Looks like the "what cam should i use?" question is a popular one. Sorry guys, I know nothing about engines and I need to ask it.

My truck threw some codes at me yesterday on a trip home so I had the shop look at it today (GM dealer I work at). Being told the cam is toast. I have been thinking of putting one in anyway so what better timing?

Heres the truck info. 2007 NNBS 5.3L with active fuel management. Crew cab 2wd. Zero engine/performance mods at this time. Used to tow on occasion. Daily driven to work and back (not too far) and mostly city driving. Of coarse I want something that will still tow and do the highway. Not overly concerned with fuel mileage. Future plans to add a converter and headers, but not right now. Understand I will need to tune right away.

So... What cam should I get?? Do lifters and such at the same time?

 

212/218 low lift will do what you need. If your cam is toast than the chances are your lifters are toast as well.

 

Can't really go wrong with this cam or the hi-lift version. I consider both "go-to" cams for someone in your situation. I had the hi-lift in my 5.3. It was a good performer with the stock stalled TC.

Don't make the mistake of letting someone talk you into a 220 range cam...

 

I just swapped from a 224/224 cam to a 210/220 custom grind. Coban is right, over 220 is too much for a 5.3. The 210/220 I just put is is pretty high lift at .596/.581, but I've got supporting mods and heads. I haven't had experience with the 212/218 cams but I am well pleased with the 210/220, it tows great and makes great power from idle up to about 6200. My old 224 cam didn't do jack below about 3300 rpms. It sucked for a truck.

 

I agree 100% been there swapped that

 

Do vinci "butt-kicker" at 210/218 .551 .551 112
Or vinci "asp-kicker" at 210/218 .551 .551 114
Or comps 212/218 "low lift" or "high lift"
All of these cams or great cam and none would dissapoint.

 

You'll need to get rid of your DOD lifters, so you might as well replace all of them with LS7 lifters.

As far as which cam, these guys have you on the right track.

 

DOD lifters are most likely what toasted your cam in the first place.

 

You have those LSA's swapped, the asp kicker is on a 112 and butt on a 114.

*EDIT* I said "butt"...

I can vouch that the asp kicker is great in a 2wd rcsb 5.3, with or without a converter. I drove tdrumm's truck many times in both configurations and it was stout