Questions about cam and other upgrades to my 5.3?

[09chevyAV]

I talked to the guys at comp cams and they suggested a cam for me and for what I want to get out of my truck

LSR™, 269LrR HR13

RPM Range: 1500-6700
Valve Timing: 0.006
Lobe Separation: 113 degrees
Intake Centerline: 109 degrees

Intake Exhaust
Valve Lash: Hyd Hyd
Duration: 269 285
Duration at .50" lift: 219 235
Valve lift: 0.607 0.621
Lobe lift: 0.357 0.365

I am also looking into getting a set of cylinder heads or simply doing the following mods to my stock ones

Endure-X™ Solid Roller Lifters: GM LS
Part: 8956-16

Hi-Tech™ Pushrods: 5/16" Diameter, 7.400" Length
Part: 7955-16

Ultra-Gold™ ARC Series Aluminum Rocker Arms: GM LS; 8mm Stud, 1.72 Ratio
Part: 19024-16

Adjustable Timing Sets; GM LS2
Part: 3158KT

GM LS1 Dual Valve Spring Kit
Part: 26921-KIT

What things do you suggest for the stall converter?
Where can I get the HD u joints?
Should I add an aux. trans cooler?
Servo?
Limited slip?
What else would you suggest?
Maybe a complete tear down and refresh everything?

The LS1 heads I was told to definitely look into, maybe some off of a corvette.

Now I know this is very involved and I am willing to change things because of a higher opinion that I am hoping to get from you. Should I just get a set of cylinder heads and use these parts on them or just use my stock ones? As far as installation I have a close friend of mine who is about to open a speed shop and is currently working on a 10.0 sec 1/4" drag 5.3 build who said he would for sure help me out.

Any help here? I know I will need a tune and I will be getting one from blackbear when I put on my lift and gears and tires this summer. Will I need a stall converter? What about transmission upgrades to handle the power. I talked to a guy at comp and he said with this setup and some aftermarket heads I could see up to 380-400 horse at the wheels. Is this true? Any help is very much appreciated thanks

 

[bobkyle2]

Wish i knew more about these LS engines. I don't know squat.

 

[Zembonez]

I'd think Penguin and the Doc would know. They'll chime it.

 

[PenguinLTZ]

The HP you listed at the bottom; 380-400 at the wheels? Not with a 5.3 and only cam, and heads.
If you want that HP, build or buy a 6.0

Carl, one of our mods, can better answer most of this. I only assisted with my son's Frankenstein.

You will definitely need a stall converter. Check out Yank, somebody like Texas Speed can spec you one for your driving, and build.

That cam with your heads should work fine. That is the cam we were going to go with when we started my kids project. I think aftermarket heads are a waste of money on an otherwise stock 5.3 with just a cam. If it was a 6.0, then maybe.

Yes on the trans. You start hot rodding that truck, the trans will live a shorter life.

Yes on the trans cooler. Get one.

Limited slip diff? You will end it's live. Look at some of the Auburn Posis. Good value.

There are a couple of members here that know much more, this has just been my experiences and observations. I am an old 5.7 guy, what good could I possibly be?

Good luck man

 

[slims]

I talked to the guys at comp cams and they suggested a cam for me and for what I want to get out of my truck

LSR™, 269LrR HR13

RPM Range: 1500-6700
Valve Timing: 0.006
Lobe Separation: 113 degrees
Intake Centerline: 109 degrees

Intake Exhaust
Valve Lash: Hyd Hyd
Duration: 269 285
Duration at .50" lift: 219 235
Valve lift: 0.607 0.621
Lobe lift: 0.357 0.365

I am also looking into getting a set of cylinder heads or simply doing the following mods to my stock ones

Endure-X™ Solid Roller Lifters: GM LS
Part: 8956-16

Hi-Tech™ Pushrods: 5/16" Diameter, 7.400" Length
Part: 7955-16

Ultra-Gold™ ARC Series Aluminum Rocker Arms: GM LS; 8mm Stud, 1.72 Ratio
Part: 19024-16

Adjustable Timing Sets; GM LS2
Part: 3158KT

GM LS1 Dual Valve Spring Kit
Part: 26921-KIT

What things do you suggest for the stall converter?
Where can I get the HD u joints?
Should I add an aux. trans cooler?
Servo?
Limited slip?
What else would you suggest?
Maybe a complete tear down and refresh everything?

The LS1 heads I was told to definitely look into, maybe some off of a corvette.

Now I know this is very involved and I am willing to change things because of a higher opinion that I am hoping to get from you. Should I just get a set of cylinder heads and use these parts on them or just use my stock ones? As far as installation I have a close friend of mine who is about to open a speed shop and is currently working on a 10.0 sec 1/4" drag 5.3 build who said he would for sure help me out.

Any help here? I know I will need a tune and I will be getting one from blackbear when I put on my lift and gears and tires this summer. Will I need a stall converter? What about transmission upgrades to handle the power. I talked to a guy at comp and he said with this setup and some aftermarket heads I could see up to 380-400 horse at the wheels. Is this true? Any help is very much appreciated thanks

The spec sheet should have the recommended stall size to run with that cam. If not then Comp should have provided that info for you. A 3,000 stall would be nice with the set up you posted. If your gonna have the power to the wheels they predicted, your gonna need to upgrade the transmission.

 

[slims]

What truck is this? Single cab? Ext cab?

 

[09chevyAV]

The HP you listed at the bottom; 380-400 at the wheels? Not with a 5.3 and only cam, and heads.
If you want that HP, build or buy a 6.0

Carl, one of our mods, can better answer most of this. I only assisted with my son's Frankenstein.

You will definitely need a stall converter. Check out Yank, somebody like Texas Speed can spec you one for your driving, and build.

That cam with your heads should work fine. That is the cam we were going to go with when we started my kids project. I think aftermarket heads are a waste of money on an otherwise stock 5.3 with just a cam. If it was a 6.0, then maybe.

Yes on the trans. You start hot rodding that truck, the trans will live a shorter life.

Yes on the trans cooler. Get one.

Limited slip diff? You will end it's live. Look at some of the Auburn Posis. Good value.

There are a couple of members here that know much more, this has just been my experiences and observations. I am an old 5.7 guy, what good could I possibly be?

Good luck man

I was told by another guy that maybe I should look into getting a set of heads off of an LS1 from a vette. He said he has tons of guys come in and thats one of the first things they do to their vettes and he has bolted them onto his 5.3 in the past. Would that work instead of getting all new replacement heads?

 

[09chevyAV]

What truck is this? Single cab? Ext cab?

Its a 2009 chevy avalanche

 

[slims]

If your gonna change em out I'd go with some other heads instead of the ls1 heads. I don't see as much power gain.. Unless you port em.

 

[66nova]

I have to agree with Scott on this. The 5.3 is a very capable motor, but if you're looking to stay naturally aspirated and make 400hp at the wheels I would start with a 6.0 or 6.2.

Can your goals be accomplished with a 5.3? Absolutely, but will the power be where you need it in a heavy ass truck. Probably not. What good is 400 hp if it's only available at 7000 rpm? If you're drag racing and have a properly matched combo to that 7000rpm great but I'm assuming this is not going to be a drag only truck and you need some torque to go with it.

6.0/6.2 is the way to go. Better heads and displacement right from the factory. Plus, depending on which one you get you are starting off with close to 400 crank hp.

What are you wanting to do with the truck?