5.3 high horsepower on a budget??
10-22-2013, 10:25 AM
#1
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5.3 high horsepower on a budget?? What do you guys think is a good amount of HP out of the 5.3 and for the money? Personally Id like to be over 600rwhp and under $2,500... Is it possible?
5.3 motor
LS6 intake
Heads... (what kind, LS6 ported? ect..)
Cam.. from who and what size?
Ebay single turbo T76 (my buddy can build the system)
What are your guys thoughts? Whats the better combination of heads/cam for this on a tight budget?
5.3 motor
LS6 intake
Heads... (what kind, LS6 ported? ect..)
Cam.. from who and what size?
Ebay single turbo T76 (my buddy can build the system)
What are your guys thoughts? Whats the better combination of heads/cam for this on a tight budget?
10-22-2013, 10:55 AM
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I would say the only way it would be possible is if you got a lot of hand me down parts, and did all of your own work.
If your wanting to keep EVERYTHING under 2500 it's not happening.
If your wanting to keep purely the motor/power adder under 2500, it might be possible.
Could be wrong though.
If your wanting to keep EVERYTHING under 2500 it's not happening.
If your wanting to keep purely the motor/power adder under 2500, it might be possible.
Could be wrong though.
10-22-2013, 11:45 AM
#4
Making much more than that for less. 
(if your only counting the long block price that is)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...-151mph-3.html
For 600whp you don't need heads, cam, or an intake all the OEM parts will work fine. LS1 intake is more than good enough if you can't fit the truck manifold. Find a decent 5.3 toss on cheap ebay studs, pac1218 springs, and LS9 gaskets. Buy a cheap gt45 turbo and intercooler and go to town with the mig welder on stock manifolds and 2" hot piping. 2.5-3" cold side piping.
(if your only counting the long block price that is) https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...-151mph-3.html
For 600whp you don't need heads, cam, or an intake all the OEM parts will work fine. LS1 intake is more than good enough if you can't fit the truck manifold. Find a decent 5.3 toss on cheap ebay studs, pac1218 springs, and LS9 gaskets. Buy a cheap gt45 turbo and intercooler and go to town with the mig welder on stock manifolds and 2" hot piping. 2.5-3" cold side piping.
Last edited by Forcefed86; 10-22-2013 at 11:52 AM.
10-22-2013, 01:25 PM
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Alright fair enough, it can be done haha.
But there again.
Junk yard parts, doing your own fab work so on and so forth!
Cool build by the way Forcefed86 gave it a good look over that is very impressive!
But there again.
Junk yard parts, doing your own fab work so on and so forth!
Cool build by the way Forcefed86 gave it a good look over that is very impressive!
10-22-2013, 01:29 PM
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Half of that will be tied up in just injectors, fuel management, and fuel pump/fittings.
The rest will be soaked up in building a transmission/converter to reliably hold that amount of power.
The engines are cheap, putting the power to the ground isn't lol
The rest will be soaked up in building a transmission/converter to reliably hold that amount of power.
The engines are cheap, putting the power to the ground isn't lol
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10-22-2013, 01:30 PM
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Making much more than that for less. (if your only counting the long block price that is)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...-151mph-3.html
For 600whp you don't need heads, cam, or an intake all the OEM parts will work fine. LS1 intake is more than good enough if you can't fit the truck manifold. Find a decent 5.3 toss on cheap ebay studs, pac1218 springs, and LS9 gaskets. Buy a cheap gt45 turbo and intercooler and go to town with the mig welder on stock manifolds and 2" hot piping. 2.5-3" cold side piping.
(if your only counting the long block price that is) https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...-151mph-3.html
For 600whp you don't need heads, cam, or an intake all the OEM parts will work fine. LS1 intake is more than good enough if you can't fit the truck manifold. Find a decent 5.3 toss on cheap ebay studs, pac1218 springs, and LS9 gaskets. Buy a cheap gt45 turbo and intercooler and go to town with the mig welder on stock manifolds and 2" hot piping. 2.5-3" cold side piping.
10-22-2013, 01:33 PM
#9
Any LS with a decent turbo and valve springs on it should make that power in factory trim. I'd look for a 4.8. No one wants them and they rev higher. Makes a decent torque converter cheaper and allows a shorter gear.
The supporting parts are just insurance. Ebay stud kit and maybe decent MLS head gaskets would be my only suggestion to hit 600hp. Leave the rest alone, the engine is the cheap part.
