Decided on the 5.3!!!! have a few questions though and i want to keep this as budget as possible!
1)Should i get 317 heads or just use my 241's
2)Should i get an ls6 cam or reuse my 227/231 614 617 112+2
3) Do i really need ARP Head/Rod bolts?
4) How much boost should i be looking to run with my FMIC no meth?
If i reuse everything off the ls1 i could do the 5.3L for $600!
Thanks!
Blaine
1. 317's will get you 8.6:1 compression. 15psi safe all day w/ no meth. Not sure what the 241's will be, but more compression i dont know if you could run as much boost safely w/o meth. Not sure.
2. Id sell it and get an LS6 cam
3. I dont have any of that stuff mines held up.
4. I run 15psi and no probs. Havnt tried more. except the 50 shot of spray occasionally....ok quite often.
__________________ 99 Transam - 5.3L w/ GT45 -10.76 @ 128 w/ 1.83 60ft and broke something.
99 Vette FRC - stock
72 Nova -New twin setup in the works. (former turbo 5.3)
That's a hell of a setup you've got there pwrtrip. I'm doing a conversion into a 67 bird with a TH400 and 9" set up for drag and got a 5.3 with low miles complete for $500 with harness and everything. I have all the parts to build a 408 but didn't want to torch that poor motor since it cost so much to build (JE pistons, lunati billet rods, etc) so I picked up the 5.3 to hot rod around. I'm gonna keep this sucker as stock as possible because I already have the "race" motor setup but if I can get away with the 5.3 while working the bugs out of the car that's what I'm going to do and save the 408 for when I want to get dangerous with the twin T70's.
I have a stock set of 317's I pulled off the block I'm using for my 408 so I'm debating putting those on, but not sure on the cam since I have my comp cam for the 408. Worth going to a z06 cam honestly? I ALMOST got one for my ls1 when I had my TA (rear mount mp T70 @ 8psi). I have a big intercooler with 3" in/out (31x12x4") I'll be using, would rather not spray meth but 15psi would be hilarious, even if it did grenade it'd still be worth the $500 invested, lol. Great build, will subscribe to this one!
__________________ Cen-Cal Racing
67 Firebird - S480 @ 19psi, 408, Custom Comp Turbo Cam, 9" w/3.89's, 3800 stall, TH400 on the way!
06 LBZ Duramax (360hp/650lbs-tq) 2500HD ECSB 4wd Pro Comp 6" Lift, Pro Comp 16" Xtreme Wheels + 35" Tires, PPE STD @ LVL 4 (225hp/335lbs increase), Transgo Jr. !EGR/!Resonator/!CAT 4" Mandrel Exhaust w/Coffin
Hmmm....so for FI the LM7 is a better choice than the LS1? I have access to a LM7 for under $500, can they (the block) take up to 20 PSI? How fast the they spin (i've heard 8-8.5k) ? what about the bottom end? do i need to forge her out?
__________________ Information Technology Super Sport
2002 Black Z28 T-Top *bone stock* Bolt-Ons now
FI later
Same stroke as ls1 so I wouldn't spin them to 8,500. The block is better for boost since it's iron, obviously weighs more, but can be bored to ls1 specs. The LM7 looks to be a promising, budget builder! 6.0 heads to knock the comp down, a different cam and a decent turbo and you're hauling!
__________________ Cen-Cal Racing
67 Firebird - S480 @ 19psi, 408, Custom Comp Turbo Cam, 9" w/3.89's, 3800 stall, TH400 on the way!
06 LBZ Duramax (360hp/650lbs-tq) 2500HD ECSB 4wd Pro Comp 6" Lift, Pro Comp 16" Xtreme Wheels + 35" Tires, PPE STD @ LVL 4 (225hp/335lbs increase), Transgo Jr. !EGR/!Resonator/!CAT 4" Mandrel Exhaust w/Coffin
Synergy's shop truck is a 5.3 and it makes over 800 to the ground.
stock bottom.
__________________ Heath
98 Formula
Old Powerdyne Setup 433rwhp 432rwtq
Half-Assed Racing Custom ATI kit - Gone! Never Dyno'd
Half-Assed Racing Modified STS 430rwhp 450rwtq at 4800rpm (valve springs are shot, more to come once replaced)
Anyone know what the more "desirable" year model of the lm7 is the best one to work with? I thought I read somewhere the 03+ models had some upgraded internals, dont know if there is any truth to that
I just snatched up a 5.3 pullout from katech for 400 bucks!
Im gonna toss it in my notchback with some 317 heads and see what itll do with a turbo, prob gonna do rod bolts though just to be safe. My plan is to see how much fuel economy i can squeeze out of it as well as power, I wanna run E85 too. Should be a pretty fun lil toy to mess with for this winter and next year. Then just build myself a mean LSX block on the side and take my time with it. Downtime sucks!!!
__________________ 1973 Lincoln Continental Coupe - Built 460ci BBF & Spray...HOT Rod Lincoln
1992 Mustang Notchback - LS1, TH350
The turbo van is a 2004 5.3. According to the weight and mph its averaging around 570 whp for the pass. Probably peaks a little higher. Tried to dyno it but its too big. It has 317 heads, arp studs, z06 cam, 72 mm turbo on a 10 psi spring. It actually makes 14 psi on meth (50-50_)
for a true budget build, it makes sense to leave the stock cam in place.
thr stock cam was designed to power heavy vehicles that move/pull weight.
i have a 4.8 that i would like to use to pump some serious psi. 20+ if possible thru stock bottom end and oe heads.
i would like to keep the bottom as oe as possible, even the rod bolts.
the motor i have is a low miles, like new 08 version with the better, rods and bolts,pistons and rings 58x.
Well i put down 528HP and 491TQ on 14psi, 11.5afr, 22*
BUT the darn car pulls HARD to 5500-5600 then drops to NOTHING! It woud put down ALOT better numbers if it would pull past 5500rpm....
Also on the dyno graph the tq and hp stay almost the same instead of the tq slowly dropping when they cross.... kind of crazy! Never seen a dyno graph like this..... not sure what is wrong.
Springs are good, plugs are tr8's, no KR, not sure what the problem is!!!!!!
The real question is what trans and rear gear. The 528 number sounds about right. It should make 300 na so 14 psi should be just under 600 depending on turbo, intercooler, temp, etc.
The real questionis why the drop? What injectors? pump? fp? Is pressure dropping?
So far the turbo van with a z06 cam lseems to like being shifted at about 5800. A lot lower then I thought.
this gives me great hope for my 5.3. what ab fuel? or it blowing your spark out? ive seen spark blown out at upper rpms on 4bangers and it fall on its face like that.
The real question is what trans and rear gear. The 528 number sounds about right. It should make 300 na so 14 psi should be just under 600 depending on turbo, intercooler, temp, etc.
The real questionis why the drop? What injectors? pump? fp? Is pressure dropping?
So far the turbo van with a z06 cam lseems to like being shifted at about 5800. A lot lower then I thought.
stock 4l60E, vig 3600, 9" 3.70
60lb injectors, walbro pump single right now but i have a second one to install this weekend, havent monitored FP on a run but the afr seems to hold steady and not go lean or anything....
