Topic: Best Bolt On's for performance?

[Main One]

I found this write-up to be extremely helpful.  This will better let you know what we'll be getting into.  Moving the AC compressor is not required on the trucks.

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=23

Also, when doing Bob's truck, dealing with his supercharger took extra time, and we also installed his flexilight fans at the time too.

[MyBigToy]

Congrats on the new granddaughter!!  They are great.  Mine is 2 1/2 and a holy terror.  I'm ready to go as far as wanting to do it.  I just need to do my research and get the parts in (and go to the grocery).  I thought the 4.10's would be the way to go, but I think the cam will serve my purpose much better.

One thing to keep in mind; I don't remember whether you have one or not, but you will need some type of programmer to allw you to tweak the shifting parameters once you get the cam installed. You'll want to spin the rpms higher to allow you to take advantage of the additional power available higher up than with the stock cam. I'm currently shifting at 6200 rpm and the cam is still pulling like a raped ape at that point.

[Ski Edition]

I found this write-up to be extremely helpful.  This will better let you know what we'll be getting into.  Moving the AC compressor is not required on the trucks.

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=23

Also, when doing Bob's truck, dealing with his supercharger took extra time, and we also installed his flexilight fans at the time too.

Good article!!  I might be a little more educated now and if I had to do it alone, I would be scared half to death to do surgery like that on the engine.  I do find the different cams VERy confusing.  Which one will do this and which one will do that--not sure.  Back to the books.  BTW Joe, I have a Superchips handheld that I can change shift points, tire size, gears, etc.   

[MyBigToy]

BTW Joe, I have a Superchips handheld that I can change shift points, tire size, gears, etc.

That will at least give you a start. You'll probably need, at the very least, to get some type of mail order tune to really get all of the changes made that are necessary. You might try to find someone local that has a dyno and get a dyno tune or possibly find someone like Black Bear who travels periodically to different locations and does tunes. I had to make quite a few fueling changes, timing changes, and KR changes to my truck before I got it to run the way I wanted it to. Yours won't be as complicated because you aren't forced induction.

It seems the two most current favored tuners @ PT.net are Wheatley and Black Bear. I believe Wheatley sends a data logger and bases his changes on the logged file(s).

[Ski Edition]

That will at least give you a start. You'll probably need, at the very least, to get some type of mail order tune to really get all of the changes made that are necessary. You might try to find someone local that has a dyno and get a dyno tune or possibly find someone like Black Bear who travels periodically to different locations and does tunes. I had to make quite a few fueling changes, timing changes, and KR changes to my truck before I got it to run the way I wanted it to. Yours won't be as complicated because you aren't forced induction.

It seems the two most current favored tuners @ PT.net are Wheatley and Black Bear. I believe Wheatley sends a data logger and bases his changes on the logged file(s).

I figured that I would need to do more than the Superchips does.  It was just the basic model to get my tires and gears into the system.  OK Joe, shoot me some numbers on the cam I should go with and I'm sure you will give me an explanation why!     Thanks for all your help!!! 

[MyBigToy]

I figured that I would need to do more than the Superchips does.  It was just the basic model to get my tires and gears into the system.  OK Joe, shoot me some numbers on the cam I should go with and I'm sure you will give me an explanation why!     Thanks for all your help!!!

Here's a good start on one:

http://www.chevyavalancheclub.com/index.php/topic,1708.msg14710.html#msg14710

It's the one Ky_Bob put in his truck. It's a little smaller duration cam with a little higher lift than the one Main One and I have. To be honest, I don't think there would be a whole lot of difference in your truck between the two choices when each is tuned properly. The 212/218 duration cam should be a little easier to tune for. I know from talking to Bob that he's shifting at 6200 on his standard programming and a little higher than that on his haul a$$ tune.

I'm sure Main One will chime in here also. He's indicated he would probably go with a larger cam the next time around. It's really a matter of a ton of research and making an educated choice after that. I will say that the 212/218 high lift cam indicated above is one of the main ones that gets recommended time and time again for naturally aspirated engines; there has to be a reason for that. This cam will be a little cheaper to install because you can get by with using the yellow GM (Corvette) single springs. Dual springs are recommended for the cam M1 and I have.

[Ski Edition]

Actually, I was reading that thread as you posted this.  Thanks Joe!!

[MyBigToy]

Here's some more light research reading for you, Ski:

http://performancetrucks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=387763

[Ski Edition]

Here's some more light research reading for you, Ski:

http://performancetrucks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=387763

I read that one too.  It was actually in a signature of a member with 3 initials.  He had different links and this was under cams.  Keep em coming Joe!! 

[Main One]

Ski,

I certainly do not want to discourage your research - after all for me it is half of the fun.  But, whatever cam you choose, you will probably think, if I were to do this over again I'd go a bit this way or that.  Whichever it is though, as long as you don't go real big, you are most likely going to prefer it over the stock cam.