I have a Radix on my 5.3 and am thinking of a cam. I was wondering if a strong lope would damage the Radix? Also, what specs are best suited to make power down low? I want something that will get this heavy pig moving a little quicker off the line. I have 4.10 gears and an Eaton in the garage and am seriously looking at N20 in the future (just a 50 shot) What cam will suit my needs best?
This is my first thought:
DUR @ .004" 278*/ 286*
DUR @ .050" 216*/ 224*
* LIFT .551/.551
OVERLAP 53*
LSA 115*

I have a Radix on my 5.3 and am thinking of a cam. I was wondering if a strong lope would damage the Radix? Also, what specs are best suited to make power down low? I want something that will get this heavy pig moving a little quicker off the line. I have 4.10 gears and an Eaton in the garage and am seriously looking at N20 in the future (just a 50 shot) What cam will suit my needs best?
This is my first thought:
DUR @ .004" 278*/ 286*
DUR @ .050" 216*/ 224*
* LIFT .551/.551
OVERLAP 53*
LSA 115*
I think you know what my answer is going to be (did you ask this question before?).

I arrived at the cam in my sig after about 3 months of research on the forums and in telephone conversations. For a heavy (5000 lbs+) vehicle equipped with a 5.3L motor and a stock torque converter, this is what I arrived at. Some people said I could go higher, but I trusted the guys at Cam Motion, who have supplied hydraulic and solid roller cams for some pretty amazing cars. I was guaranteed torque from idle (600 RPM's) on up to 6000 RPM's +, which is exactly what I wanted, and sounds like what you are looking for too.

If you have (or will have) an aftermarket TC, you can move up a little. The cam you're considering would work with, let's say, a TT3000 stall. You might be over the limit for a TT2600, though.

I would suggest emailing Cam Motion and seeing what they say.

I asked about that specific cam before but never got any reponses. Vinci cams (sponsor) has a cam that is designed for a radix. It's the one I listed in my first post. I has a choppy idle and is supposed to be perfect for the radix. How did the cam you chose feel after install? Did you feel the difference? Any idea on hp or 1/4 time gains? Did you replace your springs?

Is that this one you are referring to?

"THE TRUCKER"
STREET / STRIP / POWER
POWER RANGE 2000 TO 6200
TUNING REQUIRED
POWERFUL CHOPPY IDLE
DYNAMITE WITH A SUPERCHARGER

I might be interested too...will it work in all the small block v8 truck motors?

I asked about that specific cam before but never got any reponses. Vinci cams (sponsor) has a cam that is designed for a radix. It's the one I listed in my first post. I has a choppy idle and is supposed to be perfect for the radix. How did the cam you chose feel after install? Did you feel the difference? Any idea on hp or 1/4 time gains? Did you replace your springs?
I replaced the springs and pushrods with the cam (you need to do springs at minimum). You can tell there is a cam if you know what to listen for, there is some lope in the idle. I gained 15-20 RWHP across the entire powerband...I know this because did almost back-to-back dynos before and after the cam. If I had it to do over again, I would probably do the same cam again or the LPE one that BlownChevy has. Do you plan on keeping the stock TC?

The TC I have is a heavy duty one but the stall is really close to stock. I think it is a 1600 or 1800, I'm not positive. I put it in with the built 65E. I didn't plan on replacing it again only because of the massive pain in the A$$ it is to drop the tranny. I want a noticable lope but not one that shakes the truck and I want most of the power down low because I'm a red light to red light kind of guy. I haven't ever been to a track with this thing.

Is that this one you are referring to?

"THE TRUCKER"
STREET / STRIP / POWER
POWER RANGE 2000 TO 6200
TUNING REQUIRED
POWERFUL CHOPPY IDLE
DYNAMITE WITH A SUPERCHARGER

I might be interested too...will it work in all the small block v8 truck motors?
That's the one. Should work on all the LS engines. I think they do custom grinds a Vinci as well.

