I am planning to take a chevy 5.3 iron block w trannie in my truck soon.
I understand the 5.3 heads have sufficient flow capacities as compared to ls1 heads, so I will be having the 5.3 heads simply ported /polished. I want to make some pretty serious power for this 5.3, so my question:

What are some nice cams for great hp gains with the polished 5.3 heads? brands? I want good mid range and nasty high rpm power.

 

Im no expert but I have been pouring over info on these forums, and I have been hearing good things about the TR 220 and also know that you cannot go wrong with getting one custom specd by PatG on LS1tech.

 

I am no expert, but try a search..

 

 

thanks im new to this site, not used to chatting online about automobiles. I had a tbi 5.7 motor built to the max, and am swapping to a 5.3. I hear that tr220 with a stall is good for my 1500 2wd. Also wondering about the 5.3 heads, from 99-present , what heads were installed in the 5.3 and which ones would be optimal. Im not talking about putting ls6 heads on it, just out of the stock heads that came with the 5.3s, which is the best? I am looking to find a 5.3 motor with good heads on it , and planning to port polish them. im asking which 5.3 model engine comes with the best heads on it.

 

 

i understand i tried the search with little results. im wondering how many different heads came on the 5.3s from 99-present, what are their differences, etc. i know chevy put numerous types of heads on the 5.3s from 99-today.

 

https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...g-info-434396/

heads and flow numbers!!!

 

There are several different casting #'s out there but the optimal ones are 243 & 799 these flow better over stock, and will bump compression some. Also you have the 317's which flow the same as 243/799 heads but have a different combustion chamber that has a lower CR. The 317's can be had far cheaper if you dont mind sacrificing the compression. I myself am going with the 317's for my budget build and currently trying to find info and help on how much I can get away with milling these heads to get my compression up and still run a tr220 and not have to flycut my pistons.
Trying to be of some assistance to you I am new myself but I have been doing a ton of reading on here, and also have found that some of these guys can be rough on a newbie.

 

317s only came on 6.0 never factory on a 5.3s
317s on a 5.3 junk ! even if milled

combustion chamber is too big lowers compression!