Hello, My 04' 2500hd 6.0 motor is apart right now due to a broken piston/bentrod/bentvalve/scored cam. It was a rollover and started before draining the cylinders. Bent rod and broke skirt. Shop that I bought it from repaired the motor and I repaired the rolled body. Well they missed the boat and it went 50miles and locked up on the same rod they replaced. It's in the machine shop getting a new sleeve right now. I'm replacing 1 rod and 8pistons. Small witness marks that I don't like. Anyway I have a book called "how to build high-performance ls1/ls6 v8's". This book raves about the ls6 cam saying it pulls about 40hp out of anything it's installed in. That was what I was going to do until I found this site. 3hours of reading cam posts later I'm really confused. Seems like most around here think it's a weenie cam. I like that it's GM and has gm part #'s. It's also inexpensive. My truck is my shop truck that pulls a car occasionally. I don't want to change the torque converter and I'm just looking for solid low end and pulling power. It's a heavy truck after all. Not a sports car. The machinge shop is redoing both heads and I would like to put some better springs in for a cam but I'm looking for suggestions for best bang for the buck. Haven't found much of that on here. Will stock pushrods work with any cam? Sorry about all of the questions but I seem to find a lot of inconsistant info on these forums. Thanks, Brad

 

so the 6.0 is in the 2500 currently, correct? personally, i'd look for something along the lines of a comp 212/218 or something slightly larger. although its "small," it produces considerable HP and nice torque.

 

I had a comp 222/224 566 568 -112

I loved it.

 

If you go with a high lift cam, the cam will be accelerating the pushrods faster, putting more stress on the pushrods. Tighter springs will stress the pushrods more too. With a new cam and springs you ought to get a good set of hardened pushrods. Stock length is 7.400". Pushrod length depends on many factors. As far as the cam is concerned, pushrod length depends on the diameter of the base circle. Most, but not all, of the milder cams will have a base circle the same as stock so that you can use stock length pushrods. Just be sure to ask if you have a stock base circle. If it is, you should be alright. Now if you start milling the heads and using a thinner head gasket, all bets ore off. Good luck!

 

The 6.0 will go in the truck but it's at the machine shop now. I guess I'm not in the market to spend almost 800 for a cam/spring/pushrod modification. I paid cash for the truck but I get cheap on the little stuff. Guess I'm old school where a smallblock cam is peanuts and so are package parts. I understand R&D expense but I didn't fall off the turnip truck. Guess I'll go with the 230 dollar ls6 cam. I can swallow that. Do I need new springs and pushrods with it? Like I said, normal driven truck that will never get floored or beat on. Shop truck that will pull a trailer occasionally. Thanks for the help. My pricing came from the comp cams website and that's about it since they aren't in my jegs catalog. Thanks again for the help.

 

i paid $193 for my 212/218 and another $125 for gaskets/valve seals/valve springs for the cam swap.

 

buy a used cam. they're easy to find just watch the classified section here and on ls1tech.

i got my comp 222/222 used for $200. my 6.0l swap is scheduled for next weekend

 

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the LS-6 springs are stiffer than stock. With the LS-6 cam, and the kind of driving that you describe, the stock pushrods should be adequate. Shop around the classifieds section. You should be able to get that cam for a lot less than $230.

 

I ordered ls6 springs from the dealer and will be ordering the cam from gmpartsdirect. I would like to know what would the best pushrod for this combo. My book is confusing as to it doesn't list a part # and is cloudy as to if I need new ones. Not a big fan of used engine parts. Not as critical now that they are all roller but in the past you'd never want a used cam unless all the lifters were present and where they should be. I guess that book has dyno sheets so I know what I'm getting. All the other cams don't have any kind of backing. It's probably me but comp's sit is pathetic as to helping one decide anything. Used to be pretty easy if you wanted an RV type cam or a high end cam. Thanks again for all of the help.

 

monsterpartsonline.com Usually a bit cheaper than GMPD if you want new GM stuff....

Otherwise liket these guys are saying there is better choices out there for what you want, the VINCI cams, like OLD MAN, etc would be fitting the description you gave of what your needs are...