What supporting changes does a cam swap in an LS truck engine need?
The usual list:
- Valve springs matched to the cam (plus retainers and pushrods as the cam maker specifies).
- Injectors and fuel pump: Speedway notes stock injectors and rails are close to their limit, and recommends higher-flow injectors and a bigger pump even for a hot cam swap.
- A tune: idle, fuel and spark must be recalibrated.
- Torque converter: match the stall speed to the cam and powerband (the cam maker lists a recommendation).
If the truck has AFM: Gen IV AFM engines need an AFM delete to run aftermarket cams; many also delete VVT, which requires a Gen 3-style timing cover in place of the VVT cover with integrated phaser. See the AFM delete parts list.
Each cam page in our cam finder lists what that specific cam needs (springs, converter, idle, AFM).
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Confidence: medium — sources disagree or are limited; check the sources below.
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Sources
- 6.0 LS Build Combinations: Recipes for 500-1,000 HP — Speedway Motors
- Vortec 4.8 LS Build: Horsepower Recipes, Specs and Upgrades — Speedway Motors