INTERNAL ENGINE MODIFICATIONS Valvetrain |Heads | Strokers | Design | Assembly

5.3 best upgrade under 1000 bucks?

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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 11:29 PM
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Default 5.3 best upgrade under 1000 bucks?

Hey guys what's a better choice. For my pops, cam and springs pushrods or heads? He wants to keep it under a grand, and is looking for more torque
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 11:36 PM
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is he installing himself? cam swaps arent cheap specially if he is having someone else do the work
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 11:43 PM
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a good tune would help and be relativly cheap
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 11:48 PM
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Longtubes, full 3" exhaust and muffler, and a tune
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 11:48 PM
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Cam springs rods and installation is going to be right at a grand with tune heads we would instal ourselves and cost a bit more for tea 5.3s or tsp 5.3
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 11:52 PM
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the cam we were looking at was the thunder racing cheatr cam because you can run stock exhaust manifolds, you think lt 3" and tune would be more power than a cam?
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 11:55 PM
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Originally Posted by jophuss36
the cam we were looking at was the thunder racing cheatr cam because you can run stock exhaust manifolds, you think lt 3" and tune would be more power than a cam?
I think it would be about the same power increase with less wear on the engine, easier to install, and easier to get tuned without losing driveability on a DD.

A cam with no supporting mods would suck IMO.
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 11:57 PM
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Originally Posted by jophuss36
the cam we were looking at was the thunder racing cheatr cam because you can run stock exhaust manifolds, you think lt 3" and tune would be more power than a cam?
you want to start off small and work your way up to more power adders. LT's exhaust and a tune like scott said is going to be a huge difference over stock
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 12:04 AM
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stall lts and a tune.
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 12:24 AM
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Cam and tune will make a noticable difference, even with stock manifolds. Pick a cam designed for torque, and you won't need a crazy high converter for Dad. Don't do heads first, you won't notice much difference with a head swap and a stock cam.
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