my 87' T Turbo LS swap...
10-27-2013, 12:14 PM
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my 87' T Turbo LS swap... Never done a build thread before, hope I entertain!
after 10 years of letting my 45k original mile T sit because I hate hate hate the turbo 6 it came with but leery of doing anything about it...I have decided to pull the trigger and put in a 6.0/4L80 with a twin turbo's between the frame rails and drive it.
The goal is to utilize as many of the parts I already own from other projects to get this thing running and tweak it from there. 700-800whp will be the whp target this trip around. Ultimate goals of 1200whp in the future.
To get running I have:
2 S300SX 61mm turbo's.
aluminum 5.3 that will be apart of a build up on EngineLabs.com.
Heads are being contemplated. a set of stock 5.3's 862's or 243's full port. They will have Ferrea valves and Brian Tooley springs either way...just can't make up the mind on that. I port heads for a living, so this is where the problem arises with to many options!lol
Cam...maybe a LS6 I have sitting or do a custom Kelford cam
Engine managment will be Holley or Haltech.
Suspension will be a mix from METCO, TRZ, and Spohn. Coil-overs are in store.
after 10 years of letting my 45k original mile T sit because I hate hate hate the turbo 6 it came with but leery of doing anything about it...I have decided to pull the trigger and put in a 6.0/4L80 with a twin turbo's between the frame rails and drive it.
The goal is to utilize as many of the parts I already own from other projects to get this thing running and tweak it from there. 700-800whp will be the whp target this trip around. Ultimate goals of 1200whp in the future.
To get running I have:
2 S300SX 61mm turbo's.
aluminum 5.3 that will be apart of a build up on EngineLabs.com.
Heads are being contemplated. a set of stock 5.3's 862's or 243's full port. They will have Ferrea valves and Brian Tooley springs either way...just can't make up the mind on that. I port heads for a living, so this is where the problem arises with to many options!lol
Cam...maybe a LS6 I have sitting or do a custom Kelford cam
Engine managment will be Holley or Haltech.
Suspension will be a mix from METCO, TRZ, and Spohn. Coil-overs are in store.
Last edited by HeadGames Dave; 11-25-2015 at 08:31 AM.
10-27-2013, 12:19 PM
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It has been sitting in a building, but not climate controlled since around 98'. It was driven for 250mi during 04' but a blew up the little 6 and has sat since. The bumper fillers where falling out of it, so it was off to the body shop to get them replaced.
While there, we did some trimming on the outer lip for a 275/60/15 Mickey Thompson.
and did some test fitting on a 3 piece Belak Industries wheel we are getting made. Going to do a black outer lip and satin center when they are done. 15x10 and 15x4
Last edited by HeadGames Dave; 11-09-2013 at 03:15 PM.
11-09-2013, 02:37 PM
#5
I came from the Buick turbo V6 world as well. I had a Rosewood colored TType and a couple Buick GN powered RX-7's.
Great little engine for its time.... but the LS trounces it in every regard. You are going to be very very happy with the results.
Do some research; however those turbo choices are on the small side for a 6.0 liter motor. Look at the turbine wheel size especially.
CCW's on a Buick Regal. Love the beginning of this build.
You can run stock style rocker arms (rebuild the trunion bearings in them) with TFS heads. Make sure you have the correct guides in them to do so. They are light and very durable.
Great little engine for its time.... but the LS trounces it in every regard. You are going to be very very happy with the results.
Do some research; however those turbo choices are on the small side for a 6.0 liter motor. Look at the turbine wheel size especially.
CCW's on a Buick Regal. Love the beginning of this build.
You can run stock style rocker arms (rebuild the trunion bearings in them) with TFS heads. Make sure you have the correct guides in them to do so. They are light and very durable.
11-09-2013, 03:14 PM
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Thanks man! Yeah, I have a bunch of good parts for the Buick. But, I am just done with that part of my life. LS is the only way. I only need to get the car running with that turbo. Doing alot with the business right now to take money away. I have that turbo from my Supra. It should be happy at 700whp but not much more.
Doing the comp trunnion kit. I am going to keep the bronze guides in it, keeping the attributes of a bronze guide like heat distribution and lubricity make me not wanna switch. I can replace the guides when they wear out. Unless it's really bad and doing it on a 1000 mi basis. lol
The wheels are from Belak Industries. btw
Doing the comp trunnion kit. I am going to keep the bronze guides in it, keeping the attributes of a bronze guide like heat distribution and lubricity make me not wanna switch. I can replace the guides when they wear out. Unless it's really bad and doing it on a 1000 mi basis. lol
The wheels are from Belak Industries. btw
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ya, that is pretty crazy. When I did fleet mechanic work the farm trucks wouldn't even be that bad.
11-25-2013, 02:29 PM
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Making some head way at the body shop... Gary Betsy Autobody/GB Performance Restorations is making a new frame for the fenders, inner fender wells, and a radiator support for me.
11-27-2013, 09:25 AM
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I swear that I recognize this car. I almost stopped to see if it was for sale when it was parked on a trailer at a house that was on or near the corner of a major road. Are you from the Trenton/Hamilton area of NJ?
11-27-2013, 09:32 AM
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The powermaster was not a hydroboost, it was a different setup that I believe used a vacuum pump or something like that. They are failure prone and not cheap to replace. Most people are of the same feeling that GM should have just left the hydroboost in the cars like the 84/85 since they work well.
