Cam choice for 5.3
#2
![Default](https://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Is it a regular cab truck or what? Do you plan on getting a higher stalling converter or not? If you stick with the stock converter you will need to stick with a smallish cam or it will be a dog down low. You also really need to get a custom tune and Long tube Headers, but a tune isn't needed on a small cam like an LS6 cam. Do I think its worth installing a LS6 cam for a NA setup, no. You will gain a tad more power, but will quickly outgrow it.
Weight of the truck, big tires/wheels and gears play a factor also. Stock gears are fine on a Regular cab with stock sized tires and wheels. If you have a heavy *** truck or huge tires/wheels you will prob want new gears and converter first before the cam IMO. Even a stock truck will benefit with just a nice converter alone btw.
You will also need new valve springs, the LS6 valve springs will be needed AT LEAST but they are VERY cheap only $80 or so. IF you go with a cam with higher lift you will need to get something like pac 1218 springs that are good up to .600 lift. So on and so on with over .600 lift cams..
Go with the very popular comp 212/218 low lift cam, because you can get away with stock converter and stock gears if you wanted. Also you only need the Yellow LS6 springs for about $80 or a newer replacement to the LS6 springs as they are being discontinued now. You still need to get a custom tune and I HIGHLY suggest Headers Longtubes not shortys.
Last edited by jrmchevyman; 09-16-2011 at 04:16 PM.
#4
![Default](https://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
The "Blue" ones are the new springs. Maybe that will clear it all up.
Here is a thread I quickly found proving the color switch.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...e-springs.html
Last edited by jrmchevyman; 09-16-2011 at 06:11 PM.
#5
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Thanks for the great info. It is a completely stock engine out of an express van. Its going in a '76 Camaro with a th350 2500 stall, 4.11 gears, and 27" tire. I have been looking at the LS6 cam and it certainly looks like what I want.
#6
Trucks Sponsor
iTrader: (14)
![Default](https://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
A lot of sites said the Yellow LS6 springs are discontinued, but they still have them in stock. Just going by what I saw. Yeah you can still get them at texas-speed also.
The "Blue" ones are the new springs. Maybe that will clear it all up.
Here is a thread I quickly found proving the color switch.
LS3 heads...Blue springs? - LS1TECH
The "Blue" ones are the new springs. Maybe that will clear it all up.
Here is a thread I quickly found proving the color switch.
LS3 heads...Blue springs? - LS1TECH
![Happy](https://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)
PN: 12499224
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post