Looking at Patriot 5.3 heads to go on my 5.3 in an 02 sierra. Whos got some recommendations. This is an everday driver but, obviously I want the most HP/TQ possible without loosing alot of drivability. I plan on doing heads, cam and pushrods at the sametime, Will I need to change rockers also. This is going to be an NA motor and I dont plan on gasing it.

Ill tryed this in ls1 section and didnt get any feedback, if you where going NA and staying with stock displacement what would you do.

 

no you shouldnt need new rockers unless you want them but also depends on what size cam you get if you are looking at the 1.85 rockers

 

nice size cam with @.550 lift and low lsa to keep powerband down
something around 220 and 112 lsa
I wouldnt bother changing rockers either

 

what heads would you go with patriot looks good but I wonder about the quality

 

We sell a real nice set of cnc'd 5.3 heads. Only top quality parts are used. Pm me for prices

 

Gotta love those all motor 5.3's!!!!!!!!!!!

Do get the heads. I had my stock ones milled .050, 3 angle valve job, and ported. That alone woke up the power big time. Then a nice sized cam will also do wonders. I'd say a 224/224 112LSA at the least.

Those along with free flowing exhaust and intake will give you huge gains.

Dont forget or skimp on a good tune also. My truck was tuned for low timing and high rates of fuel to feed the 225 shot. Now with the cam it runs great one day and dies every stop light the next. That will be fixed soon though.

And a good stall is a must.

 

if you get your heads milled .050 you will prolly have to get different pushrods where as with something milled .020 or .030 you can still stay with stock pushrods with just a little bit of chatter

 

Call Patriot tell them what you are doing and ask what their suggestions are.They sell cams and valvetrain components and can probably fix you up with the components to match your goals.

 

Did you have to fly cut the pistons with so much being milled off, who did you go with on the heads. Did you dyno and what were the results. Is that cam streetable for an everyday.

 

Our pistons are already dished so you would have to have a large cam even with .050 milled heads before you run into ptv clearance problems. With the new base circle of my cam and .040 milled off my heads, 7.35 pushrods were perfect.
As for a set of heads for a 5.3 truck.. dont get a set of heads that are 'hogged out' unless you get a big cam that warrants it. You want to keep port velocity up which in turn gives you a more usable torque curve.