Oh and LS7 lifters for a while now have been what GM gives you for a replacement lifter so essentially they are all LS7 lifters now. LS7 lifters will get the job done well. If you have a few extra bucks look at the johnson lifters. You may pick up a small amount of power from them. But overall the LS7 lifter is what is in probably 99%+ of cammed ls motors.

 

I always figured that 5.3 determined the middle of the pack stages, so a stage 3 on a 5.3 is like a stage 4 on a 4.8 and a stage 2 on a 6.0

 

awesome. Thanks for the help. Can you think of anything else? I was going to toss a melling high volume pump in it for good measure while I was there.

 

what makes you question your setup? Lol

 

Like posted more camshaft... that stall converter opens the door for a cam up to the low/middle 230's duration. Speed Engineering makes both the 1-3/4" and 1-7/8" headers for that swap. The larger 1-7/8" are only $30 more than the smaller set and will deliver more bottom end and top end torque/power. Replace the cam's retainer plate, oil pump and pickup o-ring. While the engine is on the stand, you're pulling the pump anyways, I'd replace the timing set with a good quality billet set like the Rollmaster (CS1180). When you see the slop in the old chain compared to the slop in a new OEM replacement you'll wish you would have went with a better setup lol.

 

Those speed engineering headers are pretty decent then? Got any recommendations for mounts?

 

i get too horny looking at everyone else’s ****

 

How much does the truck weigh? What gears are in it? What are you going to use it for?

That stuff is WAY more important to picking a cam, than the brand of the bolts.

 

3500 roughly, 3.08 gears, rowdy daily driver.

You can drive a truck with **** gears, can’t drive one without a drivetrain 🤷‍♂️

 

3.08s are going to pose a SERIOUS limitation to the available rowdiness.

I'd suggest something in the mid 220s like some of the other suggestions, TSP Stage 4 Truck for example, but GET SOME GEARS immediately. I'm gonna guess this is the old truck 12-bolt? If so, not the most robust thing ever built, but should be adequate to the task at hand.