73turbo53

Just posting the build I am doing on my 1973 Camaro Z28. It was a sbc 400 with edelbrock heads, roller valvetrain, and Accel EFI. The car was a pretty consistent high 11 car and 60' low 1.6's. I broke the cam in the motor last year after making around 350 passes and putting 8,000 street miles on it over the years. I decided to go the LS route after that after seeing the success my friend silver_82 (Chris) had with his jy 5.3 turbo build last year. So I bought up a 2006 lm7 5.3 with 109 on the odometer and ordered a S475 w/1.32 ar. The only thing I am doing to the 5.3 is the typical ARP head studs, LS9 head gaskets, TSP pushrods, PRC valve springs, and a stage 2 cam from Tick Performance (thanks for the hook up Martin) I sold the Accel EFI in favor of Holley's HP setup. I am sticking with my th400 and 8.5 10 bolt. I welded the tubes on the 10 bolt and added Strange 33 spline axles, spool, 3.08 gear and c-clip eliminators. My goal is to run high nines with the car this summer. I do also want to start by thanking Chris for all his help. This is my first experience with turbo stuff and he has been a great technical source along with a great fabricator/welder.



This is pretty much how the car sits with factory wheels and full weight other than the cowl hood.



This is the inital test fit of the motor using the car shop mounts.



I decided to put the turbo on the passenger side and am using the truck manifolds flipped down and forward






Using a cheap FMIC from ebay. I dont know how well it is going to work but for $70 i will give it a try





I am using 2" SS on the hotside to help this thing spool a little faster





Next stop for the hotside is Chris's to get tig welded.

Next step is to pull the motor to add the cam, stud, other valve train, and paint. Hopefully should happen in the next few weeks if it ever warms up

88Fbody6L

iTrader: (5)

Looking good Adam! The car always ran great with the sbc. Can't wait to go for a spin with the new setup!

Jax326

Its interesting you got the manifolds to fit facing forward and down. Every answer i got was they dont work that way and would rub the suspension. Nice to see pics proving it works. How much room would you say you have and do you think having them v-banded helped?

73turbo53

The drivers side fit easy with no modification, but I did have to graph a piece of sch 10 SS on to the passenger side so that the exhaust exit wouldn't hit the cross member. I could of notched the frame to get the clearance but liked this route better.

98Camarod

iTrader: (43)

Looks good man! What fuel do you plan on running and do you plan on using meth?

Blackpanther99

iTrader: (8)

He should run E85 to get the most HP he can get, and run meth for detonation prevention.

73turbo53

Yeah E85 for sure you can't beat all the benefits you get from it and i am lucky enough to have it around so supply is not a problem. I ran it on my small block all last year and was extremely happy with it. I am planning on using the Holley Dominator twin 1800 pump and 80 lb injectors to feed everything.

Bigrob339

iTrader: (9)

Looking good! Can't wait to line them up!

73turbo53

Thanks Rob, when do u plan on being finished with yours. Chris and I are planning on renting muncie in may and september if we can get a good car count

typhoon1015

iTrader: (5)

looks good, i like the 2 inch hotside. how are you planning the wastegate?

what alt/power steering set up are you doing on it?

SSZ

Nice car. Is the turbo gonna clear the hood? On my 80 Z28 is does not and the turbo looks to be in the same spot. Mine is not done yet but i have had the hotside together and yeah the area of the hood that goes down between the grill and right headlight is where my problem is.
For Jax, on my car the manifolds would hit the suspension. I am pretty sure the suspension is setup different between a 73 and an 80. Up front suspension that is.

Bigrob339

iTrader: (9)

May not be till October or next year this time! Doing it as money comes in you know!

73turbo53

I have been back and fourth on the wastegates. Was going to do a pair of 38s but now I am planning on going with a single 60 mm.

I am not running power steering and am just going to make a mount for a one wire alt.

73turbo53

Thanks

It is close but clears. It actually sits just under the brace that goes from the fender to the core support. How are u going to run your cold side

olespanky

Man I'm glad you posted this I am doing the same thing in a 71 and was trying to find someone who had ran downward truck manifolds because I am using a vette acc. Bracket. Did you do anymore modifing to the driver side? And how much room do you have on the driver side for a down pipe?
Also if you have any more pics of the manifolds or hotside could you post thelm or pm me?

olespanky

Also what are you going to do about a lower radiator hose

73turbo53

That would be great if you got it done by Oct then you could hit up the
Lsx shootout. Yeah its definately not cheap to build them from the ground up. The only way i can afford to do this is the budget route with jy motors and basic turbos. I was able to sell off all my sbc stuff to help fund most the build.

73turbo53

I will post some more pics of the hotside later this week, i have everything apart so silver_82 can tig it all up for me. I didnt have to do anymore modifying to the driver side manifold other than just cutting off the stock 3 bolt flange and welding on a v band. Are you planning on running twins or just a single

olespanky

Single pt88 I havnt dropped the motor in the car yet.
So don't know what I'm looking at I am running dirty dingo mounts and until now I havnt found a single pesron running truck manifolds

Bigrob339

iTrader: (9)

Any kind of cage in the car?