i recently purchased a set of heads and a cam from a stock 98' camaro ss. i was wondering would this settup work on my 2000 5.3 and if so what kind of results could i expect. i do plan on getting a nelson tune with this. currently i have k&n cold intake, headers, dual flowmasters, and eaton posi.

 

I don't think that you will see very good results from that setup IMO. You are going to drop your compression ratio some putting 5.7 heads on a 5.3 and I don't believe that the cam from that camaro is that much bigger than your stock cam.

Were you planning on having any work done to the heads or just bolting them on just how they are?

 

heads will need machining and work, just use em as cores

check this out
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205 would work well with a matched cam in a 5.3 would have to mill them also

 

They did a test in Will Handzel's book of just putting some LS6 heads on a 5.3. Because of the compression loss, the motor made less power everywhere (not surprising). The whole test was only worthy of a sentence or two. You would see some gains from the cam, but the gains would be minimal particularly compared to other known, successful cams for our motors. I don't remember the stock 5.3 cam specs, but they are something like 191/190 .457/.466 114 whereas the 98 F-body is more like 198/209 .500/.500 119.5

 

I'm a little on a budget. What would be the best thing to do to the heads for a pretty fair price. i found the heads and cam for $350 i couldn't pass them up. would i be better to sell them or what. im not too sure about all this stuff. help me out all you can.

 

these heads wouldn't work on a 97' 5.7 out of a z-71 would they?

 

I think they would is that a vortec 350?

As far as using the heads you got the 5.3 heads that are currently on the truck are just as good if not better, alot of f bod guys use them as a cheap way to up compression.

The ls1 heads have larger valves, larger cc and are meant for a larger bore I wouldnt put them on a 5.3 you will loose power with out investing alot in machining. I would see if you could trade them for some 5.3 heads them mill em .030 do a valve job and be done with em.

my .02

 

I dont believe that they will work on the old style 350 vortec.

 

thanks for the input guys. it is a vortec 350, but not the ls1 style, not sure if that matters. i guess i sorta jumped the gun when i bought these heads. i will check around some more about the fitment on the 97' vortec. i recently put the 350 vortec in my 85' s-10 4x4 with some 35" bfg's. it's a beast in that truck. smokes the tires like it aint nothin. i guess a little more power wouldn't hurt. as for the 5.3 anyone know how much the milling and the valve job will set me back? and possibly a good place to get it done? thanks for the help, much appreciated.

 

Sorry, those heads definately won't work on a '97 Vortec 350.