'96 T/A SBE 5.3 Turbo Build
02-01-2017, 12:40 PM
#1
'96 T/A SBE 5.3 Turbo Build Thought I would share my current build. Ive had this car since I was 17 and has seen a few different setups over the years.
Stock longblock LT1 with 150 it went 11.70. Was a blast on the street. Got bored and ended up building a turbo 383 LTx. Chased an oil leak for quite some time and ended up disassembling the car. It sat for a year or so while I was busy with other projects.
Got started back on it last fall. Been collecting 5.3s anytime I find a good deal. So I decided to switch over and build a basic SBE turbo 5.3. I used as much of the stuff I could from my last build.
Quick rundown on the combo:
Gen 3 5.3
862 cylinder heads
LS9 headgaskets
BTR Stage 2 camshaft and 660spring kit
LS1 intake
60# Mototron injectors (upgrading to 80s later)
A-1000 (-10 feed, -8 Return)
TH-350 FMVB with Revmax stage 4 converter
T6 S-475
Truck mani's flipped
A2A intercooler.
This is how the car sat for about a year.
Since I already had a PA racing tubular kmember I thought id try the hooker ls swap mounts.
Got it out of my trailer and into the shop. Grabbed my mock up motor and stuck it in to see how everything fits.
Started picking up everything I needed to run the fbody accessories. Also scored a alternator relocation on ebay for $40.
Was going to build everything for my new hotside. Ended up getting a good deal on a hotside off here. Made a few adjustments and I think its gonna work out great. I really wanted the turbo to off to one side or the other.
Reused my old coldside. Just cut it up to work with the new hotside. Isn't pretty but it'll work.
Stock longblock LT1 with 150 it went 11.70. Was a blast on the street. Got bored and ended up building a turbo 383 LTx. Chased an oil leak for quite some time and ended up disassembling the car. It sat for a year or so while I was busy with other projects.
Got started back on it last fall. Been collecting 5.3s anytime I find a good deal. So I decided to switch over and build a basic SBE turbo 5.3. I used as much of the stuff I could from my last build.
Quick rundown on the combo:
Gen 3 5.3
862 cylinder heads
LS9 headgaskets
BTR Stage 2 camshaft and 660spring kit
LS1 intake
60# Mototron injectors (upgrading to 80s later)
A-1000 (-10 feed, -8 Return)
TH-350 FMVB with Revmax stage 4 converter
T6 S-475
Truck mani's flipped
A2A intercooler.
This is how the car sat for about a year.
Since I already had a PA racing tubular kmember I thought id try the hooker ls swap mounts.
Got it out of my trailer and into the shop. Grabbed my mock up motor and stuck it in to see how everything fits.
Started picking up everything I needed to run the fbody accessories. Also scored a alternator relocation on ebay for $40.
Was going to build everything for my new hotside. Ended up getting a good deal on a hotside off here. Made a few adjustments and I think its gonna work out great. I really wanted the turbo to off to one side or the other.
Reused my old coldside. Just cut it up to work with the new hotside. Isn't pretty but it'll work.
Last edited by Gunters96lt1; 02-01-2017 at 12:55 PM.
02-01-2017, 12:40 PM
#2
I decided to re-route the wiring harness that runs on top of the radiator support. Glad I did it now.
Then I grabbed my radiator and did some test fitting.
Cut my BOV flange out of my old coldside and welded it into the new stuff.
Then I grabbed my radiator and did some test fitting.
Cut my BOV flange out of my old coldside and welded it into the new stuff.
Last edited by Gunters96lt1; 02-01-2017 at 12:52 PM.
02-01-2017, 12:52 PM
#3
Ordered the rest of the stuff I needed to finish the cold side.
Ordered a ebay wastegate. Well see how that turns out haha.
Picked up a lift off VFN Extended hood off a member. Not sure yet if I wanna use it or not.
Ordered a ebay wastegate. Well see how that turns out haha.
Picked up a lift off VFN Extended hood off a member. Not sure yet if I wanna use it or not.
Last edited by Gunters96lt1; 02-01-2017 at 01:18 PM.
02-01-2017, 01:18 PM
#4
Scored some Summit brand fuel rails on ebay cheap. They cleaned up pretty good.
Started tearing down the 5.3. Cleaned up the block and painted. Everything looked "ok" in the bottomend but I didn't pull and pistons or even any rod caps haha. Fingers crossed.
Ordered LS9 headgaskets, speedmaster head studs, LS7 lifters and new trays.
Started tearing down the 5.3. Cleaned up the block and painted. Everything looked "ok" in the bottomend but I didn't pull and pistons or even any rod caps haha. Fingers crossed.
Ordered LS9 headgaskets, speedmaster head studs, LS7 lifters and new trays.
