Cam swap for 5.3

[Botlfed]

No you need different springs along with hardened push rods, and yes get a stall.

[kerrige]

No you need different springs along with hardened push rods, and yes get a stall.

+1 circle d makes a good budget stall. 3k is a great speed for that cam.

[Clayman]

No you need different springs along with hardened push rods, and yes get a stall.

Not exactly what i wanted to hear but tr makes a kit that comes with springs cam and pushrods. Prolly what ill end up doing is putting the cam in and waiting till the 60e bites it and put in an 80e and a 2600-2800 stall. What kind of power gains would i see over stock? More low end or will i lose some low end in return for high end?

[Wagonbacker9]

A cam that small won't give up low end especially on a 112. I've got that cam's big brother in my 6.0 (232/234 .595/.598 112+4) and its got a fat bottom end. I'll have numbers to back up that statement next week.

Agreed though, springs are NECESSARY, and you're not going to like how it drives without a stall. In my 5.3 cam selection I'm looking seriously at a reverse split.

[Clayman]

A cam that small won't give up low end especially on a 112. I've got that cam's big brother in my 6.0 (232/234 .595/.598 112+4) and its got a fat bottom end. I'll have numbers to back up that statement next week.

Agreed though, springs are NECESSARY, and you're not going to like how it drives without a stall. In my 5.3 cam selection I'm looking seriously at a reverse split.

Well liie i said im gonna wait til the 60e goes and then im gonna drop in an 80e. Cuz i dont have the dough to do both right now. What does a reverse split do for you?

[Wagonbacker9]

Well liie i said im gonna wait til the 60e goes and then im gonna drop in an 80e. Cuz i dont have the dough to do both right now. What does a reverse split do for you?

The longer intake lobe helps extend the powerband, and the shorter exhaust lobe basically opens a little late (compared to a single profile cam), and it closes a little sooner as well, reducing overlap and improving idle. A very basic cam statement is that the intake lobe makes the power, and the exhaust profile determines drivability. This is not ENTIRELY accurate, but if you think about the way the engine breathes, it makes sense.

[Clayman]

The longer intake lobe helps extend the powerband, and the shorter exhaust lobe basically opens a little late (compared to a single profile cam), and it closes a little sooner as well, reducing overlap and improving idle. A very basic cam statement is that the intake lobe makes the power, and the exhaust profile determines drivability. This is not ENTIRELY accurate, but if you think about the way the engine breathes, it makes sense.

That makes sense. The more i think about it tho im not sure i want a stall converter because i do pull a 8500 lb trailer occasionally and i dont want it to always be screamin to haul it. So im thinkin the comp xr265hr14 is what i want. Its the second cam i speced above. 212/218 .522/.529 114lsa and while im gonna be in the motor ill pull the heads swap out springs to ls6 and port amd polish the runners and mill them just a tad to raise compression to 10.5 +/- how much would it take as far as milling the heads to raise compression from 9.4:1 to 10.5? Anybody have any input?

[Wagonbacker9]

That makes sense. The more i think about it tho im not sure i want a stall converter because i do pull a 8500 lb trailer occasionally and i dont want it to always be screamin to haul it. So im thinkin the comp xr265hr14 is what i want. Its the second cam i speced above. 212/218 .522/.529 114lsa and while im gonna be in the motor ill pull the heads swap out springs to ls6 and port amd polish the runners and mill them just a tad to raise compression to 10.5 +/- how much would it take as far as milling the heads to raise compression from 9.4:1 to 10.5? Anybody have any input?

Totally depends on your setup.. rod length, displacement, combustion chamber CCs...

As for changing the springs, I just got into this debate in another thread, there is nothing stopping you from changing the springs with the heads on the block. And there are plenty of stalls out there that are fine for towing, as long as you have a good cooler.

[kerrige]

Not exactly what i wanted to hear but tr makes a kit that comes with springs cam and pushrods. Prolly what ill end up doing is putting the cam in and waiting till the 60e bites it and put in an 80e and a 2600-2800 stall. What kind of power gains would i see over stock? More low end or will i lose some low end in return for high end?

If you want to save a little money and have a reliable setup you can go with LS6/7 springs which can handle that cam without a problem. You are going to lose some bottom end going with that cam, but your mid and high end power will increase dramatically. I would get a big trans cooler ASAP in order to keep your trans a little more happy. Waiting for the 80e is a pretty decent idea since you won't have to buy the stall twic, but the circle d is budget friendly and holds its value.

[RS/SS 4.8]

I got the TSP 220 in a 4.8 and it lost lowend torque even with a 3200 stall but once it gets to 3500-4000 it will run strong till redline. The converters only $400 bucks.