4.8L LS VS TRUCK NORRIS NSR-CAN YOU ADD 50 HP WITH A JUNKYARD LS CAM SWAP WITHOUT CHANGING SPRINGS?

HOW MUCH POWER IS A CHEAP, LOW-BUCK, JUNKYARD 4.8L LS CAM SWAP WORTH? CAN YOU REALLY SWAP CAMS WITH THE STOCK SPRINGS? WILL THE BTR TRUCK NORRIS NSR CAM WORK WITH STOCK TRUCK SPRINGS? HOW MUCH POWER DOES A JUNKYARD LS MAKE WITH A CAM SWAP? CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO WHERE I RAN A JUNKYARD 4.8L LR4 WITH A STOCK CAM THEN WITH A TRUCK NORRIS NSR (NO SPRINGS REQUIRED) CAM TO SEE IF THE CAM WILL WORK WITH THE STOCK, WELL-WORN (LOW-LIFT) VALVE SPRINGS. CHECK OUT THE POWER GAINS.

[@scottadkin541]

Truck Norris once ran a 7 on 3 cylinders with his parachute pulled running on pump gas.

[@Ed70Nova427]

That's crazy! That for sure is a worth while cam swap. You sure can save a lot of money going to a used 4.8L, NSR cam swap it and spend all the savings to complete a nice little hot rod that now will have 375 hp. This is truly great no bs info for the guy who has always wanted to build something himself. Thanks again Richard! Great video, Great info!

[@travisabrahamson5092]

I was waiting for this one . Thank you Richard 😎

[@jaredporter7450]

Thanks for doing this test man I appreciate the info earlier as well

[@edwardwood3622]

Great video, great cam. Thanks Richard.

[@MrAnviljenkins]

Glad to see you still making videos. I do not have the constitution to watch an hour and a quarter live video :-).

[@colinb5517]

Love having some 4.8 content!

[@osamabinkeifen]

been waiting for this video! thank you sooo much!!

[@dandorris8531]

Thanks Richard for the test.

[@nimblybimbly4002]

Cool to see the assembly process.

[@deuceman32]

Excellent episode! Thank you.

[@ZackNakazora1]

You know cant help but feel as a Saturday night special truck with a 4.8 this and a shot a nitrous would be a fun budget set up.

[@andrewtaylor440]

This video convinced me to put a TN cam in my 4.8 car. Gotta say 100% recommend this to anyone thinking about it. Also use dowels so your lifters don't fall into the windage tray😅

[@Valdemar-Perez-III]

Would it be good for a daily driver as well?

[@andrewtaylor440]

@@Valdemar-Perez-III my cars not a daily but I wouldn't hate it if it was. Cruises nice on the highway and around town it's not so aggressive it's un drivable. (plus it it has a great idle lope)

[@Modified1]

That's the cam I'm going with on my channel for my son's 5.3 swap in his 2000 rcsb!! Too easy!!

[@332ARA]

Man! I put a BTR Torque cam in just before the Truck Norris came out. Buyers remorse

[@KM-os4be]

Very good, Thanks! Would like to see this cam on a 6.0.

[@cuzz63]

Solid little motor to make over 300 hp with 292 Cubes before the cam swap. .

[@billybadass411thefirst9]

I’m pretty sure this test was just for me. Thank you. Test request… standard Truck Norris with aftermarket springs, VS NSR on stock springs.

[@richardholdener1727]

already did that-video soon

[@billybadass411thefirst9]

@@richardholdener1727 Thank you!

[@markbuskens6070]

Bet that would be. Good 5.3 turbo cam 👍

[@mariotillery8459]

This looks like a great swap into a LS4,With DOD/AFM delete of course. And supporting mods. A FWD GXP would surprise lots of people.

[@Dr_Reason]

Who will build the transaxale to take the torque. I think the factory detuned the 5.3 just to keep things in one piece. Otherwise I like this idea.

[@mariotillery8459]

@Dr. Reason I have a "Built" replacement transmission for now from Triple Edge Performance. When is fails im going to a 4T80. I wish the six speed could be swapped in.

[@chui19801]

Rich. I just ordered the Truck Norris for my 6.0 Liter LSX. I hope it kicks ass like Chuck Norris. LOL

[@bcbloc02]

Technology is a wonderful thing!