The supporting parts are just insurance. Ebay stud kit and maybe decent MLS head gaskets would be my only suggestion to hit 600hp. Leave the rest alone, the engine is the cheap part.
10-22-2013, 01:36 PM
#10
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I already have a T56 so it will be spinning tires and not hooking, so im ok with that haha. Just some Nitto drag radials is all.
I have a LS1 in my 300zx now Im thinking about selling to build the turbo, cam, heads 5.3...
I have a LS1 in my 300zx now Im thinking about selling to build the turbo, cam, heads 5.3...
10-22-2013, 01:50 PM
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+1 on the 4.8, with an iron block, and arp hardware to hold things together you could do work.
Hadn't even thought about a 4.8!
That's why you need the experts haha!
Hadn't even thought about a 4.8!
That's why you need the experts haha!
10-22-2013, 02:33 PM
#12
I have maybe 3000 in mine total. Mine is a turbo 5.3 with tc78, 302 piping kit I had, just refabbed how I needed it and a th400. I sold pretty much all my parts I had from my 5.0 days to fund it. I havent come out of pocket any extra too bad. Other than the FTI converter. I also had to do the fuel system though too. Recent dyno put down 525 hp and 580 tq with z06 cam. Definitely will be changing the cam out though. It chokes up top.
10-22-2013, 03:11 PM
#13
I have maybe 3000 in mine total. Mine is a turbo 5.3 with tc78, 302 piping kit I had, just refabbed how I needed it and a th400. I sold pretty much all my parts I had from my 5.0 days to fund it. I havent come out of pocket any extra too bad. Other than the FTI converter. I also had to do the fuel system though too. Recent dyno put down 525 hp and 580 tq with z06 cam. Definitely will be changing the cam out though. It chokes up top.
Stock C5 Z06 dyno...
10-23-2013, 09:11 AM
#15
Im using a truck intake with the z06 cam. Im only reving it to maybe 6000. Hence the reason it doesnt make a lot of power up top. I dont feel comfortable reving it way high anyways just to save the bottom end for now. I have valve springs from BTR. I know it aint floating them suckers.
10-23-2013, 01:01 PM
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Yea read that article and the others like it. Just not sure what to do. Keep my LS1 and do a heads/cam/springs and single turbo... OR sell my LS1 and build a 5.3 with the money from the LS1 haha
10-23-2013, 01:20 PM
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As mentioned, unless you have some parts already or have access to quite a few hand me down parts...I dont see it happening. You could make a statement that all your "big" ticket items could be had for under 2500 but if you add up all of what it would take it rarely (if ever) happens. Lets say you get a motor/trans combo for a smoking deal....
Motor/Trans-800
Turbo kit- (Denmah Special)- 869
Injectors- 350
Piping kit for hotside (mild steel kit w/2 vbands and flex coupler)- 240ish
Fuel Pump and regulator/filter- 150
Just that SMALL list is so close to 2500...now like I said if you have access to parts cheaper than that then you will benefit, or if you already have some you will be better off but dont go into it thinking thats all its going to take...because trust me every trip to the auto parts store will likely consume 100 dollar bill. You havent touched the wire harness, motor mounts, trans crossmember, drive shaft, fuel lines, electric fan(s), radiator hoses, fluids, pay to get it tuned, etc, etc, etc yet. Then wait...you remember that smoking deal you got on that trans/motor combo? 600HP just blew up the stock 4L60E so get the pocketbook back out!
Motor/Trans-800
Turbo kit- (Denmah Special)- 869
Injectors- 350
Piping kit for hotside (mild steel kit w/2 vbands and flex coupler)- 240ish
Fuel Pump and regulator/filter- 150
Just that SMALL list is so close to 2500...now like I said if you have access to parts cheaper than that then you will benefit, or if you already have some you will be better off but dont go into it thinking thats all its going to take...because trust me every trip to the auto parts store will likely consume 100 dollar bill. You havent touched the wire harness, motor mounts, trans crossmember, drive shaft, fuel lines, electric fan(s), radiator hoses, fluids, pay to get it tuned, etc, etc, etc yet. Then wait...you remember that smoking deal you got on that trans/motor combo? 600HP just blew up the stock 4L60E so get the pocketbook back out!
10-23-2013, 07:22 PM
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You guys are missing the point. He already has an LS swapped car. Motor mounts, wiring harness, and trans are not included in the $2500. Fuel system might be fine for 600hp depending on what you already have. Please elaborate on what the car already has that you will be reusing.
