400+hp out of a 5.3 is it possible???
09-02-2010, 10:47 PM
#1
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400+hp out of a 5.3 is it possible??? Hey whats up folks! well here is my first thread and my first ls conversion....
so i wanted to get some opinions on what route to go in my build.
what i had in mind is a 5.3 and trying to get at least400hp or so on a budget build, so my first question is "is it possible?"....
second my build is going to be carbed? i figure it would be easier than having to sump the tank and running fuel lines and such.....
so anybody got 400hp out of a 5.3? i need all the info i can get to strat my build.not looking to tear the engine down all the way maybe cam,heads worked on ect...whats the easiest and cheapest way to go cant wait to get pics of my 80 malibu 2 door waiting to be resurected .....thanks folks all the feedback greatly apreciated........
so i wanted to get some opinions on what route to go in my build.
what i had in mind is a 5.3 and trying to get at least400hp or so on a budget build, so my first question is "is it possible?"....
second my build is going to be carbed? i figure it would be easier than having to sump the tank and running fuel lines and such.....
so anybody got 400hp out of a 5.3? i need all the info i can get to strat my build.not looking to tear the engine down all the way maybe cam,heads worked on ect...whats the easiest and cheapest way to go cant wait to get pics of my 80 malibu 2 door waiting to be resurected .....thanks folks all the feedback greatly apreciated........
09-03-2010, 08:43 AM
#4
It might be worth the extra few bucks to find a 6.0L instead of ta 5.3L. Yea, you're going to pay a little more up front, but you'll be able to run the L92 heads which are cheap compared to the aftermarket heads you'll probably need to get over 400hp. The L92 heads only work on a 4.0"+ bore, so they will not work on the 5.3L.
With the 6.0L bore, the L92 heads and a decent (not crazy) cam will give you 400hp with no problem.
BTW, the L92 heads are GM's GenIV heads that come on many of their late model trucks. Since they are mass produced by GM, the price is low. They are readily available used and are very very similar to the LS3 heads found on the new Camaros, Corvettes, etc. The performance of these castings (without any expensive CNC work or porting) versus other stock castings is unmatched. You will probably have to install a newer style intake manifold, but the are also readily available used and pretty inexpensive.
If I had to do it over again, I would build a 6.0L block so I could use these heads.
With the 6.0L bore, the L92 heads and a decent (not crazy) cam will give you 400hp with no problem.
BTW, the L92 heads are GM's GenIV heads that come on many of their late model trucks. Since they are mass produced by GM, the price is low. They are readily available used and are very very similar to the LS3 heads found on the new Camaros, Corvettes, etc. The performance of these castings (without any expensive CNC work or porting) versus other stock castings is unmatched. You will probably have to install a newer style intake manifold, but the are also readily available used and pretty inexpensive.
If I had to do it over again, I would build a 6.0L block so I could use these heads.
09-03-2010, 08:58 AM
#5
A simple cam, spring and rod bolt upgrade will get you 400HP no problem.
I just got done running a 5.3L with a 212/212 560 lift cam on the engine dyno and it made 385hp 375ft-lbs.
It has an LS1 intake, and stock truck front dress. The truck manifold would make about the same power, just more torque.
We have fuel injection kits all put together so we can be your one stop shop. We are running a special right now for our stand alone harness kits.
They come with the stand alone harness, base re-flashed PCM, fuel lines, filter, and fuel pump for $699.99!!!
Give me a call when you are ready.
I just got done running a 5.3L with a 212/212 560 lift cam on the engine dyno and it made 385hp 375ft-lbs.
It has an LS1 intake, and stock truck front dress. The truck manifold would make about the same power, just more torque.
We have fuel injection kits all put together so we can be your one stop shop. We are running a special right now for our stand alone harness kits.
They come with the stand alone harness, base re-flashed PCM, fuel lines, filter, and fuel pump for $699.99!!!
Give me a call when you are ready.