[@jmtmotorsports3173]

I absolutely love you doin all these truck cam comparisons!! Thank you Rich!!!!! I’d love to see stock vs summit 8712r1 “drop in” vs chopacabra vs Truck Norris vs SS2

[@richardholdener1727]

ss2 requires springs and is a lot bigger than the tn

[@jmtmotorsports3173]

Ok understand.. what about the others cuz fairly close.. TSP and the BTR is nearly identical, but I’d like to see those compared to the summit “drop in”.. Apparently a lot of truck guys like that one cuz it claims “no tune needed”

[@jmtmotorsports3173]

@@richardholdener1727 I’ll even buy the 8712, drop ship it to you, run it, get numbers and ship it back to me 😊

[@TheCustomGeek]

I have a 5.3 in my 06 Silverado and I am grinning right now.. I need new lifters, so those, maybe .0010 off the heads, and the Truck Norris cam! Great vid, thanks!

[@richardholdener1727]

Good luck!

[@davelowets]

Take more than that off the heads... 😁

[@rogerbeaudoin4172]

Now that you have a dyno 4.8 let’s see that btr torque cam you suggested for it numerous times

[@Dodgevair]

Plan on using this cam to light a G42-1200/1450 turbo unit in a 4.8L Miata swap....

[@kennyman338]

Definitely would this cam for our ly2 4th gen 4.8 2007 Tahoe. How about testing the hot rod cam into the 4.8?

[@keything8487]

nice to hear the engine idle/dyno run....after all these years !!!! your varoom sounds were good...but....

[@richardholdener1727]

THERE ARE PLENTY OF VIDS WITH ENGINE NOISE

[@Exit_343]

Do a video on the ecm tuning...!! Cam swap is cool and all but no one shows how to do the tune ..

[@jasonfestich2196]

"Big Bang" with the stock springs and rings.... Lets see what it can do before it goes to that great junkyard in the sky 😁

[@richardholdener1727]

WE USE THE STOCK RINGS-JUST ADD GAP

[@jakelitz516]

got a 04 sierra i just finished all the bodywork on. wanna throw this cam in er down the road

[@chandlerlofton6536]

Every 4.8 should have this cam in it!

[@MikeHeyboer]

I went a little bigger with a sloppy stage 1 by elgin and my twin brother is using the truck norris on his 4.8 build so we can compare. We used identical springs and brass trunion upgrade though

[@davelowets]

Should be a factory cam

[@ProfessorCsATVs]

Richard, could you test the other brands of NSR cams? I know summit and comp both have them. I’m sure there are others

[@scotthultin7769]

3👍's up thank you for sharing

[@caseywilliams5406]

Truck Norris keeps the earth rotating with rolling burnouts. You're welcome.

[@patrickwendling6759]

Nice .. 💪🏽💪🏽

[@russelljackson7034]

Right on

[@yazoomud88]

Try the Texas- speed chopacabra with LS6 springs

[@jdbas71]

IMHO the nsr cam makes more sense on a high mileage engine. Seems like the lower lift would be easier on worn valve train components.

[@lukemorgan3368]

Nice Gains! I’ll take 50 hp and any extra torque any day!

[@salvatorehayes2753]

6:38 That's Called Destiny Plug Gap haha

[@magicmiles6985]

We need some tuning guides!

[@Hot_Mess]

Oh and I found a good way to remove the pesky balancer bolt...on the engine stand, wedge a big crow bar between the balancer cut outs and the leg of the stand. Put a 2ft breaker bar on the socket for the balancer bolt and use your body weight to loosen it. Should work about the same in a vehicle, just substitute the car frame for the engine stand...

[@richardholdener1727]

balancer fingers are not very strong

[@UserUser-ku6gm]

The real tool can be had on amazon for 35 dollars

[@davelowets]

Or just get yourself a Harbor Freight Ultra-Torque Hercules 1/2" Impact for $179. It'll rip it right out with no issues.

[@davelowets]

@@UserUser-ku6gm To remove the bolt?

[@bluecollarhotrods9781]

I'm tempted to send you my TSP Chopacabra cam... I feel like it will do similar things as the BTR TN cam. But, I have a feeling that the internet will toil over which one is better. I only chose it over the BTR because of the deal I got on it.

