02 silverado cam upgrade advice PLEASEEE!!!
 

hey guys! new here and im in search of information...
i have an 02 silverado with a 5.3 but the poor thing is a victim of the typical chevy lifter knock... so to remedy this, im going to get a set of the ls7 lifters, a new timing chain and sprockets, and a new cam because why not? i also plan on getting a set of shorty direct fit headers so i dont have to go nutts on the exhaust and eventually end up with a tune.

now my question is this: what kind of gains can i see and is there anything else i should know or do before i dig in? i been wrenchin on cars since i was a young whipper snapper but i always like to get advice when i can. im hoping someone on here has done something similar and has some knowledge and maybe even some insight.

here are links for all the parts im considering:

Melling P/N: MEL-mc1394
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mel-mc1394/all
$221.00

Texas Speed P/N: 25-TSPLL212218
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-5002-t...-camshaft.aspx

Timing set P/N: CLO-C3220
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/clo-c3220
$32.97

Lifter/guide combo
$121.00

you will notice there are 2 cams there. im kinda torn between them... i dont want anything im going to have to change springs or pushrods or anything like that on and this will be a daily driver. so another question i ask is from the 2, which you think would be the best bang for the buck? i only want to have to do this once and i think the texas speed cam would be more worth the time and money. i also wouldnt mind haveing a mild lobe at idle but performance is my main goal.

in short, what kind of gains can i expect from this plan o mine, and which cam would be the best fit to get a good hp gain but maintain a DD? last but not least, the texas speed cam comes with the option to change the lobe separation. the options are, 111, 112, 113, and 114... which one would be the best for power gains?

thanks in advance!!!

The first cam is like a stock cam from looking at the numbers, no power gain from that.

The 212/218 is a nice cam, good power upgrade but you need new valve springs.

Skip the shorty headers and put that money towards the springs. It's going to need a tune no matter what if you upgrade camshafts.

The melling stock replacement cam is not going to give you much increase in anything over your stock cam, bang for the buck would be the tsp cam but it is going to need a tune when youre done. Smart thing to do would be to add an oil pump to that list. Another thing to consoder is what headsyour engine has, if it has castech 706's may be worth while to throw another set of heads on it while you are there and have them off anyway.. if youre adding a cam and headers anyway you may want to consider an nnbs/tbss intake...

The texas speed cam claims i wont need springs.. and i shouldnt have to take the heads off i should only have to take out the pushrods.... right? Removing the heads is a lot more work...

If you have lifter noise, you are going to need lifters, which requires pulling the heads!

Just kidding. I may have confused myself with an older small block style... hell it may not even have been a small block.. iv worked on so many cars... iv seen it done before (replacing lifters with heads on) i just forget which v8 it was...

The gen 2 sbc you can pull the intake and pushemrods and lifters are right there, gen3/4 ls styke engines you could theoretically replace the camshaft without pulling the intake but the lifters are below the heads, and honestly are alot easier to get the heads off imo than the older sbc were, definitely a lot less bs bolted to the heads!!!

Read the texas speed cam dealio a little closer, it says they will use factory LS6 springs. Your truck springs are not the same as LS6 springs as far as I know.

Ahhh ffdp i stand corrected! I wonder how much those are gunna set me back... i guess the question i should have asked from the get-go is what is the most aggressive cam i can install without modifying heads/pushrods/springs/torque converter ect...

youre not gonna get a performance cam without having to upgrade valve springs. The BTR and Texas speed truck cam kits both come with valve springs.

While we are kinda on the subject... what exactly is the differemce between the springs from an ls3 or even an ls6 and say an l92?? If anyone knows...

ok im hearin ya. Thats a relatively minor upgrade considering the heads will be off anyway. But other than springs, what would be the best cam upgrade option without upgrading anything else? Like insaid way earlier i really only want to do this because my lifters are tapping and its getting worse. But while its apart i may as well gain a few ponys in the process.

and also, is this a good set of springs to use with the tsp cam i picked??:
https://m.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12499224?seid=srese1&cm_mmc=pla-google-_-shopping-_-srese1-_-chevrolet-performance&gclid=CLah5-_I9NICFQmewAodfRAFwA

https://www.texas-speed.com/p-1158-tsp-low-lift-cam-package-with-ls6-valve-springs.aspx

212/218 has been a proven cam since the very beginning, you won't NEED a stall converter but it's not a bad idea to get at least a trailblazer converter in there or a circle D, eventually. Get the gasket kit also. Ls7 lifters and trays along with new head bolts and gaskets. We have reused head gaskets and bolts and been fine but I can't say it's the right thing to do. So that's your call.

shortly after my last reply i actually found that very kit and decided that was the way to go. I really dont feel like replacing the torque converter tho... ever. So is this deal gunna be harmful in the long run? Also, im getting a gasket kit and i may just stud the engine while im inside. The goal is ls7 lifters, the cam and springs, shorty headers with my flowmaster exhaust and a tune on e its all said n done. Anything im missing?

New oil pump while you're in there.

nah you'll be fine with that cam and a stock converter, a stall converter would be better and more fun but not needed in your case. You don't need head studs, buy some new head bolts and be done. You can get them at advance auto parts and they always have like 20% off your whole order deals.

Thank goodness. Im gunna save up for all the parts in one then take a day off and get er all done 1 fail swoop at the shop. Last question... lets say i get this whole setup complete... will it run alright until i can get the money for a tune? If not will i be able to drive it to the shop to get a tune? You guys are great help

You should be able to drive it to the shop, may do some stupid stuff trying to idle or whatever but DO NOT by any means get on it any more than absolutely necessary to get you to the tuner...

I would have it tuned next day or day of. Might have to two foot it around town but it'll run. Do your research on heads and cam swap. It'll help ya a lot. And having the right tools too