Cam selection?
 

I'm considering a cam swap in my truck, but want one that won't hurt low-end TQ. I don't ever plan on going with a stall. I'm considering:
Comp 206/212 .515/.522 LSA112
Crane 208/216 .530/.530 LSA113
Crane 210/218 .531/.531 LSA112

I've noticed that Comp doesn't advertise any cams between the 206/212 and 212/218 size, but show lobe profiles for custom cams. I was wondering if anyone has ever tried a custom grind in the 208/214 .554/.559 112LSA range?
I've done a search and found mention of custom grinding this cam, but can't see that anyone has ever done it.
Anyone have the above listed cams and have any opinions of how they will work in the 5.3 without a stall?

FWI I plan on a good cat-back, air intake, and possibly long tube headers. I'm making a race truck, just want more power for everyday driving.

You may have noticed that I have the Crane / VHP 210/218 .531/.531 112 in my 6.0.

While I did lose a little lowend, there is definitely no need for a converter behind my motor. The power lost was under 1,500rpm or so. It's notice able with the stock converter lockup points, but not much after bumping them up about 5mph.

It's a really fun cam. Lots and lots of torque - starting at 1,800 or so, building real strong by 2,500.

I'd take a guess that it would still work pretty well in a 5.3. I can't say for sure where low end might be lost, or where the cam wakes up, though.

I'm very conservative with this stuff... I ran a 220/220 112 in my 6.0, and I thought it was too much - 01Thunder is running a 224/224 112 in his 4.8, and he likes it.

I like the cam I have (check sig), great for a daily driver, but really needs tuning to work right...at least with a 99. The VHP handheld tuner helped tremendously, but I get false knock, probably from the valve spring harmonics. Just waiting to get together with TTP for a dyno tune to squeak all that I can out of it and still remain daily driveability. Definitely torquey and I don't have a stall.
The cam is basically the Comp 206/212, but with a 114 lsa to prevent excessive HC at idle and allow me to pass NJ State Inspection and prevent misfire codes.

Marc.

Are the Vinci camshafts, Comp grinds?

I didn't know that.

Thanks.

No, sorry, I meant Crane... I'll change that right now.

I was in the same boat you are now, wanting to keep my truck as a "truck" and not a race vehicle, and therefore resisting putting in an aftermarket converter. I did lots of research on the topic and initially found some conflicting opinions - some recommended the Comp 212/218, others bigger, some smaller. Once I dug deeper, however, I began to hear some consistency from guys who have actually built 5.3L motors for trucks, and not just sell cams for F-Body cars with LS1 (5.7L) motors. Because I have a 6,000 lb truck with a 5.3L and want to keep the stock converter, I needed something different.

What I settled on after all this research is a 205/211, 550/544, 114 +4 from Cam Motion. I was talking to Comp at first, but as you probably know, Comp does not have anything resembling mid-lift in under a 208 lobe. I've been told anything more than 206 is too much intake duration for a 5.3L for someone wanting to keep the stock TC, and as you know, Comp's XE lobes don't start until 208...under that you're stuck with low-lift. The 6.0L boys might be able to get away with a 212/218, but even then, you hear them talking about wanting or needing higher stall converters. So I am confident I made the right choice.

The cam should be here on Monday; I'll give you guys a full report once it is installed.

Glad you were able to work that out, NA... can't wait to hear about it.

hey that sounds interesting nakid. good luck with it

marc_w
I read your posts about losing some lower rpm TQ and that you fixed it with changing converter lock up. I'm I little concerned how the lower compression 5.3 will react vs your higher compression 6.0.
NA
I would like to plug that cam into the desktop dyno. Do You know the ICL? and does the +4 refer to 4 degree advance?

budhayes3
I'm glad to hear that cam is torquey. I think it's one of the few grinds aimed mostly at trucks.

I have noticed that Comp cams seem to show less advertised duration than Crane while having the same duration at .050. I guess they are a more agressive profile and might have a little less overlap, for less lowend TQ loss(?). I'm just suprised that they don't offer anything inbetween 206/214 and 212/218.

Comp can grind you whatever you want on XE lobes from 208 on up. You can make yourself a 208/208, a 208/210, a 208/212, a 208/214, a 210/214, etc. Below 208 (206 and down) and you are on low-lift.

Advance/retard is LSA - ICL. So a 114 +4 = 114 LSA and 110 ICL with 4 degrees of advance (114 - 110 = +4).