[@richardholdener1727]

then you should be happy with your choice

[@bluecollarhotrods9781]

@@richardholdener1727 I am. But would be willing to lend it for "science "

[@cuhht6432]

Hey Richard quick question looking yo putt a nsr cam on my 5.3 06 Sierra would u need a tune after and i would be going 4 hrs away to do the install would it make the drive back with the cam installed ? Sorry if this seem like a dumb questions

[@scotthultin7769]

He would really notice that if you put that camera vehicle when you're towing a trailer cuz it would make the transmission act totally different going uphill

[@Airman..]

Chuck would be proud Matter of fact Chuck Norris doesn't need a cam in his truck, he actuates the valves with his fingers

[@davelowets]

Nah, he uses his hands to steer and shift.. He actuates the valves with his tongue..

[@davelowets]

And if he has nitrous, he hits the button with his.... Well, never mind. 😳

[@Airman..]

@@davelowets i know he pees NOS 🤣

[@benoit8850]

That's awesome! But what are the cam's specs? How do I find this specific cam? Thanks for your superb content

[@richardholdener1727]

ask btr for a Truck Norris-very easy

[@phoenix1137]

What would be a good daily driver torque converter for this kind of cam?

[@tulsayanes5867]

Truck Norris once ran 10s in 5th gear, with a 4 speed…..

[@damienyeatman8217]

Any chance you can do the NSR cam on a LY66 L

[@fizzy8994]

can you do a video on the BTR Truck Norris VS the Texas Speed Chopacabra

[@ZONES89RS]

Interesting. Surprised valve float wasn’t a issue even with the stock cam above 6000.

[@davelowets]

Stock Bee-hive springs, fairly low lift, small valves, not an issue.

[@ZONES89RS]

@@davelowets stock cams with stock valve springs even have issues if they aren’t LS6 springs

[@davelowets]

@@ZONES89RS Did you watch the video? 200,000 mile springs, and the motor ran right to the end of it's power band, WITH the larger cam, WITHOUT any issues. I'd say they're fine.. 🤷🏻 Edit: "NSR" on the cam means, "No springs required". A reputable company wouldn't advertise that if it was going to cause all kinds of issues.

[@ZONES89RS]

@@davelowets it’s probably the LS6 style newer springs. I’ve spun those to 7200+ myself. The older springs were just trash and didn’t like 6000

[@ZONES89RS]

@@davelowets yea, that’s weird and confusing because if that’s gen 3 springs it doesn’t make sense. Seen it time and time again calve float with stock springs and cam and even with Richard

[@VernLeRoy1962]

I hope we will see what happens, when you doa up-grade to the Springs , just to see how much more HP can be had? I find these videos to be very educatical !!

[@Hot_Mess]

Richard has already done this with the normal Truck Norris cam, but I think it was on a 5.3 with springs. It will make another 10ish HP is all so for most guys on a tight budget this is an awesome option!

[@richardholdener1727]

springs won't change anything-except possibly lose a touch of power

[@thedude7726]

@@richardholdener1727 people must think they hold in more cylinder pressure with stiffer springs.

[@sstevocamaro]

@@thedude7726 If the engine was gonna be boosted then yes..

[@theshark2804]

My understanding is that the spring help control the higher lift. If not you would float a valve.

[@wheelbasemedia5814]

NIce gains! I wonder how this compares with the 'normal' (higher lift) Truck Norris cam in a 4.8, to know whether it’s worth going with that and doing the spring upgrade. Also, did you post the cam specs, or did I miss them . . .

[@rehn1kri]

I googled it myself because I didn’t catch the specs either... Specs: 212/22X .498"/.498" 107 LSA

[@lanebradford3235]

The nsr cam will make slightly LESS power compared to the normal truck norris cam due to the lower lift duration. .498 on the nsr version vs I believe .560 on the normal version.

[@richardholdener1727]

Good question! I forgot to include specs

[@nowayjose596]

In a 5.3 the NSR makes 3 less hp (the dynos for both are on BTR's website)

[@Dauntless.steadfast.fortitude]

@@rehn1kri Revallier ?

[@RalphRomano2]

I think the roller tip rockers would have given the high lift cam more overall. MORE bottom end and more top end, and more torque overall. For that cam it was a disadvantage.