I have a Vig 2800 that was restalled to 3000 and I have the ever popular comp 212/218 and I absolutely love it. This cam makes huge power down low, so much so that I couldnt believe it.
I was in a similiar boat as you when I started (not wanting to redo things) so I tried working with what I had. At this point Im now replacing everything. Im also more of a stoplight to stoplight guy and the truck will probably only see a track once or twice in its life. Im going with a Vig 3200 with my 408 and T trim.
I dont know if I would plan on that built '65 holding with a Radix, lowend cam and 50 shot in a 5000lb Tahoe.....

I had the 212/218 high lift cam with the radix and stock TC and worked great, power at low and high rpms.

Where are you guys getting the 212/218 cam? Cam Motion? How much? And what would it cost me to get it installed? Is it a couple of hours work or an all day event?

The 212/218 is a Comp cam, they make two versions (hi-lift and low-lift), no reason to get the low lift one, go big or stay home. You can also get Comp to make you a 210/218 on their lobes, and Cam Motion should be able to make you a 210/218 or a 212/218 on their lobes. You can expect to pay $350-$395 new from either manufacturer.

As far as install, it took me quite a long time, like 20 hours. We were very meticulous and methodical. A lot of that time was spent on spring replacement, but we struggled with a couple of things like getting the crank bolt on and off, and trying to operate the pulley puller. If I had it to do over again I'm confident we could do it in 8-10 hours. A cam only install (no springs) should take half that.

I don't know much about cam numbers but I was wondering what gives the cam its lope? Is it the LSA or is it the lift/duration etc.? I wanted a noticeable lope/low end tq, without losing good drivability. IS there a cam that will do this?

My cam lopes a little....not a funny car lope, but a lope nonetheless.

Personally I think it's LSA....all other factors remaining equal, if you ordered something on a 112 LSA, I think you'd get what you're after.

I don't know much about cam numbers but I was wondering what gives the cam its lope? Is it the LSA or is it the lift/duration etc.? I wanted a noticeable lope/low end tq, without losing good drivability. IS there a cam that will do this?

overlap

OVERLAP
Overlap is the angle in crankshaft degrees that both the intake and exhaust valves are open. This occurs
at the end of the exhaust stroke and the beginning of the intake stroke. Increasing lift duration and/or
decreasing lobe separation increases overlap.

How is it measured?
Overlap can be calculated by adding the exhaust closing and the intake opening points. For example, a
cam with an exhaust closing at 4º ATDC and an intake opening of 8º BTDC has 12º of overlap.
But keep in mind that since these timing figures are at 0.050” of valve lift, this therefore is overlap at
0.050.” A better way to think about overlap is the area that both lift curves overlap, rather than just the
crankshaft angle that both valves are open. Therefore, one can see that decreasing the lobe separation
only a few degrees can have a huge effect on overlap area.

What does it do?
At high engine speeds, overlap allows the rush of exhaust gasses out the exhaust valve to help pull the
fresh air/fuel mixture into the cylinder through the intake valve. Increased engine speed enhances the
effect. Increasing overlap increases top-end power and reduces low-speed power and idle quality.

http://carcraft.com/techarticles/116_0403_basic_10_z.jpg

Sounds like what I want would be minimal overlap, say 112 LSA? I want the low end tq but I want a little chop.

Sounds like what I want would be minimal overlap, say 112 LSA? I want the low end tq but I want a little chop.

this is where getting Cam info based on others experiences helps out.

more overlap = more chop :secret:

Will a noticable chop damage the Radix?
Anybody got any sound clips of a 5.3 radix with a cam in it?
Is the chop affected by the exhaust as well?
I was planning on dumping the Flowmaster and going with a Magnaflow in the near future.

Will a noticable chop damage the Radix?
Anybody got any sound clips of a 5.3 radix with a cam in it?
Is the chop affected by the exhaust as well?
I was planning on dumping the Flowmaster and going with a Magnaflow in the near future.

the LPE GT2-3 in the 5.3 is a Radix favorite, sounds stock to me, although BlownChevy swears there is some chop to it.

the LPE GT2-3 in the 5.3 is a Radix favorite, sounds stock to me, although BlownChevy swears there is some chop to it.
Where can I look at the specs on it? Do they have a website?

Where can I look at the specs on it? Do they have a website?


http://www.lingenfelter.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=LS1-GT2-3&Category_Code=


http://www.lingenfelter.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/product_images/8499wb.jpg