➔HANDS ON
CHEAP TRICK
12 CAR CRAFT OCTOBER 2019
Get 60 HP More From a 5.3L LS With a Used LS
Cam and LS3 ValvespringsW
hat kind of new math is add
9 to your 7, but don’t forget
to carry the 3? Well, it’s the
kind of new LS math where you add
60 hp to your junkyard 5.3L for the
paltry sum of $100. Interested now?
We thought so!
We all know the LS is still the hottest
thing going in the performance indus-
try and that nothing wakes up an LS
like a cam swap, right? The problem
with a cam swap, like anything else we
want to do with our car, is the expense.
While the installation of a typical after-
market cam is money well spent and
represents one heck of a performance
bargain, who among us isn’t looking to
save a few bucks here and there? That
is what this test is all about.
While a cam and springs can easily
set you back more than $400, what ifwe told you there was a way to get
plenty of performance for a fraction of
that price? You heard it right, we man-
aged to coax an extra 60 hp from a
freshly scored junkyard 5.3L with a
cam and springs for a measly Benja-
min. Of course, our components were
used, but by no means were they spe-
cial deals, since we saw plenty offered
near this price point.
The key to the $100 cam swap was
choosing the right cam, followed by
the right springs. While an aftermarket
cam might offer even bigger power
gains, the cost per horsepower defi-
nitely favors this low-buck route. If
you’re looking to get more perfor-
mance from your 5.3L, don’t look to
the aftermarket, look back at the fac-
tory, namely the LS9. Why install an
LS9 cam designed for a superchargedBy Richard Holdener / Photos: Richard Holdener
6.2L into our naturally aspirated 5.3L,
you ask? A quick look at the specs of
the two cams will reveal the power
potential.
The factory LM7 5.3L cam, a profile
shared with the smaller 4.8L LR4, was
the mildest cam ever offered by the
factory. With specs of 0.457/0.466 lift,
191/190 degrees duration, and 115.LS cam swaps are all the rage, but how
many of them offer 60 hp for $100?