[@richardholdener1727]

THERE WAS NO HIGH LIFT CAM RUN ON THIS TEST

[@davelowets]

Roller rockers on a small cam won't do much at all.

[@DBSSTEELER]

I would still drop a cheap Summit Racing spring kit.

[@natricjol]

lm7/lr4 vs l33 cam lift - .466/.457 vs .479/.479 dur - 190/191 vs 193/193 lsa - 116 vs 116 from what I found, its nearly stock power until after 4500. its almost like when you swapped on the comp cams 1.82:1 roller rockers. I've been wanting to see some of the different stock cams ran. i know lq9 and the 2nd ls1 cam are the same, lm7 and 1st lq4 are the same. lq4 got the different cam after it went to aluminum heads instead of the 2nd year. anyways, this was cool to see what the 4 point great can do. Wonder what the TN NSR does against the standard TN on the 4.8. I know the nsr point was cool but just cool to see what the difference between the 2 is for power.

[@natricjol]

On top of the two TN cams, would you be able to run the 1.82 roller rockers on the nsr cam on the stock 4.8 and have it nearly equal the og TN?

[@richardholdener1727]

IT ALREADY (NEARLY) MATCHES THE HIGH-LIFT TN CAM-ROCKERS REQUIRE SPRINGS.

[@natricjol]

@@richardholdener1727 I knew it would require springs. Just didn't know if there would be enough clearance for the combination and how that would compare with the OG TN.

[@scudzuki]

I just picked up an LS1 with 70k miles from a '97 Corvette that I'm going to swap into a 69 Camaro. Goal is driveability and reliability with a little more power. I was thinking of just swapping in the Truck Norris NSR and leaving the induction alone, with a set of long tube headers, and the Terminator X management system. Can't find any info on how much the added restiction of the LS1 intake manifold and TB will negate the gains from the cam. I'm looking for 50 HP and a motor that wants to spin to 6500 RPM.

[@charliecadaver666]

There are plenty of LS1/LS6 cams out there that have great driveability and make more power being no intended for a heavy truck. Hell, the LSA you want for a car cam, rule of thumb.. Auto trans, about 114 LSA. Manual trans, 112 LSA. If ita a 97 LS1, find some cheap 799 heads, LS6 or LS2 intake and get a btr stage 1 LS1 cam. Or the SDPC (Scoggin Dickey) LS6 Power Max or LS6 Power Max Plus camshaft. I'm running the Max Plus in my 98 WS6 t56. After over a decade and 85k+ miles.. I ditched the LS6 cam. Powerband went from starting at above 4k rpm's with the factory LS6 cam, down to about 2500 rpms. But I also have 4.10s to be able to quickly get into the power-band. But point blank.. Find an actual aftermarket cam for LS1. Besides being more cubes, also lil more compression.

[@BigRedRocketScience]

Richard, make a big-bang-style heads, cam, springs, SBE with boost & drag race it in a car on a strip! Your panicked reactions would make the video. Race any of the KZbin-famous regulars! Beat Dulcich!

[@richardholdener1727]

panicked reactions?

[@fusiondensity3287]

Panic?

[@davelowets]

Panic at the disco?

[@FusionFab]

Just a thought.. turbo cams are usually low duration and high lift. I would be curious to learn how the NSR grinds compare to the SR variants with forced induction. Like the two Truck Norris versions pitted against one another under boost. How much would the low lift version fall short of the high lift.. with a turbo? We know there’s not much difference NA, but would the dyno graphs be as close with boost?

[@richardholdener1727]

WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS IS NA GAINS WOULD BE MULTIPLED BY PRESSURE RATION (THE GAINS OFFERED NA OFTEN INCREASE WITH BOOST)-BUT NOT BECAUSE BOOST LIKES THE HIGH-LIFT CAM BETER-BOOST DOES THIS WITH ANY TYPE OF NA POWER GAIN

[@teddymullins3706]

Nice Gaines This will also work in the 5.3I'm guessing ,Please let me know ???? I have a 2005 Silverado This sounds like it would be the perfect swap for my truck to gain a few more ponies

[@richardholdener1727]

yes it works in the 5.3l

[@Bob-ji6ez]

When are you going to do more with the 8.1L? I am dying over here waiting to see what you can do with it lol.

