Just checking in to see if anyone has swapped cams in their TB's. I have a couple of them that I was looking at from Texas Speed. Anyway, if you have, please feel free to comment. I know im not the only one that loves the sound of a cammed Chevy motor.
Cam Swap.
- Thread starter 1UP5DWN
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vezePilot
Well-known member
As a Corvette owner, I have considered the benefits and costs of alternative camshafts. I find it fascinating to contemplate a radical cam for my TB ... the truck is so very far removed from being anything like a Corvette.
So I went and looked at camshaft Offers from Texas Speed. It seems to me that all of the camshafts that they offer for 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks are Not Legal for street and highway, intended for competition only. Am I missing something?
For my 2007 Base Corvette, I installed a Hooker Blackheart Axle-back exhaust package with resonators. This provides enough Crackle and Pop to alleviate the absence of that Cammed-Chevy sound ...
So I went and looked at camshaft Offers from Texas Speed. It seems to me that all of the camshafts that they offer for 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks are Not Legal for street and highway, intended for competition only. Am I missing something?
For my 2007 Base Corvette, I installed a Hooker Blackheart Axle-back exhaust package with resonators. This provides enough Crackle and Pop to alleviate the absence of that Cammed-Chevy sound ...
I'm actually looking elsewhere for cam options. Brian Tooley has the Truck Norris cam that is pretty appealing. I was looking at the chopacabra cam from TSP, but it doesn't really fit the MY of our trucks. So there's that.
RedBoss21'
New member
I'm currently thinking about a cam swap with DOD delete from Texas Speed. I got a quote for install and tune. After everything I'm looking at $10k. Honestly a long block high performance is an option at that price for $10-15k.As a Corvette owner, I have considered the benefits and costs of alternative camshafts. I find it fascinating to contemplate a radical cam for my TB ... the truck is so very far removed from being anything like a Corvette.
So I went and looked at camshaft Offers from Texas Speed. It seems to me that all of the camshafts that they offer for 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks are Not Legal for street and highway, intended for competition only. Am I missing something?
For my 2007 Base Corvette, I installed a Hooker Blackheart Axle-back exhaust package with resonators. This provides enough Crackle and Pop to alleviate the absence of that Cammed-Chevy sound ...
What did you end up doing after all?
Stormin08
Well-known member
they will not be emissions friendly.As a Corvette owner, I have considered the benefits and costs of alternative camshafts. I find it fascinating to contemplate a radical cam for my TB ... the truck is so very far removed from being anything like a Corvette.
So I went and looked at camshaft Offers from Texas Speed. It seems to me that all of the camshafts that they offer for 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks are Not Legal for street and highway, intended for competition only. Am I missing something?
For my 2007 Base Corvette, I installed a Hooker Blackheart Axle-back exhaust package with resonators. This provides enough Crackle and Pop to alleviate the absence of that Cammed-Chevy sound ...
i have always considered adding a cam vs a power adder....what cans have you all researched ? i am looking for a cam that offers great low to mid end, not huge lobes and high rpm only performance.
vezePilot
Well-known member
Well, I am just driving the Trail Boss a lot. I think it is fantastic just the way they made it. And the Corvette is for sale.
Mike Edwards
Member
I did a cam swap in my truck. I started with a plan of doing a BTR stage 1 cam, but ended up having an issue with the dowel pin in it. I had been on the fence between that and an L8T and the wait to get the BTR replaced forced me into the L8T. After all the tuning, I'm glad I went with the L8T.
It is an honest 35 hours of labor to swap everything necessary whether you do it in the truck or pull the motor. I did it in the truck and it's probably my 7th or 8th cam swap on an LS or LT. I already had almost all the specialty tools required, but you could add another $200 if you don't have any of that and want to DIY.
Cam $100 (L8T)-$350 (BTR or texas speed)
Valve springs (LT4/ BTR springs) $70. You don't need springs with the L8T cam but it won't hurt.
BTR dfm solenoid plugs $40
LS7 lifters $200
Pushrods $100 (not necessary for L8T cam)
Lifter trays $25
Head Gaskets $90
Head Bolts $60
Timing chain tensioner $25. This is good to replace if you have any mileage, they break often.
Water pump gaskets $10
Balancer Bolt $15
A/C and Alternator/WP belt $80
Iridium NGK Spark plugs $50
HP tuners MPVI3 $400
Unlocking the ECU $300 for Global A (19-22 non refresh) $800 for Global B (23+ refresh trucks)
HP tuners credits $300 Global A, $400 global B
Your PULSAR or range module won't turn off the codes for the deleted solenoids, so that's not an option.
That is $1800 at the cheapest (L8T cam/ Global A truck) to $2800 for a BTR cam in a Global B truck. That is just parts cost.
35 hours of labor for the parts swapping at $150 per hour for most shops around me. $5250 in labor
Most tuners probably won't touch a Global A or B truck with an aftermarket cam for under $600 and if they'll do it cheaper you should probably run away. If you do the L8T cam it's pretty easy to tune and doesn't really need anything other than turning off some codes, but tuning could add a little power.
That's $8700 for an aftermarket cam in a Global B truck if you pay someone else to do everything.
I already owned HP tuners MPVI and did all my own labor and tuning and I got out of it for ~$1400, but I spent more to unlock my TCM and tune it too.
It is an honest 35 hours of labor to swap everything necessary whether you do it in the truck or pull the motor. I did it in the truck and it's probably my 7th or 8th cam swap on an LS or LT. I already had almost all the specialty tools required, but you could add another $200 if you don't have any of that and want to DIY.
Cam $100 (L8T)-$350 (BTR or texas speed)
Valve springs (LT4/ BTR springs) $70. You don't need springs with the L8T cam but it won't hurt.
BTR dfm solenoid plugs $40
LS7 lifters $200
Pushrods $100 (not necessary for L8T cam)
Lifter trays $25
Head Gaskets $90
Head Bolts $60
Timing chain tensioner $25. This is good to replace if you have any mileage, they break often.
Water pump gaskets $10
Balancer Bolt $15
A/C and Alternator/WP belt $80
Iridium NGK Spark plugs $50
HP tuners MPVI3 $400
Unlocking the ECU $300 for Global A (19-22 non refresh) $800 for Global B (23+ refresh trucks)
HP tuners credits $300 Global A, $400 global B
Your PULSAR or range module won't turn off the codes for the deleted solenoids, so that's not an option.
That is $1800 at the cheapest (L8T cam/ Global A truck) to $2800 for a BTR cam in a Global B truck. That is just parts cost.
35 hours of labor for the parts swapping at $150 per hour for most shops around me. $5250 in labor
Most tuners probably won't touch a Global A or B truck with an aftermarket cam for under $600 and if they'll do it cheaper you should probably run away. If you do the L8T cam it's pretty easy to tune and doesn't really need anything other than turning off some codes, but tuning could add a little power.
That's $8700 for an aftermarket cam in a Global B truck if you pay someone else to do everything.
I already owned HP tuners MPVI and did all my own labor and tuning and I got out of it for ~$1400, but I spent more to unlock my TCM and tune it too.
Last edited:
Mike Edwards
Member
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