Builds Fly By Night (18 Viewers)

[RUSH55]

Engine fun day today.
Verified that it’s an ‘03 based on the three head bolt lengths. They changed to just two different lengths of head bolts in ‘04.

Pulled intake, accessories, rockers, push-rods, lifters, heads, oil pan, pistons and rods.
By the looks of a couple of the lifters, we’re in for a cam change.
The cylinder walls don’t look too bad, but could use to be re-honed.
The rod bearings are in excellent shape.
I’ll be taking a look at the main bearings later on once I get the crank pulley, timing chain and oil pump off.

 

[PabloCruise]

Engine fun day today.
Verified that it’s an ‘03 based on the three head bolt lengths. They changed to just two different lengths of head bolts in ‘04.

Pulled intake, accessories, rockers, push-rods, lifters, heads, oil pan, pistons and rods.
By the looks of a couple of the lifters, we’re in for a cam change.
The cylinder walls don’t look too bad, but could use to be re-honed.
The rod bearings are in excellent shape.
I’ll be taking a look at the main bearings later on once I get the crank pulley, timing chain and oil pump off.

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Whoa, how many miles on that engine? Those rollers look like they have been "gently used" (aka off-roading)!

 

[RUSH55]

Yeah.
Seller said 130k. Probably closer to 230k. Doesn’t matter either way as long as it’s a buildable core. Not looking through a used junkyard engine is not an option. (Double negative) This is the reason. (There’s a reason )
So I’ll be adding a cam an lifters on top of what I was already planning to do. Not a bad deal. Now just have to decide if it’s going to be a stock replacement cam or a performance stick.(?)

 

[RHINO]

woulda loved to see you put a lexus 4.7 in her

 

[RUSH55]

 

[scrapdaddy]

I can't remember is that a truck motor? They have a cam in them for low end torque not a torque curve where you need to be at 5,000 rpms to get to the peak. I rarely see mine over 3,000 rpms. What's your thoughts on that?

 

[RUSH55]

My thoughts are exactly that Ron. My Dad brought up the same point today in a conversation getting his .02 on the engine.
If I weren’t to go with a stock grind, I would like to find a grind that helps to bring out some higher low end torque, earlier in the RPM range. I’m currently not up on what that profile looks like. By what I’ve read, the lifts on the stock grind are extremely conservative, so one could start there. As for how you engineer the duration, I’m not entirely sure.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I was watching a you tube video by that guy Megadoomer mentioned and he said it's hard to get a lot of low end torque from a cam ? The farthest I ever went is an RV cam in my old Ford, but I don't know what grinds are available for these LS motors.

 

[Megadoomer]

The stock LM7 cam has the highest low end torque. All other stock grinds move the band up and out of usefulness.

 

[Megadoomer]

 

[J Mack]

All other stock grinds move the band up and out of usefulness.

What are you guys building that you need max torque just off idle?
I would think something that gave me the best drivability in the RPM I'm most likely to be actually driving the pig would be my first choice and let the low range gears do their job for the rest.
If you're building a tractor you are going to need an appropriate engine like the 4BT.

 

[riderjgs]

J Mack is right as usual. You’ll get more low end grunt via gearing and transfer case mods than via a cam swap. Unless you’re trailering to a Pig Party mid range drivability makes the trip to and from the trail much more pleasant.

 

[scrapdaddy]

It depends on what your drivability range is. If you like screaming down the highway then have the torque and horsepower up in 5 to 6,000 range. I like to drive, well like an old man and why not have everything you're going to get at that lower range. That's why we called them RV cams, pulling a load of camping gear over hills, etc. you want it to be more like a truck or a tractor than a Camaro. It's all a trade off, but I don't think the average guy could feel the difference in camshafts going down the road, like you said gears will tell the story.

I would think something that gave me the best drivability in the RPM I'm most likely to be actually driving the pig would be my first choice

If you're building a tractor you are going to need an appropriate engine like the 4BT.

Hey Jim, you spent a lot of time and money making a tractor motor fit your driving style, maybe should of started with a Corvette and 4.88s.

 

[J Mack]

Unless you’re trailering to a Pig Party mid range drivability makes the trip to and from the trail much more pleasant.

The question is after you spend more than a year building something and spent the entire $5000 budget how many 9+ rated slow technical trials with guaranteed body damage are you going to realistically be doing? Most of these pigs in reality will never see a 5 rated trail and guys like Gordon are doing them in bone stock pigs.

So yeah I would be looking at on road drivability and fuel mileage or I would build something like the LS in the angry pig and kill all tires.

 

[RUSH55]

The stock LM7 cam has the highest low end torque. All other stock grinds move the band up and out of usefulness.

The lift and duration specs on the other cams weren’t too bad, but did you notice the lobe separation angle (LSA) on those hotter cams? The last one was in the 120’s!

So far, this would possibly be a cam I’d upgrade to. It outperforms the stock cam along both curves and runs out just a touch higher RPM. Not sure if it’s worth the extra money over a stock cam to try - maybe

BTR GEN III & IV TRUCK CAM - TORQUE - 30202111R1

BTR CAMSHAFT - GEN 3/4 TRUCK - TORQUE - BTR32430112

briantooleyracing.com

 

[J Mack]

Not sure if it’s worth the extra money over a stock cam to try - maybe

For that kind of money I would want it to sound cool.

TSP Stage 4 High Lift Truck Camshaft

TSP Stage 4 High Lift 5.3 Truck Camshaft

www.texas-speed.com

TSP Torquer V2 Camshaft

Texas Speed Torquer V2 232/234 .600"/.600" Camshaft

www.texas-speed.com

 

[J Mack]

This stage 3 TS cam makes more power everywhere than the BTR cam and is about the same money.

TSP Stage 3 High Lift Truck Camshaft

TSP Stage 3 High Lift 5.3 Truck Camshaft

www.texas-speed.com

 

[RUSH55]

Stock grind for $100 on eBay

GM Chevrolet LS 4.8L 5.3L GEN III Camshaft Genuine OEM 12560966 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for GM Chevrolet LS 4.8L 5.3L GEN III Camshaft Genuine OEM 12560966 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[RUSH55]

This stage 3 TS cam makes more power everywhere than the BTR cam and is about the same money.

TSP Stage 3 High Lift Truck Camshaft

TSP Stage 3 High Lift 5.3 Truck Camshaft

www.texas-speed.com

I don’t even have a .600 lift cam in my “hot rod”!

The BTR cam lift is barely .500

 

[scrapdaddy]

So far, this would possibly be a cam I’d upgrade to. It outperforms the stock cam along both curves and runs out just a touch higher RPM. Not sure if it’s worth the extra money over a stock cam to try - maybe

BTR GEN III & IV TRUCK CAM - TORQUE - 30202111R1

BTR CAMSHAFT - GEN 3/4 TRUCK - TORQUE - BTR32430112

briantooleyracing.com

That's what I'm talking about. If you had to buy a new shaft then why not one like this. Again, most wouldn't even feel the difference over a stock truck cam. What's a new OEM stock cam cost now anyway?