Cam install for my 5.3 LS series engine
 

I can get a hold of a LQ9 (6.0L) camshaft for cheap under $100. This cam is basically what makes the difference between GM's Performance parts new 5.3 HO engine and the stock 5.3. I want to install that cam in my 5.3 Avalanche. The LQ9 cam specs out at . 467/. 479 and 196/201. The stock cam is . 457/. 466 and 191/190. I know its not that much diffrence but that cam in the 5.3 HO engine makes 332 hp and 352 lb-ft. Thats 37hp & 27 lb-ft over stock. I know that with that they also put special coated pistons with that but I figure this cam swap has to be worth aleast 20hp.

Anything I should look out for? or opinions?

Dont waste your money on used internal engine parts it is just asking for problems..
Also If you are going to go through the trouble of changing the cam, put something worth while in it. The cam you are talking about is still tiny.

I figured that but the cam is new. It was pulled out of a new crate motor before it was installed. The reason why I thought this cam would be good because I would not have to worry about changing the valve springs. Or maybe I could just upgrade to 1.8 ratio scorpion roller rocker arms.

so what? just change the valve springs..

Yeah your right I just was trying to do a quick upgrade on a small budget just to add a little more to my daily driver and have a short down time.

then why dont you do the normal bolt on stuff? They all are quick and easy..

Cold air
Programmer or custom tune
Exhaust
MAINTENANCE?

I have a Corsa cat back, K&N FIPK, granatelli MAF, and Hypertech programmer. I was looking for a little more, but you tell me should I just go for roller rokers then or something else maybe like headers?

You should check what else make the HO engine. Often the HO builds are more then a cam change, also gets a higher ratio rockers and tuning. I understand the 5.3 can easily make more power with tuning and the torque manangment tunered off. I don't think that cam swap will gain you very much by itself.

Acording to the gm performace parts catalog the 5.3 HO got the LQ9 cam and Grafal-coated pistons. Its a drop in long block for the 5.3.
Isntead of spending $3500 on the long block I thought I would just upgrade the cam in mine to the one in the HO to gain a little more. I plan on using my truck to tow my car to places like the body shop, JS's shop and eventualy the track.

The LQ9 is the same as the 01-04 LS1 cam, don't waste your money. There is also different programming or C/R on the 5.3 HO, if memory serves it is a 93 Octane only set-up which means it is either running higher compression or more agressive timing. You could take a stock 5.3 and get it to the 5.3 HO specs with a couple bolt ons and tuning. IF you are going to bother with a cam gof or a whole package. For a DD I highly recommend thunder racings 224/224 cam with a 114 LSA. Makes good power, idles nice and gets decent gas mileage. What are you looking for out of the truck?

Here is the page from GM Performance catalog.

A souped up 5.3 that is ready and willing to deliver
Continuing the tradition of great small-block V-8 engines, the 5.3L LS engine has been one of the most popular
we’ve ever built. It’s been installed in millions of GM-built pickups, work trucks, vans, and SUVs. But, leave it to the
GM Performance Parts engineers to go one step further and upgrade the 5.3L LS. The result is a High Output 5.3 that
is just as capable serving as a workhorse—it’s just a little bit more fun.
We started with the base engine—the tough, proven, and dependable 5.3L engine. It’s the same long-lived production
engine that you’ll find in our award winning full-sized truck and SUV line. The stock 5.3 offers a dependable 295 horsepower
and 325 lb.-ft. of torque from the 96mm bore by 92mm stroke engine design.
What makes our 5.3 High Output crate engine so special is that our engineers added a GM Performance Parts custom
cam and Grafal-coated pistons. With these simple upgrades, the 5.3 HO kicks out 332 horsepower and 352 lb.-ft. of
torque. And, just like the stock 5.3, the 5.3 HO is capable of thousands of miles of dependable service while returning
outstanding fuel mileage, thanks to the superior design of the LS Family of engines.
Try the 5.3 HO crate engine by GM Performance Parts. Your truck will thank you!
GM Performance Parts does not utilize any used or
remanufactured parts in this crate engine.
GM Performance Parts Crate Engines include a
24-month or 50,000-mile limited warranty.
5.3HO TECH SPECS:
Part Number: 19165628
Engine type: LS Series small-block V-8
Displacement (cu in): 323 (5.3L)
Bore x stroke (in): 3.18 x 3.62 (96 x 92mm)
Block (P/N 12551360): Cast-iron with 6-bolt,
cross bolted iron main caps
Crankshaft (P/N 12553480): Nodular iron
Connecting rods (P/N 12568734): Powdered metal steel
Pistons (P/N 12571545): Hypereutectic aluminum
Camshaft type (P/N 12561721): Hydraulic roller
Camshaft lift (in): .467 intake / .479 exhaust
Camshaft duration (@.050 in): 196° intake / 201° exhaust
Cylinder heads (P/N 12559865): Aluminum; cathedral port
Valve size (in): 1.89 intake / 1.55 exhaust
Compression ratio: 9.5:1
Rocker arms (P/N 10214664): Investment cast, roller trunnion
Rocker arm ratio: 1.7:1
Recommended fuel: 87 octane
Maximum recommended rpm: 6000
Reluctor wheel: 24X
Balanced: Internal

Give your work truck a workout
Get your late model SUV back up and running
Install a juiced-up 5.3 into something special

this man speaks wisdom.... and port those heads, get supporting mods including a good stall, and watch your truck fly

Ive done searching on LS1tech.com and the avalanche fan club and they all seem to like the zo6 cam for the 5.3. I went to barnes and noble and got a book called How to build High performance Chevy LS1/LS6 V-8's. There is alot of info in it and they explain how to install a zo6 cam into a 5.3 and did dyno testing with the zo6 cam in a 5.3 and gained about 40 hp with no other mods. The book details about changing the valve springs and the different lenght push rods. I think I may go this route and get a ZO6 cam, springs and upgraded pushrods.

That cam wouldn't be worth th day's work of swapping the cam. Pick out a decent cam or have someone spec a cam for you, even that ZO6 cam wouldn't be a bad choice...I think the later ZO6 cam's are a little more agressive, just keep in mind you will need to change springs and possibly even a bit of tuning.

The more research I do the more I see that even the Z06 cam isnt that great for my application. The Z06 cam makes more power at the top end but looses power at the bottem end, not good for a truck that I want to tow with. Im still searching for one that will be good for me.

Well if you are going to tow you are going to want a high torque camshaft. I think Comp has got some nice grinds that start pulling off idle or around 1500 RPM. If you are going to tow definately get a truck cam.

yup I was looking into them from summit. I also looked at lingefelter, some people on the avalanche fan club has cams from lingenfelter and really like them and also Im looking in to Vinci's, they have some nice grinds including a ultra torque cam and a towing/performance cam.

get a good tune, the hypertech does not take out the torque management.

remember its a daily driver so the further you go into the engine the more likely it is for problems to start. ALso the more lift you go with the more it is going to raise your torque curbe which is the opposite of what you need for towing so a cam change might not be in your best interest.

Ok cool. I read about that TM at the fan club site and many dont recommend taking TM out or just taking some out because of weak links in the drivetrain.

what i deduce then from this thread would be that it would be wise to do bolt ons, a tune with TO removal, and then building up the drivetrain. sounds like a bulletproof tow rig. thoughts?

I found a cam. I am getting one from VINCI Hi-Performance. It is there ultra tourqe cam for trucks. Its specs are dur @ 50 210/218 lift .551/.551 LSA 116 and overlap of 46.