Redlin3z

iTrader: (1)

hello,

I have a bone stock L33 that I am swapping into a 2003 nissan 350z. However I want to squeeze some more power out of this engine and would like to see numbers in the neighborhood of 450 - 500rhwp. So to those of you who have actually built a 5.3 engine. What is the best way to go with the engine? can I make those numbers on an NA 5.3 with stock rotating assembly? or am I better off to just build it for forced induction?

The car will be used mostly on the street, but I do compete in a handful of road racing and drag racing events throughout the year as well.

Thank you.

cobalt964

go to carcraft.com and read on the 5.3 cam only swap dyno article. it was on a bone stock 5.3 not the l33 so the numbers will be a little higher for the l33. run a ls2 cam and springs, mill the heads .020 to make them 62cc, headers, and a good tune and you will be in 450chp territory. but still be very driveable on 91 octane pump gas.

Andy1

Visit the Performance Truck forums, and you're sure to find tons of info on 5.3 mod's and builds.

Andy1

1FastBrick

iTrader: (16)

You may want to consider boring it to LS1 Bore size and using LS6 pistons. These are the same as LS1 pistons but they fit the floating pin rods in the L33.

The standard LS1 pistons are a press pin design.

We have plenty of sponsors that sell head and cam packages that will get you in that range. You can send your heads in for exchange

Brian Tooley
SDPC
Texas Speed
Tick performance
Ballistic Speed Parts

These are just a few of the many sponsors in no particular order that can help you get there.

Guys like WCCH and TEA can port your existing heads if you decided to do it in small stages.

fieroguru

iTrader: (1)

If you run a manual transmission, you might be able to get to 450 whp N/A but getting much higher will require a power adder of some sort. Full effort 5.3L builds with intake, cam, heads and headers usually peak right around 500 fwhp so you would need 10% of less driveline loss to see 450 whp.

My LS4 (close sister the L33 - both aluminum 5.3's with 243/799 heads) put down 382 whp using a collection of stock parts (LS2 intake, LS7 exhaust manifolds) and a 224/232 DOD compatible camshaft... A non-dod camshaft would help, but I need ported heads and a better intake to get much above 400 rwhp

Here is a near 500 fwhp build:
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/..._build_part_3/

Here is a 511 hp 5.3L turnkey engine:

A destroked 6.0 (5.4L) with LS3 heads and a huge cam made 500 flwhp at 7K:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...5-1-500hp.html

bczee

iTrader: (12)

If N/A and with a stock bottom end and a good H/C/I... I would say in the high 300's to maybe 400+ (maybe 420ish max) if you got a good tuner... for RWHP.

But define Streetable ?.. getting near the higher range of the HP end is not going to be very Street Friendly.

(SS)

iTrader: (1)

I've seen alot of turbo 5.3's making big power.From what I gather these motors love boost.

cam

iTrader: (9)

No




Yes



A 1.9 or 2.3L roots type supercharger on a stock L33 will make those numbers with ease and have power EVERYWHERE in the band.

Turbo/s as well, with ease. But 450whp out of a NA 5.3? Good luck.

Why 450? NA 400whp? Doable

Redlin3z

iTrader: (1)

nice article on carcraft! Makes it seem very realistic to reach my goals NA. I should be able to get more power if I run e85 correct?

On a side note. does anyone have any information on boosted 5.3's? can they hold low boost on stock rods?

Redlin3z

iTrader: (1)

Just want to be closer to 500hp is all. A friend of mine has a 500hp lq9 FD rx7 and that car is an absolute blast.

cam

iTrader: (9)

Ported stock heads, a decent cam, LS6 intake, 1 3/4" long tube headers and a single 3/5" or dual 2.5" exh with a good 4" cold air intake and a sweet tune up on an L33?

It'll be an absolute blast, sheer joy lemme tell ya.

As for the cam? Suit yourself if you want to chase power numbers but you cant race a dyno and unless its a drag only machine Id shy away from huge donkey cams. Something like a TR224 or the TSP228R or in that range will be plenty of fun on a 5.3 and still haul ***.

Your just not going to get anywhere near 450 whp with that set up. Needs more cubes.

