I have access to a free 2001 Z06 cam/springs combo. I would like to install that combo in my 2003 4X4 Silverado 5.3/Auto with JBA shorty headers, Cat Back and upgraded cold air intake sytem. My question is this: I have heard, but can't verify that base circle of that cam is slightly smaller than the stock cam. If that is so, do I have to change to a longer push rod, or will the lifters take up the difference. I know that the 2002 and newer Z06 cams were ground on even a smaller base circle which required GM to install slightly longer valve stems in the LS6 engines. When the 2002 Z06 cam is installed in a non LS6 engine usually a slightly longer push rod is installed. Also anybody out there running the 2001 Z06 cam? Comments/impressions? Thanks

 

in my opinion if your going to go through the trouble of putting a cam in you might as well make it worth while..thats a very small cam and being 4x4 your butt dyno will not be impressed.. get a comp 212 218 or similar specs, when i had the cam in my truck i used ls6 springs and stock pushrods

 

a friend put that cam in his 2001 Z71 5.3 and he's happy with it. to the best of my knowledge he didn't change the pushrods, just cam and springs

 

I ran a 02 z06 cam in my truck for 10k miles with the stock pushrod, so you should be fine. Much better then stock

 

Has anyone actually gotten the Z06 cam and didn't ever go to a bigger cam?

I'm with dirt_track_racer_81, might as well get a bigger cam now. Get the Z06 cam for free and sell it...

 

I have the '01 Zo6 cam in my truck and I love it. (Read my setup below) I think going larger than that in a daily driver truck will make your bottom end power too soggy. Throttle response is nice and if you have anything numerically lower than a 3.73 gear and heavier than 4200 lbs a cam too big will have no bottom end and only scream up high. Gas mileage goes to and makes your truck overall less enjoyable to drive. Is it a daily driver or a race car? Just remember, build and design intelligently, not because you think bigger is better.

 

There are plenty of daily drivers using the TR220 and TR224 cam with great drivability and still get decent mileage. However, if you get one of the above, you will need a higher than stock stall...

 

I'm fixin to put a 216/224 in my daily driver. I'm pretty sure my tuner can keep my "driveability" pretty close to what it is now.

 

does a Z06 cam make the truck sound any different?

 

I have Z06 cam head ported heads in my YD denali,
for drivebility, it's almost stock, you'll be happy once your RPM past over 3500.
You won't gain that much from just swapping cam and spring.
10-20HP