I've got a "what if" question. Some time ago I had LG Motorsports install a cam, AFR heads and longtubes on my Z06. That left me with the stock Z06 parts in my garage. I'm toying with the idea of installing the Z06 cam and heads (and exhaust manifolds if possible) on my 2007 Silverado.
What do you see as issues and benefits. BTW the Silverado has the 5.3 with active fuel managment (8 to 4 cylinder swtich) but is not flex fuel. I assume I would lose the active fuel managment capablity?
no issues with the head swap, it would work nicely. The Z06 cam would be aggressive in that little 5.3 so that would be ok too. You would need to ditch the fuel managment lifters and go to "regular" lifters. Add a tune and you would have a nice little addition in power.
You may already have 243 casting heads on your 5.3. 243 casting heads originally were for the LS6 only. But GM now uses them on 4.8's and 5.3's as well. My father has an 07 with a 4.8 and it has 243's on it. Friend has an 08 Avalanche with a 5.3 and AFM. It has them also. Look by the little pad near the valve cover for a 3 digit code in the casting. Could also be 799 heads, which are the same as a 243. Just a later casting.
The cam will fit in the motor, but you might have to swap to a 3 bolt timing chain. Some new stuff has a 1 bolt. AFM would need to be removed, and the holes plugged under the valley cover. You would need it disabled in the PCM, which could be done as part of your tune, which you would need.
The exhaust manifolds will not work, the rest can be done, prolly not worth it though.
steve
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99 FRC Hardtop Torch Red.
Forged 347. LG Pro-Longtubes, RPM Stage IV, Corsa Exhaust, ACT Twin Clutch...etc
Never occurred to me the heads might be the same. When I bought the Z certainly they were only on the LS6. I didn't know that as technology advanced these heads made their way down to lower horsepower engines. I'll take a look.
As for the exhaust manifolds are you saying they won't clear the Silverado frame? Is that speculation or do you know? If they won't then I'd have to go to headers which kind of defeats the idea of doing maximum gains on the cheap.
As I mentioned in the orignal post I'm only toying with the idea. The truck has a 100000 mile warranty on it and I'm hesistant to void the engine warranty when it only has 20000 miles on it.
You'd get more bang for your buck freeing up the exhaust and intake, LT headers and air box...then have a separate PCM tuned for street performance. You could even add a converter to get it off the line faster.
You'll retain the AFM for better mileage and can swap entirely back to stock (by putting your stock PCM in) for warranty issues.
The Z06 cam is nice, but you will really only see more power from 4500-RPM on up.
Corvette Store
Z06 Head, Cam Transplant to Silverado