09-03-2010, 10:54 AM
#6
This is probably a little more cam than youd want, but still heres a good article on a carb'd 5.3 build
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...ine/index.html
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...ine/index.html
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09-03-2010, 12:55 PM
#8
A simple cam, spring and rod bolt upgrade will get you 400HP no problem.
I just got done running a 5.3L with a 212/212 560 lift cam on the engine dyno and it made 385hp 375ft-lbs.
It has an LS1 intake, and stock truck front dress. The truck manifold would make about the same power, just more torque.
We have fuel injection kits all put together so we can be your one stop shop. We are running a special right now for our stand alone harness kits.
They come with the stand alone harness, base re-flashed PCM, fuel lines, filter, and fuel pump for $699.99!!!
Give me a call when you are ready.
I just got done running a 5.3L with a 212/212 560 lift cam on the engine dyno and it made 385hp 375ft-lbs.
It has an LS1 intake, and stock truck front dress. The truck manifold would make about the same power, just more torque.
We have fuel injection kits all put together so we can be your one stop shop. We are running a special right now for our stand alone harness kits.
They come with the stand alone harness, base re-flashed PCM, fuel lines, filter, and fuel pump for $699.99!!!
Give me a call when you are ready.
And I agree with what has been said, you can do it with a 5.3l all depends on what you want to do, and how much you want to spend. With the 6.0 the less agressive the cam will need to be to make the same power.
09-03-2010, 01:03 PM
#9
not trying to steal thread but just wondering what type of fuel lines and fuel pump this comes with?
And I agree with what has been said, you can do it with a 5.3l all depends on what you want to do, and how much you want to spend. With the 6.0 the less agressive the cam will need to be to make the same power.
And I agree with what has been said, you can do it with a 5.3l all depends on what you want to do, and how much you want to spend. With the 6.0 the less agressive the cam will need to be to make the same power.
The fuel line is 3/8" pushloc braided line.
09-03-2010, 06:41 PM
#10
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400 hp should be no issue. I mean stock they are over 300 with no exhaust or real intake work and the stock tune and cam.
I am doing one into an Elky, where are you at in the bay?? I'm near TAFB.
I am doing one into an Elky, where are you at in the bay?? I'm near TAFB.
09-04-2010, 12:41 PM
#11
my stock shortblock 5.3 with stock shaved .030 243 heads with a .040 head gasket, 224/228 .581/.588 112lsa cam and a unported fast 90 made 352/345 through an unlocked auto and a 8.8. so im sure u can get it.
Last edited by 1nasty86; 09-04-2010 at 12:50 PM.
09-04-2010, 02:14 PM
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im fom oak wat year elky? got a buudy doing a cutlass g-body also should be fun next summer im working on my engine bay now.....got any good leads on where to find a motor at a good price your way???
09-06-2010, 12:24 AM
#14
wow for the lm7 hello g-buddies. just to clarify something, if 400hp is what ur looking for, in my opinion, 5.3 runs great stock. i swapped a stock 5.3\4l60e into a '87 c10. i went to the track and ran against my bud's '84 c10 with a 6.0/4l60e. he runs a posi with 3.42 gears. i run 3.73 posi. basically we have identical trucks. imho with a good custom camshaft, good exhaust(3 inch duals with x pipe) long tube headers, good custom tune, you will def. be impressed. i am. i cant give u accurate hp numbers, but you will be close to 400hp at the crank. good luck and keep wrenchin'. also my bud, who's a better driver, was scary with my truck. yes i know. we raced in each others truck (he was top dog. he beat me with my own truck) but i feel that im a camshaft and a tune away from kickin' his ***. he runs a 6.0/lq9. honestly im not impressed with the 6.0's. i've driven (2) c10's with 6.0L and im not impressed with neither. maybe they needed tunes. just my (2) cents.
