I've got a RCSS '03 Silverado with a 5.3, a 3" Magnaflow exhaust and a Radix 112 kit on it. Aside from opening up the intake and adding some LTs and a cutout, I think I'd like to add a small blower cam like the LPE GT2-3.

With that said, the truck has 110K miles on it (70K with the blower) and it runs like a top. Is that too many miles to add such a cam? Also, how often will I have to replace valve springs with the GT2-3? Since it's my DD I'd like it to remain as trouble free as the stock truck. But if I had to replace valve springs every 20K miles I'd be good with that.

How many miles have people put on their trucks with aftermaket cams?

Everything I read says an aftermarket cam in a high-mileage LS motor is OK even on the stock lifters. But consulting other locals (who apply small-block theory) look at me like I'm crazy when I want to cam it at 110K miles.

 

It's not really a big deal on a gen 3. Go for it. Just examine the surfaces of your stock cam. If there is anything wrong, replace the lifters.

 

x2 ^^^ Go For it, these engines run forever with proper care.

DEFINITLEY Replace the lifters, its a good idea to replace the timing chain and oil pump while you are there and hell do the water pump too.

I like and use the LS7 Lifters, LS2 Timing chain, LS6 oil pump, i got it all from SDPC.

 

just upgrade the springs and be done, they should last almost the life of the motor unless you get on it everywhere/race every weekend . these engines use the roller lifters, not flat tappets so they can handle an aftermarket cam with no problems
- i would get a custom grind from one of the sponsers to the right>>>

 

Yeah, but if there is any pitting on the cam, it will have transferred to the lifters, and will transfer to your new cam. I had this problem with mine and had to replace the lifters. I believe mine was a defective cam, however. You still will want to look at the lobes closely when you remove it.

I did the same upgrades as Tim above and the improved lifter trays. It wasn't fun pulling the heads...

 

Its not the fact that they are roller lifters.

Your installing stiffer valve springs and older higher mile lifters sometimes arent up to the task.

I found this out the hard way on my cam swap i did when my truck had the original 5.3.

With the build the OP has, I def. reccomend new lifters, they arent that expensive.

 

I agree It's the lifters that could give you trouble. If you're going to ran a Zo6 cam and springs I wouldn't worry about it but any aggressive ramp and spring combo I'd change the lifters with over 100K. When they fail it can be bad...

 

Changing the lifters sounds like sound advice. I'm planing on changing mine when I do a head swap at around 80k. It just seems like cheap insurance to me to do a new chain, pump, and lifters.