Daily driver big cam questions

[Tmorr325]

Ok so the Tahoe has undergone a pretty substantial rebuild. It all started when the transfer case started acting up. I decided to build my version of a Tahoe SS. To date:

AWD Transfer Case swap
3/4 drop
20” Silverado SS wheels
05 Silverado SS front end swap

Now I’m working on power. My one coworker builds LS swaps for other cars and for $50 today gave me the following:

Elgin e1840p 228/230 112 lsa
Dual valve spring kit
Hardened 7.375 pushrods

He’s also hooking me up with a set of 243 heads in the next week or so.

Now on to the question, what would a set up like this be for a daily driver? Dyno’s for the cam show hp/tq gains throughout the powerband. Also, would Blackbear be a good tuner for this or would HP Tuner be better?

 

[Chert_Detective]

What converter are you running is the question to ask. That is a pretty standard/mild ls cam, so driveability (per thread title-cam) won't be an issue. But keep a converter in mind though if it wants to push through the brakes or if it feels like a phantom acceleration when you just let off the brakes while in drive, that's where your driveability issues will arise. Is it because of the cam, yes. Is it because of a tight low rpm stock converter, also yes. Throw a dart and pick which one you want to blame lol. It's only a 5 degree overlap though and .585 lift if my googling for that part number is correct so not aggressive really for a daily cam. Hook up a vacuum gauge before the install and see what it's pulling, compare it to afterwards and if vacuum has dropped significantly then it's time for a converter.

 

[Chert_Detective]

Also don't just assume those pushrods will work. Measure first, if that length will give you a preload the lifters are happy with then by all means use them. But measure first.

 

[01FormulaTA]

a couple things (assuming this is a 5.3 LM7)...IMO that is too much cam for a 5.3 in a big heavy tahoe with the stock converter, it is gonna feel slower with that cam and the stock converter, also the 243 heads are gonna drop your compression and you will lose hp and tq, you will need to measure for your pushrod length (7.375 could be too short or too long, who knows until you measure)...keep your stock 706 heads, its been proven time and time again these are the best heads for a 5.3 and make the most HP and TQ across the board, if you want to use that cam I would strongly suggest you get a converter, if you want to keep the stock converter it will drive MUCH better with a smaller cam

check out this video, it compares all factory heads on a 5.3:

 

[Mudsport96]

Beat me to it. Was going to say keep the 706s.

 

[iamdub]

+1 for what Chris @01FormulaTA said.

Sure, that cam would give you a bigger power number than a more sensible cam, but it'd be near redline and essentially useless.