03ChevyRidinHigh

iTrader: (6)

Hey guys I have been on here for a while and I have been getting parts as they have been coming up on the forums. I was wondering what people do when there heads are off? What kind of machine work did you get done? I have called 3 different machine shops and they all give me different answers. I am not looking for someone to say get new heads from West Coast heads or SDPC because I can't afford them or else I would. I am just looking for peoples opinions on how to squeeze a little more HP out of it.
I have a 03 1500 5.3 lifted 6 inches 4x4 4.11 gears w/ 120,000 Miles

If you see something I need to add please let me know. I know some of this stuff wasn't probably needed but its cool its already bought and I got a killer deal on a lot of this stuff. LoL I know I went a little over kill on the Comp Cams stuff.

Things I have bought for my Cam Swap:
Comp Cams 54-424-11 212/218 I know its small.
Comp Cams Valve springs Beehive 26918-16
Comp Cams Valve seals 511-16
Comp Cams Valve locks 623-16
Comp Cams Spring Locators 4705-16
Comp Cams Steel Retainers 774-16
Comp Cams Gold Aluminum Rockers 1.72 $200 NIB
Comp Cams HI-TECH Pushrods 7.400
Comp Cams OE Lifters 850-16
Yanks GM LS Timing set
JBA Shorties $140.00 Slightly used
ARP Balancer Bolt
ARP Cam Retainer and Sprocket Bolts
ARP Headbolts 134-3609

I haven't bought a gasket set yet so if someone can help me out on a brand or what brands not to get that would be awesome. Looking for a full head gasket set.

Also I know people think this is a small pointless cam. I have done research and saw a lot of people saying it. So lets say I do agree its small and I might be having doubts about it. What is a bigger cam that you would run and still be able to run all of these parts without changing any of them. Preferably a comp cams please.

Beau@SDPC

iTrader: (14)

We have had good luck w/ our HT1 Cam 214/218 .559/562 111 LSA. I have one in my daily driver and love it!

03ChevyRidinHigh

iTrader: (6)

I was looking at that cam last night on your site and was wondering if it was that much bigger then the one I have now. I know the LSA is diffrent 115 compared to 111. And the intake is 212 and yours is 214.

Beau@SDPC

iTrader: (14)

The 111 gives the cam a much chunkier sound and brings power in a little later. Power comes on big time around 3500rpm in my truck, but it will be different for every setup. It pulls hard in the upper rpms, and wants to go past 6K. Great camshaft choice if you're not wanting to go very big.

LsF-150

iTrader: (2)

what are your end goals for the truck? and budget? current or future exhaust plans? Sounds to me like your not wanting to spend alot or have a hot rod when its all said and done, based on that I'd say def mill the heads to bump compression, thats about the best bang for the buck on head upgrades, imo.
mill the heads, run the cam u have and throw headers in the mix. You'll be happy with that...for a little while

oops, just saw tha jba's on the list

03ChevyRidinHigh

iTrader: (6)

End goals since it is lifted to use it as a daily driver and smoke some other trucks and cars on the street. Being it is lifted so tall I cant run it down the track so I am not trying to build an all out race truck. I am not really wanting to spend a years pay on my first 5.3 build but will spend the money if it is worth it or the part needs to be replaced.

I have a Cat back magnaflow 3inch with a new Y-pipe that only has 30k on it (Cats went out on my last one so my buddy hooked me up with his). Yes I have JBA shorties on right now. I would go with LT headers but I am in Oregon and we have DEQ so I would need cats on my Y-pipe. Plus I got the shorties for a hell of a good deal so I will run them until I get board with them.

So you think Mill the heads? Do you think It would be a good idea to do a valve grind? Resurface the intake, exhaust, and deck also?