09-06-2010, 06:45 PM
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hello g-buddies. just to clarify something, if 400hp is what ur looking for, in my opinion, 5.3 runs great stock. i swapped a stock 5.3\4l60e into a '87 c10. i went to the track and ran against my bud's '84 c10 with a 6.0/4l60e. he runs a posi with 3.42 gears. i run 3.73 posi. basically we have identical trucks. imho with a good custom camshaft, good exhaust(3 inch duals with x pipe) long tube headers, good custom tune, you will def. be impressed. i am. i cant give u accurate hp numbers, but you will be close to 400hp at the crank. good luck and keep wrenchin'. also my bud, who's a better driver, was scary with my truck. yes i know. we raced in each others truck (he was top dog. he beat me with my own truck) but i feel that im a camshaft and a tune away from kickin' his ***. he runs a 6.0/lq9. honestly im not impressed with the 6.0's. i've driven (2) c10's with 6.0L and im not impressed with neither. maybe they needed tunes. just my (2) cents.
09-06-2010, 07:09 PM
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hello g-buddies. just to clarify something, if 400hp is what ur looking for, in my opinion, 5.3 runs great stock. i swapped a stock 5.3\4l60e into a '87 c10. i went to the track and ran against my bud's '84 c10 with a 6.0/4l60e. he runs a posi with 3.42 gears. i run 3.73 posi. basically we have identical trucks. imho with a good custom camshaft, good exhaust(3 inch duals with x pipe) long tube headers, good custom tune, you will def. be impressed. i am. i cant give u accurate hp numbers, but you will be close to 400hp at the crank. good luck and keep wrenchin'. also my bud, who's a better driver, was scary with my truck. yes i know. we raced in each others truck (he was top dog. he beat me with my own truck) but i feel that im a camshaft and a tune away from kickin' his ***. he runs a 6.0/lq9. honestly im not impressed with the 6.0's. i've driven (2) c10's with 6.0L and im not impressed with neither. maybe they needed tunes. just my (2) cents.
09-06-2010, 07:24 PM
#18
5.3 or bust g-buddies waz up? the mother thumpr will get u close to ur 400hp, with a nice lope(carcraft). when you change the cam, you will def. need a good tune for ur pcm. a few things to think about when changing the cam, (1)head bolts and crankshaft pulley bolt cant be reused. they must be replaced. (2) camshaft may require stall converter. (3) gears for rear end may be needed. good luck and post lots of pics.
09-06-2010, 07:45 PM
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I am excited about the 5.3's as well, I just struck a deal to pick up a 5.3 complete motor. I think to get 400hp out of the stock short block, you will need to go to the higher end of the cam spectrum like 230+ duration .580 lift, with new valve springs, ported heads like was mentioned and try the nice Victor Jr. intake kit with the msd ignition box, $670 on summitracing.com http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-2908/
Here is a vid off some guys testing the GMPP LS327 with a mild performance cam, which makes about 340hp on engine dyno, so I think you have to go more radical with cam and heads to reach 400hp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5UaTQuFzk8
Here is a vid off some guys testing the GMPP LS327 with a mild performance cam, which makes about 340hp on engine dyno, so I think you have to go more radical with cam and heads to reach 400hp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5UaTQuFzk8
09-06-2010, 09:50 PM
#20
Ok here is another recipe for over 400 horse a mag did on sort of a budget. Use the pistons from a 4.8 to help boost compression, as they have are a flat top versus a 5.3 with dished pistons, some Trick Flow heads for a 4.8/5.3 as they outflow the stockers and have good port speed, and for most torque in the driving range go with a 220 degree ish cam. Going with the higher compression psitons will help keep that throttle snap of a bigger cam, but 5.3 can only use so much cam before it is just a narrow rpm window motor and is a dog down low. I think a 229 is the biggest they recommend. But if your still looking buidget and gonna swap pistons, you may as well over bore the motor to a 99 mm bore from stock, basically a .125 overbore. Pistons for the 350 ls1s are pretty cheap. and gives you even more options for after market heads and something like a Ms4 cam you can even beat the 400 and go for 500 horse then.
