I've done a lot of looking and research on this build, and I've found a lot of good information on this website so i decided to join. I'm swapping a 170k mile 03 LQ4 and 4l80e into a 70 C10, but cant just leave things alone. What I'm looking for is some comments and suggestions on this setup I'm putting together. Don't want to mess with the short block at this time.

03 LQ4
Holley terminator x 24x/1/ev6
799 Heads
BTR Truck Stage 3 V2 Cam SPECS: 218/224 .553/.553 110+0
BTR LS6 beehive springs
GEN 4 Truck intake/injectors/fuel rail with corvette filter
ARP head bolts
ARP Cam bolts
ARP crank bolt
whatever felpro gaskets i need for oil pan/valve covers etc.
GM head gaskets.
Circle D 3000-3200 Stall

Do i need to change lifters and do i need hardened push rods? Am i missing anything?

This is my first time messing with an LS, I've been around a lot of them, I've owned a couple of stock trucks but never tore into one or swapped one before. I appreciate any input positive or negative. Let me know what you think.

 

I'd do a little more cam, your setup is practically begging for it

And even if you stick with that cam I would do a little more spring than a LS6. The LS6 springs are intended for cams with a little less lift and a 6000 rpm rev limit. More cam and higher revs with a hardly adequate spring is likely to valve float. With that 4L80 you're gonna want to rev to 7k or so to hit the next gear in a better spot.

 

I'm not dead set on the camshaft, I was just worried of going too big on the cam. This truck is going to be my daily driver and main source of transportation. I plan on putting a ton of miles on it and using it like a truck with the exception of pulling trailers.

Can you overspring a cam?

I've seen a lot of guys running ls7 lifters. What benefit does that give you over stock replacements? And wouldn't you need to change pushrods?

Thanks!

 

Dual springs are only a bit more expensive upfront but will cost you 10 times that if a single spring breaks.

 

You could use stock with the LS6 springs but hardened rods would be a good idea, and are not very expensive so in my opinion you should get them either way.

I fully hear you on not wanting to over cam, good plan for sure. But that motor can tolerate more duration before it gets into the big cam territory and the stall will greatly help out too. Absolutely nothing wrong with the cam you chose. I like to see at least 600 lift because of the over lays texas speed did comparing same exact cams with the only differences being lift, there were gains throughout the entire rev range. But it's in no way necessary

Being a LQ4 with those heads and stock gaskets you'll be around 10.1:1 compression. I wouldn't hesitate to mill the heads 20 thousandths and run WS6 store .045 headgaskets to get it to 10.7 as well. Just an idea. 10.1 is fine but close to 11 would be fine-er lol. Up to you just throwing out some ideas.

 

Consider the texas speed high lift stage 4 5.3 cam for yours, it's more like a stage 1 or 2 for a 6.0 on comes on a 111 LSA too.

It's a 223/226 600/600, paired with good springs should give you good service life.

 

I agree a little more cam wouldn't hurt anything. The TSP 224/228 113lsa in my lq4 drives like stock IMO. Its sounds great and pulls well for midrange and up top but normal cruising is like stock and the idle doesn't cause any more vibrations than stock.

Like Pooter said nothing wrong with that cam and I agree to air on the smaller side is always good. I before this cam I had a 212/218 112lsa in the lq4 and it drove exactly like stock with a few extra horses of course.

 

I need to quit looking at other people's threads, making me question my setup lmfao

If you don't do anything at least get better valve springs.

 

I’ll have to research that cam some, but it sounds promising more lift like you said.

so the same cam is less aggressive in a 6.0? Interesting. I didn’t know that. What would you recommend for good springs?

Thanks.

 

Yes duration of a cam follows the cubic inches.

So what is big in a small motor is small in a big motor.

What's huge in a 4.8 is a baby in a 6.0

As for springs. PSI, PAC, BTR are brands I would look at. You'll need to tailor the springs to the cam.

For the TSP stage 4 I would do a really good, minimum 600 lift rated single or dual spring (i'd probably look at springs rated a hair over 600 for really good control up at over 6000 rpm). There are several opinions on single versus dual springs, do some googling and see which way you land on it. As for which exact springs I would just say stick with PAC, PSI, BTR, comp cams maybe even. There's so many options I'm not sure which part numbers to start throwing out so I would say just give texas speed a call, or go on their website and if you choose their cam you can also pick springs in a cam package. I'm not a good person to ask because I've seen too many scenarios where a single spring broke and nothing was hurt, but usually that is not the case. A lot of guys like dual springs in case one of them breaks there is a back up spring there. But they do cost more so there's a lot to consider there.

Texas speed offers cam packages with cam, springs, valve seals, push rods, timing chain etc and you can pick what you do and don't want out of those things.