Lsfox90

I'm 19 years old building my childhood dream car. I have a foxbody coupe, with a 5.3 ls. Has a texas speed cam. I'm wanting to replace the th350 with a powerglide, going through the motor this winter. Wanting to push around 450-500 hp when done. thinking about 4.8 pistons, and to some work on the heads. car currently has 3.50 rear gear, 9 inch slicks, and fastest to date is 11.91 killing 7 miles per hour. bracket racer at local track. Kansas International Dragway. Any tips to help out the build is much appreciated. Thanks

DavidBoren

If you are seriously trying to get 400 naturally aspirated horsepower to the wheels from a 5.3, I would advise you to spend some coin to have your heads done right. Like the Tony Mamo "mamo-fied" sorts of done right. Or go with an aftermarket casting, like afr or tfs.

And nothing against Texas Speed, but I would get a custom grind cam, as well.

Compression is your friend, so the flat top pistons are a good idea.

What intake and exhaust are you using?

I'm assuming short belt set up, no a/c or power steering pump, am I correct?

Lsfox90

The Texas speed cam came with it. Plan on doing head work, gonna go through the internals see what is actually in it.

I bought it thinking it was a 5.3 with a victor junior 950, and it having a th400. But that is not the case, It is not a 950, nor is it a th400. I kinda got screwed out on that deal.

I bough the car with intentions of turbo build in like 5 years after college. But for reasons that is no longer an option. So i was wanting to build a solid bracket car that will end up somewhere with 400-450 hp. Not looking to kill the bank, but i know it won't be cheap.

DavidBoren

Power can still be made on a budget.

West coast cylinder head stage two heads are $1100 if you send in your heads as cores. And they flow close to 300cfm, which is hard to beat for that price, especially with brand new 1.95/1.575 stainless valves and good springs.

Flat top pistons can be picked up for a song and dance, if you look around, you can probably find some good genIV rods to go with it.

What do you have against using the th350? Lots of races have been won with those, and if you're on a budget, why not just go through the transmission you have and fix it how you want it?

What are the specs for that tsp cam? If you can't identify it and confirm the specs with Texas Speed directly, have it cam doctor'ed... You are going to want to know that information.

Lsfox90

Nothing against the th350, just was told it was a 400. And reason for changing is my dad has a shell and most of the parts and a guy will put it together in trade for a set of big block heads my dad has. We don't have a big block anymore just small blocks.

Can only thing in know is 600 lift. Well that's what I was told.

I have longtube headers woth 3in full exhaust

I have a buddy that owns a machine shop, and I can come in after hours and work on my engine for cost of parts. So I do!t have to pay machine labor cost. So I will get heads surfaced, get it flowed, maybe change valves and springs.

Bowtiedford

iTrader: (9)

those cars are light you can run pretty good even with stock heads, I had a 5.7 with the so called junk heads (241) castings, LS1 intake, stock t body, old texas speed 225 grind, very streetable cam. 3200 yank converter and 3:73's and ran 11:40's all day and then hit the a/c going home. No lightning at all. It can be done. good luck.

booboo37

iTrader: (43)

I would sell the 5.3 and find a 6.0 or 6.2 motor.....all ya need is a cam shaft and a set of rectangle port heads.......With a few tricks you can go high 9's in the 1/4 on motor............with a 4.8 or 5.3 you need a power adder to have fun....

My rectangle port truck heads (823) have a 2.185 intake valve and cnc'd....there flowing 401@700.. .but thats with a 4.070 bore.. 6.2 +.005 pistons..

Lsfox90

This car has been 10.00 and 9.96 on spray. But I'm not for sure if it was this exact set up. My biggest issue right now is money. I kinda want to make a solid bracket car since I race at my local track. I don't have money to pour into heads up like I would like to do. My dream all along was turbo'd 5.3, but funds won't allow that. So I might as well just make it consistent.

Bowtiedford

iTrader: (9)

what are your 60' lot of time can be made on improving your 60'. Fine tuning what you have can slowly get you gains in the et. I've seen so many guys have 600 and above hp and still cant get down the track.

Lsfox90

60 foot times are usually 1.7 but I do have a 4.10 gear that I will be putting in next year.