So I'm helping out a friend who wants to put an LM7 5.3 into his LT1 Camaro and we're trying to figure out a way to bring up the power without having to bore it out to LS1 specs. This is what we're thinking:

- Mill heads to 58cc's
- LS1 Hot Cam (218/227, .525/.525, on 112 LSA)
- LS7 lifters
- LS6 High Flow oil pump
- LS6 intake w/ SLP Lid and smooth bellows
- Longtubes

We're trying to follow the advice I was given on trying to boost the compression to maximize the torque and to bring it into the area that us F-Body guys are used to and I think that this setup should produce healthy numbers and be a good all around driver. What do ya'll think of this setup? Would I have to flycut the pistons? I believe the LM7 pistons are dished a bit right?

 

You would have better lucky using a different cam than the LS1 Hot Cam. If you want the max power potential, have someone spec you out a cam.

And yes the LM7 pistons are dished.

Why does your friend want to use a 5.3? Tell him to pick up an LQ4 6.0, he will be much happier.

 

Yea, I figured that the hot cam would probably be the first thing people would want to axe haha! I just threw that out there because I heard that 5.3's responded well to cams in and around the 220 range. I do have an MS3 cam that I could sell him but with the milled heads and smaller cubes I think it would be overkill. He wants to use a 5.3 because they are much cheaper to get and he's not looking for tons of power, just something to enjoy and play with and stay reasonable on the street.

 

MS3 would be much too big. Also the 6.0 isn't all that much more expensive, and is well worth the upgrade. And obviously your friend wants some decent power if he is wanting to do heads and cam. A H/C 5.3 in a camaro would be nice, but I think he would still be wanting more, and a bit more power under the curve. The 6.0 would be more streetable, because you could use a much milder setup to achieve the same power levels, with a lower powerband as well.

 

I agree, the 6.0 would be awesome but a 5.3 can be had for $300-$400 while the 6.0 would be around a grand or more. That's mainly the reason he's going for the 5.3, it's just cheaper. He'll be finishing up college in a few years so he can always go for more later if he still has his car. I always like the 224 cam from Thunder Racing, would that be a better choice?

 

Tell him to save the money for 6.0

And anything 220-230 in a 5.3 in a car would be good. TR200 is a popular choice.

 

TSP 224R would be awesome in thar 5.3