mpatton

Hey everyone I have been lurking here for quite a while. Im trying to decide on a shortblock. It will be going in a 01 SS. Ill be ordering through Texas speed, gunna be using an lq9 for either a 370for or 408. Turbo will be pt88, I still haven't decided on heads either. I have 243s already...should i use them or not? Also ill be running e85, looking for low 10s easily and room to grow. Any help would be appreciated. Suggestions etc. Will be 75% street driven and its not a dd just a toy.

87silverbullet

iTrader: (11)

Go with a 370 with the 88. Those stock 243's will get there easily to run 10's. You don't even need a built motor to run 10's, the stock lq4/9 will get you there.

mpatton

I know it will be more than enough for what im wanting. But like the room to grow say next year or whatever... also using the 243s what should I do as far as pistons to drop compression down a hair? Or since I use e85 will it be ok with high compression?

Ryans99ls1

iTrader: (16)

Talk to whoever is building the engine to decide on pistons.. Just decide on a compression ratio, 9.5:1~10.0:1 is generally good on a street car.

PRAY HRD

iTrader: (119)

10 or 11:1 would be great for E85 so no need to swap heads. but i would suggest a T6 turbo like the s400 or even s475 on either of those motors but i would suggest doing the 370. also, 9's wont even be an issue with this setup let alone low 10's. you can run that on motor alone without it even being a race setup! lol

mpatton

That's what I like to hear^^^ haha. I've been planning this for quite some time and now have the ok from the ol lady to buy a short block and get the thing going.

mpatton

I was under the impression that I can get the PT88 in a t4 or t6....is that wrong?

PRAY HRD

iTrader: (119)

i haven't seen a T6 but that doesn't mean they don't exist. either way, there's definitely better options out there imo. it's an older style turbo but it obviously still works.

mpatton

Any suggestions for a different turbo then? The reason I like the 88 is the power it makes and also with a high compression on e85 I don't think the slower spool will bother me. Also the place ill be buying the turbo has great deals on precision products and are local. So any other precision turbo y'all would recommend?

PRAY HRD

iTrader: (119)

like i said, either of the 2 BW turbos i mentioned and i don't see you having a lag issue with a 370 and an 88mm from all my research. next year i'm looking at having a shortblock specifically built for boost vs my 402 that was over 11:1cr n/a that i'll be running a turbo with after dropping the CR. my plans are for a 370 or perhaps even a 5.3, depending on the budget. the BW turbos are a very budget friendly turbo but you can also look at a gt47-88 like mine but they're pricey. i got mine next to new for a great price or i would've looked into a BW.

MUSTANGBRKR02

iTrader: (91)

There are alot of turbo options for those setups much better suited. I am going to a S480 on my 370

mpatton

Ill start looking around at more turbos then. Thanks for the heads up. I also was considering a 5.3 and decided against it. I have one local to me for 700 oil pan to intake. I decided on a built 370 anyway

PRAY HRD

iTrader: (119)

yea i was looking at the built 5.3 from AES for $2800 with the upgraded to callies rods. AES is also a sponsor on here and builds some superb motors!

mpatton

I honestly did not aes or any sponsors were selling built 5.3s now. That's pretty cool. Ill actually look at that now. AES has a pretty good wait though on most of their motors they build. Would one of the turbos listed be to big for a 5.3? Like the s400 or s475 or the pt88??? Im still open to more suggestions for the fact I haven't spent money yet. My cars been down for the whole winter while I do a full tuck on both sides of the engine bay, so im in no hurry lol

mpatton

Also I already have radiator pusher fans intercooler comedies etc all im need of is motor /turbo so im open to alot of suggestions to be honest

PRAY HRD

iTrader: (119)

Yea they've been selling those 5.3's for a long time and i just called on 1 week before last and they said only 2 weeks for the turn around time so not long at all actually. and any 1 of those turbos would work on that motor but obviously bring in the power differently for each, depending on what you wanna do with the car. the 475 will take a little longer to come on but it will charge up top really hard! the 400 i think would be great but even the pt88 would make big power on that size motor. any of them should be enough to produce an 8 sec slip imo if the rest of your setup can handle it.

i'm surprised those with far more knowledge than myself haven't chimed in on this at all. maybe they're getting tired of the same topic all the time? lol hey, we're all here to learn and go faster and get the right parts the first time so it'll never get to me!

mpatton

Hey yeah thanks for the response and info. The 370 vs 408 is old news but I still asked. The 5.3 is very popular now and I can get one very cheap so any help or info on the 5.3 is appreciated. Ill prolly start a build thread some time soon on a 5.3. I usually never post just lurk and research then buy but it never hurts to ask. Thanks.