I went with 3 different cams before I found one I liked. The first had a little lope, which sounded good but was slightly annoying actually. The second was a BTR stage 2 truck cam with even more choppy lope, which ended up driving me crazy in daily driving. I thought I would love the sound but it turns out I hated the surging sitting at a light in idle. The 3200 stall converter would help, I'm sure, but it would still annoy the shit out of me. Finally landed on a Cam Motion Stage 2 Truck Cam 9 (3-bolt) that has a smooth idle. Night and day difference. It's a beast now in power, but it's a total sleeper. I love it!
Always love when you chime in, Dave
I'm a nerd so I want some chop chop choparoo
I bought the Low Buck Truck cam from Richard Holdener, which is basically a clone of the BTR Truck Norris cam.
It's pretty much the opposite of what Geotrash likes, but I'm a goof, and think the lope/chop/whatever is fun, but I work from home and don't drive a ton. It certainly pulls strong the higher you rev it.
I went with it because it compared favorably to many other cams in dyno tests using the same LY6 engine I swapped in, and only cost $169 at the time. I'm 99.9999999% sure BTR makes them, as the UPS tracking data showed Brian Tooley Racing as the sender, even though I ordered direct from Richard. It has the identical specs.
I would consider changing cams if something else popped up that offered a significant improvement per $$$, because I don't really want to swap out the cam out in my driveway during the winter.
I had no idea Holdener had his own cam grind! I love the chop, too, and definitely want and aggressive idle.
I used this cam on my 06 Suburban LQ4 2500 when I rebuilt the engine earlier this year.
I like it. My truck has 4.10 gears with the 4L80e. Everything is stock and I run LT265/75/16 tires.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generati...-8718-cam-dyno-results-updated-post-46-a.html
The Cam Motion Stage 2 cam
@Geotrash posted was my second option. I actually had a guy on PT.net that does turbo stuff offered it to me at his cost. But I forgot about that and just bought the Summit one day I was there.
I would say, keep it mild for a street driver, else you will lose TQ down low, where most of the engine spends its time driving around.
I think with the 4.11's and the deep gearing of the 6L, it'll spend more time in the higher RPMs.
Even after driving for over 40 years, I STILL drive like I'm always running late.
For me, the 2010 Suburban front brake kit was an absolute NECESSITY without question.
Despite my lead foot, and my tendency to floor it 10x more often than normal slowpokes,
Can't even remember the last time I saw anything over 4000RpM.
If you do NOT race for money, do NOT tow often, or do NOT drive like a jacqueshole, seriously consider 3.73.
If you race for money, tow often, or drive like a jacqueshole, 4.10.
6L80E will live longer for it, and you'll either get better city MpG, or more SMILES per gallon.
Cam can't pay for itself (by saving gas or extending transmission life) like a 3.73 axle can.
Drive it like ya stole it! I'm the same way, usually driving like I'm running late, even if I'm half hour early. Mine sees over 4k daily with 3.08 gears
I'd imagine it's going to see it more often with 4.11's. This thing is an absolute pig unless you stomp on it, due to the gearing. I did the math on final gear ratios with 3.73 and 4.11, and I like where the math puts 4.11's. It essentially drops 3/4/5/6 all down to the next gear down (IE-4th will behave like 3rd does now, etc.). ANYTHING will help the city mileage, as currently you have to put your foot IN it to get it to start moving.
I have the Truck Norris NSR cam. Think it's stage I. Runs great but at idle, it's ruff. Wants to surge when stopped. Need higher stall because I got stock now. It's got lope at idle...lots of lope and I like that but not the surging. Still checking the gas mileage so not sure about that.
I've debated doing the Truck Norris cam, too, but I'll be doing springs either way.
That cam in a 5.3L is going to have zero low end torque... mostly due
to the tight LS of 109*...
Go at least 1 step smaller and look for a LS of 113-116*
Even with your loose converter and gears that cam will be a pig to drive
"normally" .. Now if this were a camaro or something lightweight then Yea it's good.
My sig has my cam I used in my 6.2L. Headers, mild work on cyl heads..
It still has enough chop/ whatever you want to call it to know it's there for sure
Make sure to upgrade your rocker arms with anything over 540 lift cam or you'll
be puking needle bearings soon
It's getting lifters, springs, pushrods, seals, the works. Mine's got 243 heads, so I'm thankful for that.
The 109° LSA is indeed tight on the Stage IV, but even the Stage I is a 112°. I mean hell, the Truck Norris is a 107! Now, I could look into TSP's low lift cams, as they're a 111° on the stage 3, or 112° LSA with 3° built-in on the stage 4...
I just don't think that the low-end is going to be an issue with the loose converter.
Time to do some more digging. Thanks for the input fellas!
