

+1

The cam is the heart of your motor. DO NOT go with a cam that your buddy had is his car or "I had a cam SIMILAR to this one". Very small changes in cams can be night and day inside a motor. Call a cam company, give them what you have and what you want out of the motor and they will give you some recommendations. I personally would not call just one company either. I would call them all (comp, crane, lunati, bullet/ultradyne, etc) and see what recommendations you get. I have had very good luck with bullet now ultradyne. They are very knowledgeable and helpful. But everything I have got from them has been first gen stuff. I have not built any LS motors yet.

svensk · October 10, 2008

You want a cam that doesn't make it's peak power after 6,000rpms. Something that pulls like a raped ape at 3,000+ up is what I would want. Then get a real mild stall like a TT 2600, or even a 3000 would be very daily drivable yet won't kill your mileage.

Ryan00TJ · October 11, 2008

I ran an 02 LS6 cam in my SS for a few months. It idled like the stock LS1 cam especially after a tune. No noticeable lope. Due to its valve events it really does not come alive until 4400rpms+. Mine peaked at 6000rpms and held flat to 6500rpms. It only added 5-8 rwtq under 4500rpms compared to the stock cam.

It's a topend cam for sure. I swapped it out for a TR 224/224 .563/.561 112+4 cam. All around better performance and lowend power. I made the power numbers in my sig with it and a set of Stage II heads with all supporting mods, headers, pulley, intake etc.....

Well for now im going to keep the stock heads cause im supposed to not void the warranty haha. As for pulley replacement what do you suggest? Also where did you get your cam from? I need more low end torque because the truck is insane after 4000 rpm and pulls hard all threw the 4 gears but my off the line torque has dropped since adding all my other mods. Thanks for the help.

You can still make decent power with stock heads. I like the quality of FluiDamper and ASP underdrive pulleys. My LS6 cam was a low mile take out off an 02 Z06 Vette. My TR224 came from Thunder Racing. Comp grinds the cam with TR's propietary lobe profiles. If you are after more lowend and midrange stay away from the LS6 cam. A truck is a very different animal than a 3500lb Camaro and needs a cam to suit those needs.

There is a very talented guy on LS1Tech.com goes by the username Pat G. He custom specs members cams and is very good. He designs the specs custom to your setup and then its ground by Comp. It is well worth it over an off the shelf grind. I went this way in my 385ci SBC marine engine and it turned out awesome.

If you are keeping the stock torque converter stay with something in the 210-220 duration at 0.50" range. Anything larger and you will notice a large loss of lowend power. A powermaking setup is all about parts that work together and match each other.

neckredjr · October 13, 2008

I have gotten into both comp and crane cams websites but I need to figure out how to get the information on my engine internally such as stroke and bore and a few other things. Anyone knows where I can pull up that information I would appreciate it. Im running 3:73s right know also and I have been debating on to change gears because I like that flew fuel on the highway with the gears it has. Last thing is with what I have done so far it has not effected with my flexfuel on my 5.3 but Im wondering if after a bigger cam is it going to affect my flexfuel system?

Ranger · October 13, 2008

I'm surprised an LSX cam works in a Gen IV motor, I was under the impression that they started over in block design...Did you have to change the lifters too and take out the AFM stuff?

Ranger · October 13, 2008

5328 cc 5.3 liters V 8 front longitudinal engine with 96.0 mm bore, 92.0 mm stroke, 9.9 compression ratio, cast iron block, light alloy head, overhead valve and two valves per cylinder LY5

Google is your friend...

svensk · October 13, 2008

There just aren't any cams for the Gen IV's with VVT yet.

Ranger · October 13, 2008

Not every Gen IV has VVT, mine doesn't.

neckredjr · October 13, 2008

I'm surprised an LSX cam works in a Gen IV motor, I was under the impression that they started over in block design...Did you have to change the lifters too and take out the AFM stuff?

Im gonna get all the information on my truck that was done to it when I was home where I had the install and tune done. Im still worried if I try to go bigger it will effect the flexfuel managment in the engine?

66nova · October 13, 2008

I have gotten into both comp and crane cams websites but I need to figure out how to get the information on my engine internally such as stroke and bore and a few other things. Anyone knows where I can pull up that information I would appreciate it. Im running 3:73s right know also and I have been debating on to change gears because I like that flew fuel on the highway with the gears it has. Last thing is with what I have done so far it has not effected with my flexfuel on my 5.3 but Im wondering if after a bigger cam is it going to affect my flexfuel system?

You really need to call them. Don't buy from a website with out talking to one of the techs. They will be able to answer questions about things like flex fuel.

I also reread your original post and something stuck out this time that I just read over the first time. With all of your mods you need a CUSTOM Tune. I would stick that Edge on Ebay and contact someone like Justin at Blackbear Performance. Using just that edge you are not getting anywhere near the potential from that motor. It is not designed to accommodate all of those mods

If it were me personally, I would not even consider a cam until I had a custom tune done. Then IF you still want more look into a new cam. Plus, if you are concerned about warranty, it is much easier to hide a tune than it is a cam. If you put much cam in that truck at all, any tech with a good ear will know.

By the way...4.8 is 3.78in bore and 3.268in stroke

5.3 3.78 3.622

6.0 4.00 3.622