Would the Z06 cam work as far as a stock cam upgrade? I think that is what Parish has done with their pinks 5.3l engine??
What valve springs would work without blowing too much cash?
I don't want to get carried away being cheap but if I don't it WILL get out of hand fast.
Cash deep does not always translate into boost friendly. The combo of parts must be correct for my goal.
That is why I came to this site years ago, lots of great people with honest answers.

 

Comp 918 springs are great bang for the buck (under $200), stock retainers (no need to Ti retainers). Z06 cam? I personally would go with something more turbo friendly but you could use that as it's better than stock. Upgraded pistons and rods (~$1000-$1300 depending on what you pick, plus the machining and balancing, and assembly if necessary), stock crank, fresh bearings, gaskets. The stock 317 heads flow the same as LS6/LS2 heads, just lower compression. You could use your 5.3L heads if you wanted, just get dished pistons, which many of them are.

Right now my setup is a factory bottom end LQ4, LS2 heads (I wanted high compression), Patriot dual springs (had them lying around in a box already) and Comp Cam of ridiculous proportions, Comp lifters (also lying around), stock everything else. I will know what it makes in a few weeks when I hit a dyno and finish tuning it.

 

Good info. I would like a cam that is livable and easier to tune with. Remember I am not going for all out performance here. I would like some decent low end, no worse than it is now. Is the stock 6.0l cam any worse than the stock 5.3l cam?
How about a 2800rpm converter? Would that help off the line on a lower boost setting for daily driving?

 

6.0 LQ9
207/196 int/exh @ 0.05" duration
0.479" / 0.467" int/exh lift
116 LSA

5.3 LM7
190/191 int/exh @ 0.05" duration
0.466" / 0.457" int/exh lift
114 LSA

The 6.0 does have some better specs on it, and a wider LSA. A converter will definitely help you off the line, but you need to have a transcooler and you will take a shot on your MPG (if that's an issue). A 2800 would work, some would say it's a bit of a low stall however I don't want to eat up tires by changing them from solid to gaseous form.

 

I have the stock trans cooler and a larger Hayden bar+plate style in the parts pile. A higher stall would be great if all I did was drag race and troll for ricers but that is not the main goal for me. Not to say it wouldn't be fun.

 

ChevyThunder17, you must not have read the thread that parish has going with their pinks car. Stock 5.3 with MP T-70 turbo, gained 100rwhp running 8 PSI with ONLY a 01 (the smaller of the 2 z06 cams) Z06 cam swap. The 02 Z06 cam has .025 more lift. They are running the LS6 yellow valve springs I believe.

TG02Z71, Here is the bottom draw budget, yet still strong boost motor I have planed for later this summer.

5.3 bored to 5.7 (my machine shop guy said he can get me a block and crank for $250)
SDPC Budget forged LS1 kit (comes with forged flattop pistons, rings, bearing, and ARP rod bolts for $600. Just forged piston for a 6L are $635)
317 6L heads with yellow LS6 springs ($60 from SDPC) Should keep the comp around 9.5 to 1
Vincie "Ultra Toque" cam ( almost identical to a 02 Z06 cam, just a bit more intake duration. I couldn't tell a difference when I swapped the two)
LQ9/LS2 rods (a bit beefer then the stock, and can be had pretty cheep).
ARP Head studs for a little more clamping force.

I think this setup should be good for around 700rwhp, with some 60lbs/hr injectors and a MP-70 at 15psi.

I like the idea of this motor combo, because it will get me the power and reliability I want and the parts are cheaper and easier to get. Also I drive my truck a lot, and wont have to feed the extra 30 c.i. of a 6L. Of course I WILL have to do something about the trany if i use this motor to it full potential

 

You have a very solid plan, the 700rwhp is way beyond what I need. I would like about 600fwhp so I get about 475rwhp minimum.
Don't get me wrong, 700rwhp would be awesome but a little too crazy for me. I think my license would be gone after one weekend with that setup.
I like the idea of being able to run low boost and still have some grunt but not so much that if my wife had to drive it she'd get into a bad situation.
This is where all these question started in my head. Is there such a thing as the combo I am trying to work out on paper??
There seem to be good arguments for a 5.7l iron block and the 6.0l LQ4 lightly modded.
You guys have my ears!

 

HAha, what I meant is it will have the potential for 700rwhp, not that I'm gona running it there...much..lol . I will probable run it at the 7low/10high I run now and might bump it to 15 for the occasional trip to the track. One thing I would keep in mind about a lightly modded 6L is that you won't have the added protection of the stronger forged pistons.

You have about the same amount of machine work for a forged 5.7 or 6l either way, assuming you have to bore the 6L .030 over to clean it up, but the parts will cost more. Diamond is the only ones I have found that make an off the shelf forged piston for the 6L and a stock size rod. Plus used 6L cost more then 5.3. Man, I'm starting to sound like a sales man with an iron block 5.7 to sell,

 

I'm looking at the post now. Does it make good power? Yes. It lost power up until 4800 RPM, after that it picks up. That is fine for a car, but I wouldn't give that up with a truck. The 5.3 stock cam run looks flat, I'm going with due to the lack of lift. On a 6.0, I would use something considerably bigger.

I never said it wasn't good, just not what I would personally pick.

 

You guys both have good points. I would still like some decent low end without having to brake spool the thing from a stop. That just gets stupid on the street in traffic, nothing like flipping on the "Cop Magnet" neon sign.

With what you are saying about cost of a base 6.0l and parts being more expensive than maybe the 5.3l iron block bored to a 5.7l would be better budget for me.
I will go with forged pistons either way just for safety and longer life at the moderate boost levels I will be running.
Do I really need forged pistons with lower boost levels, say max of 10-12psi??
Probably not but I am now taking the better safe than sorry route for a build up.

Here is what I'm now thinking.
5.3l iron block bored to a 5.7l
Forged 5.7l pistons.
Stock 5.3l, LS1 or Z06 cam?
ARP rod bolts and head studs
918 springs for safety


Do I need upgraded push rods?
If so what brand and length for either cam?

Could I use the stock 5.3l cam?

Are all the rockers the same?

What would make the most sense for my goals?

I must always keep in mind my truck weighs about 5400lbs, and always will.