02-01-2017, 01:22 PM
#5
At this point I was pretty well undecided on what camshaft I wanted to run and who to get it from. After talking with Tick, BTR, LJMS, and Martin I ended up going with a BTR Stage 2 and got the new spring kit as well.
Upgraded to the LS2 timing chain
Buttoned up!
New valvesprings installed
My spring compressor took a **** about half way through so I just made one from scrap. Worked pretty decent.
Decked whipped down and speedmaster headstuds installed
Lifters and trays installed. Heads torqued down.
Upgraded to the LS2 timing chain
Buttoned up!
New valvesprings installed
My spring compressor took a **** about half way through so I just made one from scrap. Worked pretty decent.
Decked whipped down and speedmaster headstuds installed
Lifters and trays installed. Heads torqued down.
Last edited by Gunters96lt1; 02-01-2017 at 01:37 PM.
02-01-2017, 01:37 PM
#6
New rear cover
Some mock up pics
Then I started on the turbo drain. Had a -10an line that worked perfectly.
Then I wanted to find a spot for my FPR. Needed to be at lest 6" away from the firewall. Ended up mounting it off my master cylinder.
At this point I was getting closer to getting the 5.3 ready to set in the car. I wanted to set it and the th350 in together. I ordered a hughes spacer thinking I needed it for my converter pilot.
So I mounted my trans to the mock up 5.3.
Without the spacer you can see my pilot just barely touches the crankshaft. And if I used the spacer, it put everything into a bind.
After some head scratching I ended up calling my converter company. I didn't realize at first my pilot is removable. So I just had Revmax send me a pilot 1/4" longer.
Some mock up pics
Then I started on the turbo drain. Had a -10an line that worked perfectly.
Then I wanted to find a spot for my FPR. Needed to be at lest 6" away from the firewall. Ended up mounting it off my master cylinder.
At this point I was getting closer to getting the 5.3 ready to set in the car. I wanted to set it and the th350 in together. I ordered a hughes spacer thinking I needed it for my converter pilot.
So I mounted my trans to the mock up 5.3.
Without the spacer you can see my pilot just barely touches the crankshaft. And if I used the spacer, it put everything into a bind.
After some head scratching I ended up calling my converter company. I didn't realize at first my pilot is removable. So I just had Revmax send me a pilot 1/4" longer.
Last edited by Gunters96lt1; 02-01-2017 at 02:11 PM.
02-01-2017, 02:23 PM
#7
Built the fuel rail crossover with some parts I had laying around
Then I got my return line sorted out
Drilled and tapped the oil pan for my turbo drain.
Installed a billet oil feed for the turbo
And finally got the motor and trans set in the car!
Made a short fuel line from the rail to the FPR
I wanted to try and use the factory ls1 dipstick and tube. I might keep this but I haven't decided yet.
Then I got my return line sorted out
Drilled and tapped the oil pan for my turbo drain.
Installed a billet oil feed for the turbo
And finally got the motor and trans set in the car!
Made a short fuel line from the rail to the FPR
I wanted to try and use the factory ls1 dipstick and tube. I might keep this but I haven't decided yet.
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02-02-2017, 09:15 AM
#12
I picked up some trunion upgraded rocker arms off a member and got those installed and torqued down.
Installed my stock dipstick again with the cheesy bracket
Grabbed a cheap egr block off, temporary until I get a LS6 intake
Got some truck MSD wires. Little long probably should have just went with the ls1 length
Installed my stock dipstick again with the cheesy bracket
Grabbed a cheap egr block off, temporary until I get a LS6 intake
Got some truck MSD wires. Little long probably should have just went with the ls1 length
02-02-2017, 09:43 AM
#13
Started mocking up the radiator hoses. Then found out my charge pipe interferes with the upper rad hose. So I order some stuff to fix that. Still considering buying a new RAD with both outlets on the pass side.
And got my engine harness back from getting re-pinned. Guy did an absolute awesome job.
And got my engine harness back from getting re-pinned. Guy did an absolute awesome job.
02-03-2017, 08:42 AM
#14
Finished up some little stuff last night. New temp sensor, ran a ground strap from the block to the chassis.
Couldn't help myself and jerry rigged some battery cables on the car to see if it would turn over.
All went well. Once I get a new trans pan I can fill the trans and test fire this thing.
Couldn't help myself and jerry rigged some battery cables on the car to see if it would turn over.
All went well. Once I get a new trans pan I can fill the trans and test fire this thing.
02-08-2017, 10:08 AM
#15
Little update.
Ordered Hp Tuners Pro.
Installed a new filter and pan gasket on the th350. Filled it up with HyGuard. Check everything over and primed the motor.
Installed the Hp Tuner software. Powered the car up and got the stock file saved.
Ordered Hp Tuners Pro.
Installed a new filter and pan gasket on the th350. Filled it up with HyGuard. Check everything over and primed the motor.
Installed the Hp Tuner software. Powered the car up and got the stock file saved.
