07 and newer 5.3L what crank and cams?
 

What cranks and cams can I use in the latest style 5.3L Iron blocks? Are they compatible with older style LS engines or have they gone thru similar changes like the LS3?

I was wondering because I want to use the 2nd design LS6 cam (used from 2002-2004)

Tonny

www.ls1tech.com log in and use the search function... you can also get some help in the cam selectin there... (again search before asking or they will flame you) but specific questions do get some good answers

just wondering why you wanted to use the ls6 cam? if its only price i get it.. but if you can afford an aftermarket cam, you are not doing yourself a favour selecting somthing GM engineered for a larger displacement engine with mileage and emissions in mind...

just be sure to post specifics, like budget, use of engine, horsepower -torque and torquerange goals, what intake, heads, headers, supporting mods.. are you willing to do forced induction etc etc...
for an el-cheapo build send out your 5.3 heads for cnc porting, get a custom cam ground and leave the bottom end.. you should have no issues hitting 450-500 crank horsepower with a mild cam... give mike norris a call (number to your left in vendors) or if you are a cheapskate try TSP or Patriot.. just remember you get what you pay for....

Chevy High Performance did a build on one not too long ago and with a set of aftermarket heads and a carb got really close to 500hp. Check the web site for details, sorry I don't recall which issue it was. Cam specs, pistons, heads ......great build on a budget.

My goal is to build a 375-400 horse engine and use as much GM parts as possible. I would think the LS6 2nd Gen Cam would be perfect for what I'm looking for so I don't see any reason to go aftermarket on the cam.
it is going into my 63 Nova Conv so a fairly light car. going to put a 4L60E or 4L65E behind. 3.73 in the rearend

well the ls6 cam isnt perfect. infact its barely enough for 400 hp in a larger displacement engine...

but your plan is sound though.. the rear end gearing is the first thing in getting an ls engined car moving, second is converter, then cam and heads... a "cam only" 5.3 will easily do 450 hp and a 224 deg cam.. (and there are plenty "small" cams on ebay as people upgrade)

the mild ramps of the ls6 cam along with the mild lift, wide LS and the oem duration figures makes it a great emissions cam for a showroom car.. but with a relatively steep rear end gearing, and a light car, its far from ideal...

Honestly i wouldnt spend the money to go from a stock to ls6 cam...if you do you will for sure need springs so you would be looking at minimum $600 in parts for about 15whp.....204/219 .551/.548 117.5....is the specs on the ls6...if you went to like a 220/220 555.555 114...you would still have a very mild cam but would notice close to 50% more of an increase over the ls6 cam....it will sound a lot like stock, and drivability shouldnt really be an issue....just call a cam company and tell them your goals and they will set you up.....

my 3 cents...

ps.. im not knocking you.. its just that ive found it to be cheaper to do things right first time out

According to the GMPP catalog, any of the 3.62 stroke cranks will bolt into any of the LSx blocks. That said, there's no reason to change the bottom end for the power level you're looking at. The LS6 cam might get you to 375hp, but the 5.3 heads don't flow nearly as well as the LS6 heads and you're giving up a little displacement as compared to the 405hp LS6.

If you have the 5.3 heads worked you can easily get there, or you might try something like the GM Hot Cam, less lift but more duration than the LS6 cam you're looking at, and you're not going gain much with the 0.550 lift of the LS6 cam (as compared to the 0.525" lift of the Hot Cam) because the 5.3 heads only gain 3 cfm going from 0.500" to 0.550".

the crank issue I have is if the newer block 5.3L use a different crank. I believe the old one has a 24 tooth reluctor gear. I think the LS2 and LS3 has more tooth on the reluctor gear then the older LS motors and I don't have a crank that is why I'm asking. I know there is absolutely no need for anything but a stock crank for what I'm looking in output.

Of course the heads are going to be ported. headers and most likely also a LS6 intake.


Tonny

All of the 3.62" stroke cranks will work in all of the LSx blocks. You need to match the number of teeth on the reluctor (24 or 58) to your computer, if you're using one. The reluctors can also be changed.

as I'm starting from Scratch (don't have any computer etc.) is there any benefit to have one or the other? 24 or 58 gear reluctor?

I don't know. Now I'll refer you to LS1tech.com.