Looking for cam suggestions. I bought the Summit Racing 370 pistons/rods combo and Texas Speed Brawler LS3 type ported heads to put the LSA blower on top of.

Truck is a 2001 GMC Sierra 2500HD (LQ4), will be near 7k pounds empty.
I haven't picked a converter but it will be some billet/upgraded type with a lower stall 2k-2400
I don't want to give up the towing capability of the truck. Cams are on sale (along with most other parts) and I'm trying to take advantage at the moment.
Shifts at 6500 or less, maybe even like 6000 since it's "not a race truck" even though the valvetrain will probably be able to do it.

The "stage 1" cams from Texas Speed and BTR, etc seem to be fairly similar but I don't know if I am missing something with those choices? @Summitracing

Thanks

 

I just got my truck back together a few days ago with a rebuilt engine, so not a lot of driving time on the new parts. However, I installed the Texas Speed stage 1 truck cam and really like it. Very responsive in the 2k-2400 range ironically, more so than the Comp 212/216 115 LSA cam I had in it before. I was looking for something with a little less than .600" lift at the valves (I have 1.8 roller rockers) so the springs could live a long life, basically no overlap (good for FI), and shifting not too far above 6k. I haven't gone far into boost because I'm still breaking in the new motor, but the cam feels great driving around town. I think the wide LSA on my old cam was killing low end torque around 2k rpm.

I would rethink stalling the convertor that low. I had a 265mm triple disk from Circle D configured as a 1A which I think they advertise as the 2500-2700 stall. It stalled too low making the truck super lazy off the line and while towing. In my 6K lb truck with the small turbo, the 1A would flash stall to 2k rpm off the line with throttle and I could brake stall it to 2500-2600 rpm. When I pulled the motor, I sent the convertor back to be stalled higher and Circle D recommended the 2A, which is the 2800-3000 I believe. I hate super loose convertors, however the 2A is not bad at all. Again, I haven't beat on the combo yet, but it seems to flash stall from a stop light around 2300-2400 with a good amount of throttle, which gets the truck into the beginning of the powerband. No more medium throttle, then wait a second or two for the truck to rev into the powerband, then take off like a rocket.

 

Thanks for feedback. Happy Thanksgiving all

Jakes Performance recommended their "Diesel Converter" at 2000-2200 stall
Circle D recommended their 310mm single disc converter at 2200-2400 stall

I told both I wanted to keep the truck useful as a tow vehicle which is probably why they went with the factory like stall, and with a supercharger my powerband is going to be strong at 2k+ RPM. Your recommendation makes sense with a turbo and probably to feel a bit more "sporty".

Here is a list of camshafts I found that could be potentials

Lingenfelter GT2-3
207/220 duration @ .050 lift -.571/.578 lift with 1.7 rocker 118.5 CL
https://www.lingenfelter.com/product/L210085297.html

BTR PDS STAGE 1 TORQUE CAMSHAFT
217/23X, .619/.607, 114 LSA
https://briantooleyracing.com/btr-pd...-camshaft.html

TSP LS3 Stage 1 Supercharged Cam Specs
223/231, .629"/.629", 115 LSA, 112 ICL
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-8552-t...-camshaft.aspx

Cam Motion PD
220/234
118 Lobe Center Angle with a 114 Degree Intake Centerline
Lift with 1.7 Rocker Arm Ratio: .595"/.587"
https://cammotion.com/camshafts/pd-2...-displacement/

GPI SC Stage 1
220/240 .620/.603 LSA 118 ICL +5
https://gwatneyperformance.com/produ...ower-camshaft/

Comp Cams Stage 1 LST
225/239 0.612/0.612 lift, 114 LSA
https://www.compcams.com/stage-1-lst...r-engines.html

NK Performance "Lil Whiner"
220/236 .595/.586 lift, 120.5 LSA, 117 ICL (120.5+3.5)
https://nkpracing.com/products/ls-li...lower-camshaft

 

I had the btr stage 1 pds in my 5.3, it was a great cam. Not much lope or chop but it still sounded badass. Pulled really hard down low like a truck motor should and all the way to 7k rpm’s.

 

Almost same build with mine except different goals and truck model. But I went with
BTR PDS STAGE 3 TORQUE CAMSHAFT V2
wanted to try btr instead of tsp. This is what they spec me. Being that your wanting towing down low power band is priority.

 

Thanks for comments. That's why I'm thinking a stage 1 type cam, keeping power band lower and RPM's lower.

It's probably hard to go wrong with any of these cams I listed, power is going to come in at 2k RPM or less with just about anything.

How much does the core alloy/material matter on the cam? I expect most of these use the basic 5150 steel core alloy for what they cost. There wasn't even much of a choice except through Cam Motion where you can go to 8660 or 8620 alloys.

 

@silentbravo,

Thank you for your patronage of the Pro LS piston and rod combo.

You have a heck of a lineup of cams to choose from that are all fairly close to each other. We like the looks of the BTR PDS Stage 1 Torque cam for this combo and goals. Even without having the exact exhaust duration or ground in advance the rest of the specs look right. We plugged in a couple of variations of it in our cam timing calculator and liked what we saw. It'll be a runner with towing capability and daily friendly if you commute with it. It sounds like @smokinlmm was a fan of it in his 5.3 that he had.

Regarding the differences in cam cores. Cam Motion has a nice breakdown here of the different types of cores. For the vast majority, a 5150 core is plenty capable for most needs thus what most aftermarket manufacturers offer for the LS community. If the budget is there and you want added strength and durability then spring for an 8620 core cam.

 

Alright, I'll give that BTR cam a shot. Thanks for feedback

Now to go unbox the Summit 370 assembly I got today....

 

post pics

 

Yes, please so we can live vicariously thru you this week. Lol.