Topic: Trying to wake up the 5.3 a bit

[02Z71_Tonka]

During the next month I will be adding some new parts to the truck to help get some more kick from it. As of now the truck sits like so: GMPP CAI, 3" Flowmaster 40 catback, and a Hypertech 91Oct tune. Also the stock keys are cranked to allow my 285 Dune Grapplers to fit.

This month I will install myself:
Pacesetter long tube headers with off road pipe
2500 stall torque converter
trans go shift kit

After that is installed I will take the truck to Livernois Motorsports to have installed:
Livernois stage 1 L92 cam 224/230 @ .050 duration  .581/.590 lift and LSA 114
Comp 918 springs
Hardened push rods

After they finish the install they will then strap it on the dyno and get it tuned. 
I'm stoked to get a bit more power because I run the truck out at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes and more power for the dunes is always a plus.

[Main One]

That's a healthy cam.  I'm running a 216/224 at 0.050.  I'd rather have gone a little more than a little less.  Don't know that I'd go as far as you are going.  Am interested in hearing your thoughts after you've had it for a little while.

I've installed a cam and put in a torque converter.  Given that you are doing the torque converter yourself, why are you farming out the cam install?  For me, the hardest part of the cam install was installing dual springs with a cheap spring compressor.  Of course, you don't want to drop a cam sprocket bolt into your oil pan either when doing it like someone else I know....   

[02Z71_Tonka]

The race shop is actually the one who recommended that cam. They gave me a couple options that they said would be the best for the 5.3 and a heavy truck. I'm letting the shop do the cam because being that it is a bigger cam I dont want to drive it untuned for 200 miles to make it to the dyno.

[Main One]

Makes sense.  If nothing else, you will have some idle issues to address.  They will likely also make changes to your VE table, and probably also shift points.

Please post your dyno sheet after the tune.  You should see over 300 hp at the rear wheels I'm guessing.

[MyBigToy]

My personal opinion is that you may want to reconsider that cam for a heavy-a$$ed pig of a truck. The lower-end power will suffer a little with that large of a cam and the 2500 stall probably won't make up the difference, although it will certainly help. It will gain considerably on the upper-rpm power and the power band will be extended upwards of 7000 rpm, if not higher; the stock lifters will only hold about 6200 rpm before they start pumping up and tapping. The stock truck heads don't benefit a lot from a lift of over 0.551". It's your choice, obviously, but you should make sure you do plenty of homework before you make the ultimate decision. Go do some research at PerformanceTrucks.net.

That cam is a more appropriate choice for a Camaro than a naturally aspirated 6000 pound truck IMHO. BTW, welcome to the club. Let us know what you ultimately decide and how satisfied you are with the decision.

[02Z71_Tonka]

Here are the 2 cams the shop gave me the options of:
L92 stage 1  224/230@.050 .581/.590 LSA114
L92 stage 1c  218/229@.050  .600/.600 LSA117.5

They told me stage 1 would give more power up top while retaining what low end I have and a noticeable idle.

Stage 1c would provide more low end and have a normal idle.

I will check out performance trucks though and do some more reading.

[Main One]

I'd ask them what they mean by low end, and if they have any dyno sheets of those cams installed in a 5.3 vice an L92.  It would be nice if the dyno sheets showed where the 2 cams were at say at least down to 2500 rpm or below.  It would be REAL nice if they went down to a good locked up converter cruising speed of say 1500 rpm or below.

My dyno runs have always started around 3500 rpm in order to keep the tranny from downshifting.  I should have done a special tune to have the tranny hold gear at WOT instead of being so downshift happy!   

[KY_BOB]

After that is installed I will take the truck to Livernois Motorsports to have installed:
Livernois stage 1 L92 cam 224/230 @ .050 duration  .581/.590 lift and LSA 114

That is a LOT of cam for a heavy truck and a 2500 converter will not make up for the loss of bottom end torque from that large of a cam.

[KY_BOB]

That's a healthy cam.  I'm running a 216/224 at 0.050.  I'd rather have gone a little more than a little less.  Don't know that I'd go as far as you are going.

Personally, I wish that I had gone with that cam instead of the one that I went with.  It's slightly hotter than mine and just as well mannered.  I'm basing that on 2 trucks that I've been in with that same cam.

Of course, you don't want to drop a cam sprocket bolt into your oil pan either when doing it like someone else I know....   

That would be me that he's refering to.

[Main One]

Bob -

Used my moderator powers to cleanup your post a little bit.  Hope you don't mind.