My turn, Camshaft suggestion
#51
#53
LS1Tech Sponsor
@adriver,
Thanks for getting us more info on the 5.3. Since it is a bare block, we understand that it isn't a swap that can happen immediately. Being from an auction it's a good idea to get it checked out before you'd think about building it.
Digging into this we found that a 2002 Silverado 1500 with a manual trans would have come with a New Venture NV3500 5-speed. The NV4500 would have only come in 3/4 and 1-ton trucks. The NV3500 has a 300 ft./lbs. torque rating. The stock LR4 4.8 that would be in a 2002 Silverado produces 285-295 ft./lbs of torque. Folks have likely abused them with more than 300 ft.lbs. However, that isn't something we would recommend if this is your only mode of transportation. The E-bike sounds like a fun experiment but not something we'd want to be stuck with long term.
With that being said it seems you're at a crossroads. There are quite a few different avenues you could take. You could leave the truck be and just drive it. Maybe you do a mild cam swap in the 4.8 to take care of the performance itch. Look into a trans swap if you want to start making a good bit of power. Look for a different truck that already has a 5.3 or 6.0 in it with an auto trans and sell your current inventory. There are probably a bunch of other avenues but this gives you an idea. Decisions, decisions, decisions
Thanks for getting us more info on the 5.3. Since it is a bare block, we understand that it isn't a swap that can happen immediately. Being from an auction it's a good idea to get it checked out before you'd think about building it.
Digging into this we found that a 2002 Silverado 1500 with a manual trans would have come with a New Venture NV3500 5-speed. The NV4500 would have only come in 3/4 and 1-ton trucks. The NV3500 has a 300 ft./lbs. torque rating. The stock LR4 4.8 that would be in a 2002 Silverado produces 285-295 ft./lbs of torque. Folks have likely abused them with more than 300 ft.lbs. However, that isn't something we would recommend if this is your only mode of transportation. The E-bike sounds like a fun experiment but not something we'd want to be stuck with long term.
With that being said it seems you're at a crossroads. There are quite a few different avenues you could take. You could leave the truck be and just drive it. Maybe you do a mild cam swap in the 4.8 to take care of the performance itch. Look into a trans swap if you want to start making a good bit of power. Look for a different truck that already has a 5.3 or 6.0 in it with an auto trans and sell your current inventory. There are probably a bunch of other avenues but this gives you an idea. Decisions, decisions, decisions
#54
adriver,
I have a 2003 RCSB, 4.8, 5-spd manual, 3.73 factory rear end, factory exhaust manifolds with cats to a Flowmaster FX muffler to duals. I installed the 8719 cam based on Summit's recommendation last April, so about a year's worth of use. It is a great cam for a 4.8 daily driver. No dyno numbers but it's obviously stronger throughout the RPM range. It has made the truck much more responsive and fun to drive. The truck started and ran fine after the swap but it will need tuned to get the maximum benefits. Gas mileage was not affected and actually has improved some. I have it idling at 745 RPM; it will idle lower but it seems happiest at that RPM. Fellow enthusiasts are going to tell you it sounds great and ask what cam it is, non-enthusiasts (like my wife) are going to just say it's louder but not be embarrassed to ride in it.
Hope this helps.
I have a 2003 RCSB, 4.8, 5-spd manual, 3.73 factory rear end, factory exhaust manifolds with cats to a Flowmaster FX muffler to duals. I installed the 8719 cam based on Summit's recommendation last April, so about a year's worth of use. It is a great cam for a 4.8 daily driver. No dyno numbers but it's obviously stronger throughout the RPM range. It has made the truck much more responsive and fun to drive. The truck started and ran fine after the swap but it will need tuned to get the maximum benefits. Gas mileage was not affected and actually has improved some. I have it idling at 745 RPM; it will idle lower but it seems happiest at that RPM. Fellow enthusiasts are going to tell you it sounds great and ask what cam it is, non-enthusiasts (like my wife) are going to just say it's louder but not be embarrassed to ride in it.
Hope this helps.
The following 3 users liked this post by biscayne409:
#55
Yeah, I've been thinking about what to do, and putting this off for too many years. I've got an nv4500 I pulled a couple years ago, sitting next to the blocks. I expected to have all this installed by now. The investments taking a hit over these last few years put if off, and I'm just getting impatient. I've got my exhaust setup, shorties with no collector to a free flow muffler, (It's what I'm calling: 'the best flowing, 49 state legal exhaust'). TBSS intake, going to do cam, heads (243s or more), and I'll get a custom tune. Then I can at least slow down and take care of some other things. I've read where I should be good with the current trans. I think I will as long as I stop trying to powershift when revving it out.
Thanks to everyone in the thread. I went and purchased the cam. I'm gonna wait until I get it tuned, and I'll post the results. I did use what was said to help make my decision.
Thanks to everyone in the thread. I went and purchased the cam. I'm gonna wait until I get it tuned, and I'll post the results. I did use what was said to help make my decision.
#57
TECH Enthusiast
i wouldnt get hung up on the 243/799 heads, if you do the 4.8 i’d find 709s and bump up compression if you don’t already have them. with the small cam size the 243s are not needed
#58
Bought the heads. Found what I thought was a good deal on a set of 243s. A set of remanned, ready to go 243s with a 3 angle valve job for $750 OBO. I was gonna make an offer on em, and asked the seller about milling. He said if I was willing to wait an extra day to have em shipped, they would mill em for no extra charge. If they are going to be that cool, I just went and bought em without trying to haggle. Going to get em down to 61cc.
Ebay seller teauran_0
Storefront: TRP Race parts
I still need a few things before I can do this package, but not much. I think injectors, head gaskets, a bolt to install the crank pulley, and probably a few more things. I'm hoping within a few weeks I'll get a good block of time to go and do the work.
Ebay seller teauran_0
Storefront: TRP Race parts
I still need a few things before I can do this package, but not much. I think injectors, head gaskets, a bolt to install the crank pulley, and probably a few more things. I'm hoping within a few weeks I'll get a good block of time to go and do the work.
#59
TECH Veteran
Use old crank bolt to install crank pulley