Help me make the most of my DD 5.3
 

Hey all,

New guy here from Iowa. I've got a 2004 Tahoe Z71, mostly stock besides BB tune and CAI and crappy flowmaster 10 series.

I was thinking either a smallish cam, like the 212/218 or the SDPC HT1 cam 214/218 I believe...or... Long tube headers. Will I have a flat spot in my rpm band with either of those cams WITHOUT a new stall? If so, how bad and will it still be decently driveable? Or will the headers be my best bet?

Just give me all your thoughts and suggestions!

Are you against a stall converter?

welcome! everything depends on what ur trying to do with it. are you trying to go fast or have torque for towing, or just want some extra balls? you dont need a stall with those cams you mentioned. they are small cams. what is the lift on them? LSA? LTs added to what u have will def improve it with the CAI already in place, just get it retuned. All depends how much u wanna spend...

I'm not against a stall by any means. I'd love one! But I don't feel like putting a stall in a tranny with 152k original miles. I know it'll go out soon enough and when it does is when I buy the stall.

I want faster and also some more torque. Not looking to be a weekend warrior at the track, just a little more kick.

I also forgot to mention that I already have comp magnum 7.4 pushrods and the new BLUE LS6 springs good to .560 or .570

The lift of the 212/218 is pretty low and the lift of the 214/218 goes up to .559 on a 111LSA I believe.

well with the springs u have u will be good getting the smaller of those 2 cams. have to get different springs for the 214/218. if u want some more torque and balls get efans, LTs, good exhaust, cam, and tune. def feel the difference.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/na...9224/overview/

Those are the springs I have. I'd have to get new springs for the 214/218 cam even though the springs are good to .570? Still learning so bare with me

ya you said the lift was either .560 or .570 so thats why i was saying u would need to get new springs (if the lift was .560) if you know for a fact that cam's lift is .559 then yes with the valve springs u currently have you will be good. Someone please correct me if i am wrong.

no worries, i just did my cam swap not too long ago. i spent like a month or so picking peoples brains on here before i bought my components. better to have all the knowledge and know how before spending a chunk of money that way you only do it once and right the first time :)

Spring choice has a lot to do with the cam's ramp rate and the spring's force at certain lift levels. The spring may not be strong enough to hold the lifter to the cam resulting in valve float. The faster you spin it the more chance of this happening.

Well guys, I think I'm gonna go ahead and do the headers first. Need this big ass hoe to breathe! And then I will cam her and hopefully stall by that time as well.

Any recommendations on new budget friendly mufflers that flow decently? Anything has to be better than my flowmaster.