[@rcairforceone]

LT Tolman is running a turbo 8.1 and cataloged the build on KZbin.

[@Bob-ji6ez]

@@rcairforceone I am wanting to see what some of the upgrades produce on the dyno. LT did a good job but I am not sure I want to go the turbo route yet due to funding. I am putting one into a 79 trans am and have done the raylar BP203 cam and roller rocker so far.

[@ASEWorldClassTech]

Truck Norris always gets a zero reaction time because the tree goes green when Truck Norris Says so.

[@robertchristopher7593]

I have a 4.8 thinking about the high lift truck Norris cam you mentioned replacing the torque converter if running in a 4.8 what torque converter is recommended for but I still want to be able to cruise and daily drive

[@richardholdener1727]

2800

[@tptrsn]

Can we look forward to a Truck Norris NSR vs. Original Truck Norris with springs comparison?

[@richardholdener1727]

yes

[@tptrsn]

SWEEEEET!!

[@justinw6448]

I'm honestly surprised he didn't add that in this video

[@rustysausage69]

Rich-completely unrelated question to the video, but i have a completely fresh 416 im about to fire up soon: during cranking should i have oil pressure? I prelubed it and i guess i was expecting to see the gauge move when turning over with ignition/spark plugs out, i got nothin.

[@richardholdener1727]

yes it should have oil pressure when cranking-when new-it might take a few ticks-that's why we pressurize the crankcase prior to spinning it over on a new motor

[@user-ft4oo9cy2o]

Is anyone out there tried a chuck norris cam in a ls3 manual trans

[@bigshooter461]

I would be curious to see what gains could be made down low if you clipped those heads to make a bit more compression and maybe advance the cam

[@paulkoski8759]

You should compare the holley efi and the terminator

[@richardholdener1727]

same

[@LSXMILLER]

Will this cam on ls 6.0 LQ9

[@jayomega29]

Truly a nsr truck cam. Not many nsr cams that are under .500 lift.

[@craigmolson1407]

What would be a good converter for a cammed crew cab truck 08 4.8 with a chuck norris cam. But I don’t want overheat the trans because I still pull my boat with my truck

[@richardholdener1727]

2800 LIKELY-CHECK WITH BTR

[@timweb1510]

Were those just some generic ls7 lifters Richard? The ones I bought from ict billet look similar but I cannot find a manufacturer for them. I didn’t want to assume they were ac delco

[@richardholdener1727]

I ran stock lifters-the one replacement was another stock, used lifter

[@chadgardee1496]

Hey Richard can you compare truck Norris too the BTR truck cam stage1

[@richardholdener1727]

I have-the TN is better

[@Fehrway_Engines]

Hey Richard Holdener, keep up the great videos. I have a stock 2012 silverado with the L20 4.8L engine. It has 8.8:1 compression & I would like to know if swapping out the 799 heads for a good set of 706 heads surfaced 0.030" will give me good power gains or be a waste of time!!! Thanks in advance.

[@richardholdener1727]

IT WOULD ADD SOME POWER AND POSSIBLY MILEAGE

[@Fehrway_Engines]

I want to keep VVT, would the factory L92 cam be too big or just right?

[@chrishansen7004]

@@Fehrway_Engines Texas speed makes vvt truck cams, the 212/218 cam with vvt would be perfect in a 4.8

[@gavinmayes9330]

Do you have to replace springs in a stock 5.3 when going over to a truck Norris cam

[@richardholdener1727]

not on the nsr version

[@takuacheperformance4740]

How did you keep the lifters up off the camshaft to remove it?

[@richardholdener1727]

WHEN YOU SPIN THE CAM-IT PUSHES THE LIFTERS INTO THE PLASTIC LIFTER TRAYS-THEY HOLD UP THE LIFTERS.

[@Samuel_el_toro]

What do you do about the cam retainer plate? Can you re-use an old one? With the integrated oring thats usually looks flat once removed

[@richardholdener1727]

we reuse

[@davelowets]

It's cheap enough to replace, for extra insurance. I usually replace them, but that's just me.

