Cam?

[03ChevyStepside]

Wondering what cam would be best for my 03 Silverado?

I know very little about this stuff but was leaning toward Comp Cam

54-414-11 ~ 1300 to 6300 RPM Range. Great mid-range with superior top end power. $359

But recently local speed shop suggested

54-426-11 ~ 1800 to 6800 RPM Range. Great street strip camshaft for midrange and high RPM power. $359

I would like to know which to go with. I'm looking for the older muscle car feel and sound.

Will either, or both, require new Rocker Roller Arms and/or Lifters?
Is one closer to what I want than the other, considering what I want in the end?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

thanks.
Ron

[mrr23]

what are YOU wanting to get out of it? being that it's a truck, are you wanting more overall power or you wanting more top end out of it? bascially, driving it or racing it?

neither will REQUIRE rockers or lifters. springs, yes. rockers are another way to add to tq/hp. lifters are reuseable.

[03ChevyStepside]

I want to drive it but have the capability to race it if and when I want to.

tks, I appreciate your response.

[mrr23]

well, you have that now.

is this an auto or manual truck?

[hammertime]

Seriously, you can race anything. A camshaft is basically about compromise though, so since we're talking about a truck we need to understand exactly what you do/want to do with it.

If you are towing/hauling anything, the first cam recommended might be your best bet - just enough to get a performance gain, but not so much to compromise drivability. The second one should give more power than the first, but due to the extra duration and increased overlap, may not be as condusive to towing/hauling a payload.

If you just want a power increase for the occasional race, why change cams and deal with the compromise the rest of the time. Your needs may be better served by some nitrous - power on demand without the consequences the rest of the time.

[03ChevyStepside]

I'm not a big fan of nitrous... but I do appreciate your input. Thanks.

[hammertime]

I'm not a nitrous person either, but it does make sense for some applications. For someone who needs a vehicle to run and perform like stock 90% of the time, doesn't want to give up fuel mileage, or doesn't want the expense/hassle of tearing into a perfectly good engine, nitrous is a cheap way to get 100-150 hp reliably.

I hate to make assumptions, but if you are like most truck owners and you use your truck as daily transport and little more, you would probably still be ok with the 222/224 cam.

Also worth looking into Thunder Racing has a couple good cams in that range. Their 99-TR220/220-114 Camshaft is a decent upgrade over stock and shouldn't be a compromise at all. If you haven't already modified the exhaust, headers of some type and a good cat back exhaust would definitely help out as well.

Good luck to you!

Hammer

[03ChevyStepside]

thanks Hammertime, good feedback. I appreciate it.

[03ChevyStepside]

Well Wednesday I ordered the following:

Comp Cam 54-426-11 ~ 1800 to 6800 RPM Range 222/224 (duration) .566 lift & 112 LSA.

Pushrods

Patriot Gold Springs

And a Yank Truck Thrustmaster 3000 converter.

New plugs and wires.

I hope there's nothing I'm forgetting?

What about LS1 fans? Anyone know where I can find any?

[hammertime]

I just re-read your original post. I see you were looking for the musclecar feel and sound. I think you'll be really happy with the parts you've choosen.

I don't know if you have exhaust yet or not, but if you are considering it at anytime, check into the Stainless Works chambered mufflers. These are supposed to be just like the old chambered exhaust offered on the Camaro's and Chevelle's back in the day.

I have the GMMG cat back (very simiar) on my SS and I love the sound.

Good luck!

Hammer

[03ChevyStepside]

I have some ceramic coated Edelbrock shorty headers and two Magna Flow stainless mufflers in the back of my truck now and I'll have all this work done the 1st week of April, to include having it reprogrammed and dyno'd again.

thanks... I hope I"ll be happy with all this work I'm having done to it. Gonna cost me approx. 3000 dollars when all is said and done.

Then the last thing I'll want to have done for quite some time is LS1 fans and a Cowl hood

[03ChevyStepside]

1 week from tomorrow morning I will be getting all this work done. I'd like to find an LS1 dual electric fan that is in reasonably good condition... if anyone can help?

[03ChevyStepside]

http://media.putfile.com/New-Exhaust-44

you may have to cut and paste the url in the address of your window.

I think the list of what I had done is at the beginning of this thread.

I'd like to know what everyone thinks?