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Question about heads on a turbo 5.3?

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Old Dec 23, 2008 | 05:44 PM
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Default Question about heads on a turbo 5.3?

Hey guys, I was wondering if It would be in my best interest to put the 241 heads I have in my garage on my 5.3 thats going in my regal, I know it will drop my compression from 9.4:1 to 9.0:1 but will that benifit me for use with pump gas? My goal is have a somewhat reliable 10 sec pump gas "street car" and I use that term sparingly as the only street time that car will see is going to local meets. I guess back to my question, to meet my goal would it be more suitable for me to run the stock 5.3 heads or would the 241 heads be better.

Any help will be appreciated.

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Old Dec 23, 2008 | 05:59 PM
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the lower compression will allow more boost on pump gas but i'm not sure how much 1/2 a point will affect it, but it will give up torque when not under boost.
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Old Dec 24, 2008 | 04:38 PM
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anyone else? It doesn't have to be specific to the 5.3, If you guys had the choice what would you do?

Thanks
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Old Dec 25, 2008 | 10:22 PM
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Thats not a huge difference but it will help. Will you be using the stock cam? A bigger cam will bleed off some compression and probably have the about the same effect as dropping .4 compression. Thats the method I will most likely be using. it'll also sound a lot nicer with the cam.
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Old Dec 27, 2008 | 03:50 AM
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I was going to use the z06 cam, Ive read a few people have had sucess with it in turbo applications,but if i was going to choose a different cam what would be good for a turbo application?

Last edited by 03supercharged; Jan 3, 2009 at 04:12 AM.
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Old Jan 3, 2009 | 04:11 AM
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anyone please?
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Old Jan 3, 2009 | 07:23 AM
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well just to comment - i just bought a z06 cam off a guy on ls1tech with springs. seems to be the best bang for the buck with turbo apps. especially for noob/novices in that area.
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Old Jan 3, 2009 | 12:30 PM
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the weak point is not the scr, its the pistons, leave the stock sealed motor alone. not worth it too swap heads, if anything get better springs than ls6
ls6 cam is good for turbo, run meth also
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Old Feb 24, 2009 | 03:33 AM
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So, Would I be better off putting the PRC springs in the stock 5.3 heads? or would the lower compression help with the tuning aspect and if so would I gain anything with switching heads?
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Old Feb 24, 2009 | 09:12 AM
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I run my 5.3's stock, stock heads etc, like said above, just leave them sealed up. At lower boost my car ran into the 10's easily and its mainly a street car. I do run the 02+ Z06 cam likes others also
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Old Feb 24, 2009 | 11:12 AM
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I have 6.0L 317 heads on my 5.3L. I think i calculated it to 8.6:1 compression. I drive mine to work all the time, all over, Drives like a dream all day long and runs decent for what it is. It sounds weak like it has 150hp driving it around town, I had people laugh at me at the track when I started it up and pulled it off my trailer.
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Old Feb 24, 2009 | 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by NemeSS
the weak point is not the scr, its the pistons, leave the stock sealed motor alone. not worth it too swap heads, if anything get better springs than ls6
ls6 cam is good for turbo, run meth also
I agree and disagree. The piston is weak when detonated which is in part a function of static com ratio. The lower the scr the less likely to detonate which effects the life span of the pistons, head gaskets etc.

I have a 5.3 with a zo6 cam, 317's, mls head gaskets and head studs.
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Old Feb 24, 2009 | 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by 1320
I agree and disagree. The piston is weak when detonated which is in part a function of static com ratio. The lower the scr the less likely to detonate which effects the life span of the pistons, head gaskets etc.

I have a 5.3 with a zo6 cam, 317's, mls head gaskets and head studs.
tuned right you dont have to worry about the piston. That turbo will never make enough power to break the piston....detonation dont matter how good your parts are, dont let it detonate.
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Old Feb 24, 2009 | 02:22 PM
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I missed the part, that the turbo was specified? I even went back and looked.

I agree, dont let it detonate, but life happens, and reality is that people make mistakes and things change. If it never detonates, you can take your knock sensors out, or atleast 0 the knock retard in programming. Is your knock retard zero? Probably not.
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Old Feb 27, 2009 | 09:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 1320
I missed the part, that the turbo was specified? I even went back and looked.
hmm.. maybe I was reading another post and had T70 on my mind. Not sure where I came up with that....lol.
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Old Feb 28, 2009 | 02:19 AM
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Originally Posted by pwrtrip75
hmm.. maybe I was reading another post and had T70 on my mind. Not sure where I came up with that....lol.
oh i see what you were saying. just disregard my this post haha.
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Old Feb 28, 2009 | 11:11 AM
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Thanks guys for the info!

Originally Posted by pwrtrip75
hmm.. maybe I was reading another post and had T70 on my mind. Not sure where I came up with that....lol.
Funny you were thinking that turbo as I am going to be running the MP 70 turbo with the 96ar
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 09:36 PM
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Hey guys, Well I changed things up a little bit, I bought a 220/220 581/581 114 lsa cam for it, Should I throw the ported 241 heads on now since i have this cam or should I still leave it sealed up and just replace the springs and rod bolts? I wanna make over 500whp on pump gas without the use of meth, Im guessing the lower compression with the 241 heads would allow that? or no?

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Old Apr 21, 2009 | 01:29 PM
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anyone please?
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Old Apr 21, 2009 | 01:53 PM
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You can make 500whp w/o meth and pump with careful tuning on the stock heads.
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