I'm looking to see what some recommendations are for a good cam profile for the 4.8 in my 2000 GMC Sierra? Mainly I want more power than stock for pulling my boat. The most power I can get without changing converters, etc but if it needs a re-program I'm good with that My transmission has already been rebuilt and upgraded and it has 3.73 gears with a posi. I plan on putting a fresh set of 862 heads I have on top to replace my cracked/slowly leaking Castech heads and I also will install some long tube headers tying into my OEM exhaust for the meantime. It does have a Flowmaster muffler on it though. I have a connection with Comp cams and Crane so if someone has a recommendation from them I'm open but i'll take recommendations for all reputable cam companies. I was gonna build an entirely new 5.3 but it's just not in the budget right now. TIA

 

Sorry to be that guy, but this question gets asked just about weekly.

And if you have a connection with Comp, you should see if they can custom spec you something. Although there have been a lot of posts about Comp cam failures recently.

 

It's hard to get towing power out of a 4.8 with a cam.

 

Cam Motion drop-in cam. Talk to Kip Fabre over there

 

212/218, 220/220

 

To produce a lot of torque you need to focus on the Intake Valve Close (IVC) event for a camshaft. Since it's a 4.8 and you're looking to tow, it'll be a pretty early event. A 220/220 cam will probably have around a 42 IVC which would be good for a 6.0 truck, not a 4.8. Brian Tooley's Stage 1 truck cam might be a good option along with the CamMotion grind. I'm not sure of the IVC on that particular cam but I know his stage 3 is 39IVC - the stage 1 would be even less. It would produce a healthy torque curve for sure.

Either the BTR Truck Cam or the Cam Motion drop in would be an economical choice since only cheaper LS6 springs are needed. Everything else remains stock. If you do the install yourself you could get out for about $500 in parts plus tuning.

 

I'd bring it in even closer than 39 for a 4.8 towing cam... by a decent amount too.

 

Exactly what I was getting at^^

 

Shave the 862s for more compression, cam motion cam, a set of LTs and a BB tune. CM's cam recommendations are on the mild side, they idle stock and you can use a stock converter with many of their cams.

Stay 10:1 compression or below to run 87 octane. I run a mild CM cam and more compression and a tune. My 5.3 engine now has more power from off idle to 5500. Only downside is I raised compression to 10.3 so now I have to run at least 89 octane.

 

Found the BTR Stg 2 cam card, it has a intake valve close event of 37. I'm assuming the Stg 1 is 35 IVC. That would make great torque!