So, what are some reasonable grinds for a stock little 2008 5.3? Something very streetable and using stock pushrods would be nice.

 

I wouldn't run a cam any bigger than a LS6 cam with the stock pushrods imo, new hardened pushrods are only $100-$125 anyhow.

Is it a regular cab truck or what? Do you plan on getting a higher stalling converter or not? If you stick with the stock converter you will need to stick with a smallish cam or it will be a dog down low. You also really need to get a custom tune and Long tube Headers, but a tune isn't needed on a small cam like an LS6 cam. Do I think its worth installing a LS6 cam for a NA setup, no. You will gain a tad more power, but will quickly outgrow it.

Weight of the truck, big tires/wheels and gears play a factor also. Stock gears are fine on a Regular cab with stock sized tires and wheels. If you have a heavy *** truck or huge tires/wheels you will prob want new gears and converter first before the cam IMO. Even a stock truck will benefit with just a nice converter alone btw.

You will also need new valve springs, the LS6 valve springs will be needed AT LEAST but they are VERY cheap only $80 or so. IF you go with a cam with higher lift you will need to get something like pac 1218 springs that are good up to .600 lift. So on and so on with over .600 lift cams..

Go with the very popular comp 212/218 low lift cam, because you can get away with stock converter and stock gears if you wanted. Also you only need the Yellow LS6 springs for about $80 or a newer replacement to the LS6 springs as they are being discontinued now. You still need to get a custom tune and I HIGHLY suggest Headers Longtubes not shortys.

 

LS6 springs are not being discontinued. We sell them for $56.95+ S/H on our website.

Cam selection depends on goals and willingness to modify other components. Give us a call or PM and we can help you figure out what will work best for you.

 

A lot of sites said the Yellow LS6 springs are discontinued, but they still have them in stock. Just going by what I saw. Yeah you can still get them at texas-speed also.

The "Blue" ones are the new springs. Maybe that will clear it all up.


Here is a thread I quickly found proving the color switch.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...e-springs.html

 

Thanks for the great info. It is a completely stock engine out of an express van. Its going in a '76 Camaro with a th350 2500 stall, 4.11 gears, and 27" tire. I have been looking at the LS6 cam and it certainly looks like what I want.

 

Yellow, blue, pink, green, aqua, fuschia, earthtone....doesn't matter what color, they are the same spring, same pressures, and carry same part number, and are in stock in plentiful numbers on our shelf.

PN: 12499224

 

Go for more cam than the LS6 since this is going in a street car with a TH350 and you can pick any converter you want. MORE CAM!