It'll be a while before my toybox expands so the new GTO will have to wait. Meantime I want to throw some parts at my '05 silverado.

LQ9??? What is it?

I'm looking into used camshafts/valvesprings and heads trying to make sense of all of it.

My overall goal is gained power + hopefully some gas mileage - but who really cares about mileage.

So, I'm asking the pro's. What's a fair price on a used cam/springs combo? Do I need to change my intake manifold to? Do I need a LS6 manifold too? I see the 243 casting number heads on ebay - are they worth the price? Whats a good deal? Are there other casting numbers that would greatly improve my trucks 6.0L?

Thanks a bunch guys - I've been diggin around with little luck

 

if i am not mistaken the LQ9 are on your truck... they have exhaust ports just like the LS6 heads but the only difference is the combustion chamber is larger for more low end torque... if you increase your compression ratio then you will make more power...

i think the manifold you have is also designed for torque in mind since you have a tow truck... the LS6 intake manifold with obviously increase power but most likely give you less torque on the lowend... i assume

a cam/spring package's price really depends on what kind of springs and the kind/how large the cam is...

if you want just a little more power go witht he 03+ Z06 cam and springs... cheap and it will add some HP

as for better gas milage... cams tend to decrease them

 

you can stick with your stock intake manifold and make good hp. i've seen several swaps with that intake, and it made similar power to the ls6 unit, with the ls1 as a baseline. and as stated above, i think it made slightly more torque than the ls6. no need to change that right now.

the big thing to consider first is all the supporting mods. do you ahve a low restriction intake and exhaust?? some kind of cold air intake will help out, as will a good catback or true duals (plenty of clearance on a truck).

i'm not sure the ls6 cam would be a wise choice. i've heard it is pretty peaky in it's power band, which wouldn't work well with a truck. if y0u pick a smaller cam the ls6 springs will work well. i beleive they are good up to .550" lift.

call up the sponsors on the vendor list and ask them what a good cam is for your application and intended goal.

another thing you could do is go for bolt on performance:

intake, roller rockers, headers, exhaust and a dyno tune

 

I've read the 6.0L engine has a better intake interms of airflow than the LS6 intake. Don't spend the money on an LS6 intake. So, why don't fbodies use the 6L intake, it won't fit our cars.

Keep your cam small if you're not running a stall. That truck will need all the low-end it can get. Keep your camshaft slection on the conservative side. Select a cam with a narrower LSA to get your heavy truck moving and into the power band. Something in the 220 range (intake lobe) would be great.

Expect to pay ~250 for a used cam. Get NEW valvesprings. Dropping a valve because there really wasn't "only 4000 miles" on your used springs would be a sucky way to learn. Also, get a quality spring. The LS6 springs won't provide adequate seat/open pressure when spinning your motor above 5,000 RPM.

I'd assume your truck has long tube headers on it now, and a free flowing exhaust.

Ben T.

 

I've actually yet to drive the truck. I bought it wrecked with 5K on the speedo. Yes true duals are coming, or a 4" exhaust after the Y. I probably won't do long tubes. I'm a fabricator and would rather spend $500.00 towards a remote turbo setup. I've ported exhaust manifolds in the past and have had good results. There's probably better exhaust manifolds, corvette, gto, camaro that I can use instead - I just need a little guidance.

I've got 4.10 gears and I hate tall tires so I won't have any problems spinning the required RPMS. I pulled a dyno back from dynojet (motorcycle dyno) with my little 5.3L through Montana sitting on the rev limiter climbing all the hills.

I'm just looking for some wicked throttle response. I'm definetly going with a used cam/springs. I can check the springs - I'm not really worried about dropping a valve - I've experienced that It just means you "get" to throw money at the engine. I want to stick with GM parts for the most part.

Aside from the 243 casting heads what else will I like (for heads)?

 

maybe some Dart Pro 1 205 heads....flow really well, 62cc chamber and a 205 intake runner to keep low and mid range power.

there are better cams out there than those sold by GM. although the hotcam may not be a bad choice...but i'm not sure thats actually a GM product.

 

yeah gm hot cam is a product from them...

sounds like your making a fun truck hope it turns our well

hotcam kit is cool but i doubt that there will beo ne for sale used

look around see if you can find like a TR224 those are some sweet cams

 

If you can run the GM hot cam, that's cool. It's made by Crane so perhaps that opens you up to all the crane grinds. ?

If you get to just "throw" money at the truck then just order some AFR heads and be done with it.

Ben T.

 

I'm looking for more used cheap go fast parts than new expensive go fast parts. I somehow got myself involved in a blown up lightning project from a salvage auction - so that's where all my new expensive go fast money is going WTF was I thinking? We'll see how that P.O.S. is going to turn out.