Thinkin about getting a cam

[ScottyBoy]

I kinda figured he was bullshitting me, or else confused about what engine I had. Because I have never heard of anyone taking the heads off to do a cam swap. If I remember right, Dan posted some pics of when he swapped his, and it came out the front of the engine.
I am looking for overall more power, and driveability. Basically, when I stomp the pedal I want it to GO.

Just a cam swap won't really get you the GO power, you will have to add all the supporting mods. I would first look at headers and maybe a stall. Once you start modding though, you will start sacrificing your MPG's.

My MPG's are already shot to shit because of my Blackbear tune and my heavy ass foot. I get about 12 in town, and 17-18 on the highway if I am lucky. But those highway number are always on a rad trip with a shitload of cargo and people too.
My absolute best city MPG was about 15mpg.

 

[daddy]

Leave it be. Buy a project if you want a project!

 

[Texas Jim]

A few more questions.

If I did have a cam installed, is installing headers a must?
Is running 93 octane fuel a must?
And I know I will have to get Justin to update my tune to match the cam profile.

I would seriously look at a good set of "LONG TUBE" headers with a fairly long collector, before putting a cam in it.
You will need the headers to get the most out of the cam anyway...
And you will also need the tune adjusted to run Premium to get the most out of the cam... but that wouldn't be ABSOLUTELY necessary...

 

[ScottyBoy]

I kinda figured he was bullshitting me, or else confused about what engine I had. Because I have never heard of anyone taking the heads off to do a cam swap. If I remember right, Dan posted some pics of when he swapped his, and it came out the front of the engine.
I am looking for overall more power, and driveability. Basically, when I stomp the pedal I want it to GO.

So, you want more LOW END power...from idle to mid range RPM...4000 RPM or so...
I assume you are not going to be driving it around with it wound up at high RPM all the time...

Correct Jim. The only time my truck goes over 4k rpm is when I am driving really aggressively or trying to pass someone. And every once in a while when I get 'er up over 100 the rpms will be that high. But its for only a few minutes at the time.

 

[63chevystepside]

You don't need headers you won't flow enough cfm to justify getting them and stock exhaust in your case would help with lo end torque. When you replace the cam you have to do the lifters and id strongly suggest a double roller chain. You could go with a lunti cam that has no more than a 470 lift because stock rockers max out at 470-could get some long slot 1.5 rockers(60.00) and go up to max 480 lift anything past that and you will have to change your springs-i recommend the lunti cam because it will give you good low-mid-top end and is easier on your valve train. When you do take it apart-make sure its dot to dot on the chain with the rotor pointing at number 6(not 1) or you be 180 out. Heads don't have to come off but let me ask you do you use oil? or have smoke out the pipe? If so you need to determine if its rings-vavles seat...and if its your valves then have your heads done just when you put your heads on make sure you do it in torque sequence called for and you use some indian head gasket on the head bolts before putting in head bolts an torqueing or it will leak. Stock exhaust will flow up to 600cfm and unless your running that or more putting headers on won't help. Hope this helps...anyone correct me if i was wrong. And if you do do this on pulling the balancer don't use a shape edged fitting to mate with the cranks crank bolt bolt-or it will split crank-use something flat.

 

[PenguinLTZ]

You don't need headers you won't flow enough cfm to justify getting them and stock exhaust in your case would help with lo end torque. When you replace the cam you have to do the lifters and id strongly suggest a double roller chain. You could go with a lunti cam that has no more than a 470 lift because stock rockers max out at 470-could get some long slot 1.5 rockers(60.00) and go up to max 480 lift anything past that and you will have to change your springs-i recommend the lunti cam because it will give you good low-mid-top end and is easier on your valve train. When you do take it apart-make sure its dot to dot on the chain with the rotor pointing at number 6(not 1) or you be 180 out. Heads don't have to come off but let me ask you do you use oil? or have smoke out the pipe? If so you need to determine if its rings-vavles seat...and if its your valves then have your heads done just when you put your heads on make sure you do it in torque sequence called for and you use some indian head gasket on the head bolts before putting in head bolts an torqueing or it will leak. Stock exhaust will flow up to 600cfm and unless your running that or more putting headers on won't help. Hope this helps...anyone correct me if i was wrong. And if you do do this on pulling the balancer don't use a shape edged fitting to mate with the cranks crank bolt bolt-or it will split crank-use something flat.

When did LUNATI start making cams for the 5.3?

 

[ScottyBoy]

You don't need headers you won't flow enough cfm to justify getting them and stock exhaust in your case would help with lo end torque. When you replace the cam you have to do the lifters and id strongly suggest a double roller chain. You could go with a lunti cam that has no more than a 470 lift because stock rockers max out at 470-could get some long slot 1.5 rockers(60.00) and go up to max 480 lift anything past that and you will have to change your springs-i recommend the lunti cam because it will give you good low-mid-top end and is easier on your valve train. When you do take it apart-make sure its dot to dot on the chain with the rotor pointing at number 6(not 1) or you be 180 out. Heads don't have to come off but let me ask you do you use oil? or have smoke out the pipe? If so you need to determine if its rings-vavles seat...and if its your valves then have your heads done just when you put your heads on make sure you do it in torque sequence called for and you use some indian head gasket on the head bolts before putting in head bolts an torqueing or it will leak. Stock exhaust will flow up to 600cfm and unless your running that or more putting headers on won't help. Hope this helps...anyone correct me if i was wrong. And if you do do this on pulling the balancer don't use a shape edged fitting to mate with the cranks crank bolt bolt-or it will split crank-use something flat.

I burn maybe a 1/2 quart of oil every 6k-7500 miles. Sometimes not even that much. And I have no smoke at all.

 

[CJ Hungus]

Lunati makes ls cams. And yes headers will make a difference.

 

[PenguinLTZ]

Lunati makes ls cams. And yes headers will make a difference.

Right on, last time I looked there were none available. I used to run them in my SBCs and SBFs, good value.

Agreed on the headers.

 

[ScottyBoy]

Or is there any other bolt ons that will net me mo-powah besides doing a cam swap?