[@Threefiftylegend]

Can u do a 3v boost dr. Stage 3 cam

[@richardholdener1727]

not familiar with that

[@joseiracheta3817]

How about btr hot rod vs the best cam

[@richardholdener1727]

the SS2 makes more than the Best cam-so the Hot Rod makes more than both

[@bobheaslip6458]

Are you able to do this swap with factory ecu and no tune or is a tune necessary

[@richardholdener1727]

TUNE REQUIRED WITH CAM SWAP

[@averagejoesmotogarage9534]

Could you run this with stock injectors as well? Doable with california smog?

[@richardholdener1727]

the cam is not smog legal that I am aware

[@rainefontenot523]

does it work with nitrous, will it damage the engine to run a larger gap with nitrous, because it's recommended to run cold plugs with smaller gap

[@richardholdener1727]

higher cylinder pressure (nitrous or boost) requires smaller gap for voltage to jump or you get misfires

[@tturi2]

could you do the comp 54-469-11 cam?

[@tptrsn]

Is this a troll?!? Lol. He runs that cam in everything! Although I can't say for positive that I've seen him run it in a 4.8, so maybe that's why you're asking...?

[@Brykk]

So what converter are you talking about? Like a 2200-2300? Or more like a 2600-2800?

[@richardholdener1727]

the second one

[@ChurchAutoTest]

Geez this NSR cam just took away another reason for not camming my 5.3 Tahoe shop beater. Do I roll the dice on the stock 4L60 though, torque isn't really much higher, sooooo....

[@richardholdener1727]

MIGHT BE OKAY...ISH!

[@davelowets]

🎲 🎲

[@user-oi5bg4vi6z]

What stage and specifications I'm shopping for a cam for my Vortex 4.8 thanks

[@richardholdener1727]

no stage-just truck norris nsr

[@nswiss19751]

You don't have to remove the lifters

[@batman607]

It would be interesting to see if you upgraded the springs , if there’d be HP gain .🎃🎃

[@richardholdener1727]

there won't be

[@billybadass411thefirst9]

What about with the non NSR cam with good springs?

[@nowayjose596]

@@billybadass411thefirst9 It'll make 3 hp more on a 5.3 (the dynos for both are on BTR's website)

[@carltonfortune6846]

Question guys. Stock lq4 862 heads Holley Sniper Efi msd LS series. Would there be a change in performance with springs and hollow valves with no stock cam? Thinking about a TN cam later. A

[@bobbywalter5320]

@@billybadass411thefirst9 bind is the concern and float at 5 k and up rpm

[@TheRacer221]

1st

[@tonyavila5556]

Richard how much power would you guess, going to .600 lift from .550 and using a dual spring kit.

[@sstevocamaro]

Probably 20hp

[@Ws6Ms]

​@@sstevocamaro I don't even think it's that much

[@nowayjose596]

It varies based on the cam (the bigger you go the bigger the difference) but it's generally 10-20 hp. The standard Truck Norris cam only makes about 3 hp more than the NSR version though (but that's ~.550 vs ~.500).

[@JRyonLittle]

Richard what RPM did you experience the cam to fall off or exceed springs, happen to know how many miles were on engine?

[@richardholdener1727]

we did not rev the motor to valve float

[@JRyonLittle]

@@richardholdener1727 thanks, yes I was sure you would have commented if that happened however just curious what rpm you hit during the test, graph appears maybe 63-6400ish?

[@dukenukem7183]

Would you recommend this cam for a 4.8 ls swap into car or only trucks

[@richardholdener1727]

yes

[@adrianrizo5071]

What would be a good converter for it

[@richardholdener1727]

2800

[@bobbywalter5320]

Get a stock exhaust system from the junkyard and test with that... This would be nice for a real world simple nsr cam swap

[@richardholdener1727]

it won't fit on the dyno-but i have run cam tests with stock manifolds

[@gunsup0331]

Putting a 5.7 into a 4.8l truck. Do I need to upgrade the ecu or can it figure thing out on its own?

[@richardholdener1727]

it needs to be tuned

[@allenstout4141]

Cam info

[@alltheboost5363]

Wonder if it's worth tossing in my wife's Suburban when I do water pump and a bunch of maintenance.

[@davelowets]

I would...

[@derekmoore4372]

What gains would you expect to see out of this cam in an LS1?

[@richardholdener1727]

more than 50

[@derekmoore4372]

@@richardholdener1727 thank you. I have been hoping to see a review on this cam from you