1990 foxbody 5.3
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Teching In
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From: kansas
1990 foxbody 5.3 I'm 19 years old building my childhood dream car. I have a foxbody coupe, with a 5.3 ls. Has a texas speed cam. I'm wanting to replace the th350 with a powerglide, going through the motor this winter. Wanting to push around 450-500 hp when done. thinking about 4.8 pistons, and to some work on the heads. car currently has 3.50 rear gear, 9 inch slicks, and fastest to date is 11.91 killing 7 miles per hour. bracket racer at local track. Kansas International Dragway. Any tips to help out the build is much appreciated. Thanks
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Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Portland, Oregon
If you are seriously trying to get 400 naturally aspirated horsepower to the wheels from a 5.3, I would advise you to spend some coin to have your heads done right. Like the Tony Mamo "mamo-fied" sorts of done right. Or go with an aftermarket casting, like afr or tfs.
And nothing against Texas Speed, but I would get a custom grind cam, as well.
Compression is your friend, so the flat top pistons are a good idea.
What intake and exhaust are you using?
I'm assuming short belt set up, no a/c or power steering pump, am I correct?
And nothing against Texas Speed, but I would get a custom grind cam, as well.
Compression is your friend, so the flat top pistons are a good idea.
What intake and exhaust are you using?
I'm assuming short belt set up, no a/c or power steering pump, am I correct?
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Teching In
Joined: Sep 2015
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From: kansas
The Texas speed cam came with it. Plan on doing head work, gonna go through the internals see what is actually in it.
I bought it thinking it was a 5.3 with a victor junior 950, and it having a th400. But that is not the case, It is not a 950, nor is it a th400. I kinda got screwed out on that deal.
I bough the car with intentions of turbo build in like 5 years after college. But for reasons that is no longer an option. So i was wanting to build a solid bracket car that will end up somewhere with 400-450 hp. Not looking to kill the bank, but i know it won't be cheap.
I bought it thinking it was a 5.3 with a victor junior 950, and it having a th400. But that is not the case, It is not a 950, nor is it a th400. I kinda got screwed out on that deal.
I bough the car with intentions of turbo build in like 5 years after college. But for reasons that is no longer an option. So i was wanting to build a solid bracket car that will end up somewhere with 400-450 hp. Not looking to kill the bank, but i know it won't be cheap.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,189
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From: Portland, Oregon
Power can still be made on a budget.
West coast cylinder head stage two heads are $1100 if you send in your heads as cores. And they flow close to 300cfm, which is hard to beat for that price, especially with brand new 1.95/1.575 stainless valves and good springs.
Flat top pistons can be picked up for a song and dance, if you look around, you can probably find some good genIV rods to go with it.
What do you have against using the th350? Lots of races have been won with those, and if you're on a budget, why not just go through the transmission you have and fix it how you want it?
What are the specs for that tsp cam? If you can't identify it and confirm the specs with Texas Speed directly, have it cam doctor'ed... You are going to want to know that information.
West coast cylinder head stage two heads are $1100 if you send in your heads as cores. And they flow close to 300cfm, which is hard to beat for that price, especially with brand new 1.95/1.575 stainless valves and good springs.
Flat top pistons can be picked up for a song and dance, if you look around, you can probably find some good genIV rods to go with it.
What do you have against using the th350? Lots of races have been won with those, and if you're on a budget, why not just go through the transmission you have and fix it how you want it?
What are the specs for that tsp cam? If you can't identify it and confirm the specs with Texas Speed directly, have it cam doctor'ed... You are going to want to know that information.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 14
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From: kansas
Power can still be made on a budget.
West coast cylinder head stage two heads are $1100 if you send in your heads as cores. And they flow close to 300cfm, which is hard to beat for that price, especially with brand new 1.95/1.575 stainless valves and good springs.
Flat top pistons can be picked up for a song and dance, if you look around, you can probably find some good genIV rods to go with it.
What do you have against using the th350? Lots of races have been won with those, and if you're on a budget, why not just go through the transmission you have and fix it how you want it?
What are the specs for that tsp cam? If you can't identify it and confirm the specs with Texas Speed directly, have it cam doctor'ed... You are going to want to know that information.
West coast cylinder head stage two heads are $1100 if you send in your heads as cores. And they flow close to 300cfm, which is hard to beat for that price, especially with brand new 1.95/1.575 stainless valves and good springs.
Flat top pistons can be picked up for a song and dance, if you look around, you can probably find some good genIV rods to go with it.
What do you have against using the th350? Lots of races have been won with those, and if you're on a budget, why not just go through the transmission you have and fix it how you want it?
What are the specs for that tsp cam? If you can't identify it and confirm the specs with Texas Speed directly, have it cam doctor'ed... You are going to want to know that information.
Can only thing in know is 600 lift. Well that's what I was told.
I have longtube headers woth 3in full exhaust
I have a buddy that owns a machine shop, and I can come in after hours and work on my engine for cost of parts. So I do!t have to pay machine labor cost. So I will get heads surfaced, get it flowed, maybe change valves and springs.
those cars are light you can run pretty good even with stock heads, I had a 5.7 with the so called junk heads (241) castings, LS1 intake, stock t body, old texas speed 225 grind, very streetable cam. 3200 yank converter and 3:73's and ran 11:40's all day and then hit the a/c going home. No lightning at all. It can be done. good luck.
I would sell the 5.3 and find a 6.0 or 6.2 motor.....all ya need is a cam shaft and a set of rectangle port heads.......With a few tricks you can go high 9's in the 1/4 on motor............with a 4.8 or 5.3 you need a power adder to have fun....
My rectangle port truck heads (823) have a 2.185 intake valve and cnc'd....there flowing 401@700.. .but thats with a 4.070 bore.. 6.2 +.005 pistons..
My rectangle port truck heads (823) have a 2.185 intake valve and cnc'd....there flowing 401@700.. .but thats with a 4.070 bore.. 6.2 +.005 pistons..
Last edited by booboo37; Oct 21, 2015 at 04:29 PM.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 14
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From: kansas
I would sell the 5.3 and find a 6.0 or 6.2 motor.....all ya need is a cam shaft and a set of rectangle port heads.......With a few tricks you can go high 9's in the 1/4 on motor............with a 4.8 or 5.3 you need a power adder to have fun....
My rectangle port truck heads (823) have a 2.185 intake valve and cnc'd....there flowing 401@700.. .but thats with a 4.070 bore.. 6.2 +.005 pistons..
My rectangle port truck heads (823) have a 2.185 intake valve and cnc'd....there flowing 401@700.. .but thats with a 4.070 bore.. 6.2 +.005 pistons..
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Verdad Gallardo what are your 60' lot of time can be made on improving your 60'. Fine tuning what you have can slowly get you gains in the et. I've seen so many guys have 600 and above hp and still cant get down the track.