1.2 hp per CID is doable, after that? It start to get REALLLLLLLLY expensive. Better to add boost

Dusty B

iTrader: (1)

Howdy. Looks like we're here going the same route. I'm planning on l33 in a Subaru. I found that carcraft article others told you to read a while back. Biggest thing to remember when reading that article is those numbers all came from an engine dyno, and I believe someone else suggested that you keep in mind the drivetrain losses. I'd also agree with most here that after all the research I've done, you can build a very healthy, powerful, and streetable engine using all interchangeable ls parts. I've been working on a spreadsheet by engine designation with different heads and cams among other mods with their dyno plots if available. My own dyno database if you will. I will say, that the power levels you are looking at, that the car may not be too streetable if squeezing 500 out NA. L33s love boost (check truck forums), and I'm going through the motions so I can add a turbo setup once I get everything in, running, and bugs sorted out.

All about what you're looking for though!

1997trans-am

iTrader: (2)

I have a 01 5.3 in the Trans-Am I just bought. Ported ls6 heads, tsp torquer v2 cam, long tubes, etc..

I am guessing I am at the edge of what is considered street friendly and I probably put down 360 whp on a dynojet.

cam

iTrader: (9)

Dont get too hung up on "dyno numbers" especially stuff you read in magazines or posted online. Some shops have very generous dynos, some have stingy dynos. Best thing to look for is vehicle weight, and trap speed. That'll tell you whos moving what, how fast, with accuracy.

1/4 mile times can be somewhat misleading but i wont get into that its too much to type.

A na 5.3 with a good combo can do 350-380whp or so. Yes it can produce more, but that would be realistic to expect as not every engine with the same parts produces the same number. To expect yours to be that one magic set up that does? Might as well buy a lotto ticket.

It really in the end is simple. How fast do you want to buy? Establish a budget/fund and then we can help you spend it so you get the most bang for your buck if you like.

Redlin3z

iTrader: (1)

Let me make this a little more clear. Im not to worried about how streetable the car really is it will be driven on the street but even if its a more track oriented car I will be able to manage it on the street. So lets not get to hung up on that. I just am wondering the best way to reach my power goal of near 500 rwhp.

so far I got a few saying its possible to reach 450 NA and some saying its not.

Anyone got advise on a forced induction set up? Will the engine be a ticking bomb if i dont build it with all forged interanls on FI? or can a stock bottom end 5.3 hold low boost all day?

thanks for all the input so far! appreciate it!

cam

iTrader: (9)

Totally doable with boost. Safe to 550 whp on an L33 without issue, some push them well past 700 whp on STOCK shorts but they dont last long, some not a single pass, others a couple seasons. Regardless at that level its race gas territory. If you want the tons of fun option? Get a roots type SC whipple or a maggie. They arent cheap but power right off idle, all the way to redline. Consult Brian Tooley for a cam to match and look out it will be a blast. Pump gas you might do 550 whp on 94 if you get a good tuner.

If you add meth you can go for more. If you run race gas you can go for more again.

But as I said, cost. Your running a 1500 dollar or less short block with the L33 and looking to add 10-15K worth of boost parts on there.... why not start with a 6K engine and hit your goal NA all day long?

LS3

Redlin3z

iTrader: (1)

This is a winter project so I am looking to have the car ready for the summer and on the track in July. my budget for building the engine is going to be around 4k.

1997trans-am

iTrader: (2)

Others can correct me if I am wrong, but from what I have read, the 5.3 can give you 500whp pretty easily with boost without having to build the bottom end.

I read that the top ring gap should be filed if you want more than 550-600 whp. As you would expect, timing and fuel are an important part of keeping the engine in tact.

cam

iTrader: (9)

For budget 5.3 stuff look into Denmahs builds. Just keep in mind;

Cheap/durable/fast

You only can pick two so understand the risks and have fun. 4K is doable for the 350hp+ NA 5.3 with ease and the route id take so it lasts a while. Trying to do cheap boost? Boooooooooom goes the dynamite. Heck even a good tune on a boosted engine is going to eat up a big chunk of your budget....

Unless you can do it all yourself its going to get pricey REAL quick with boost.

Redlin3z

iTrader: (1)

I pretty much knew boost would cost me a lot more. That's why I was looking more toward NA. doing the swap in its self is going to cost me around 8k which is killing the engine build budget. thanks for information