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Turbo 5.3 Low dyno numbers.

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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 06:31 AM
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Default Turbo 5.3 Low dyno numbers.

Greetings,

I recently "built" my first turbo car. It's 5.3 LM7 from the wrecking yard with a huron speed V3 AC kit and it seems very down on HP compared to other turbo 5.3 builds i've seen online. When I had the car dyno tuned
at 11PSI it only put down 410 RWHP. (My H/C/I Camaro made more power )
My tuner said it wasn't wanting to make decent power no matter how much he messed with it.

Its running on pump gas nothing fancy, no E85 in my area. all the power dropped off around 6200 RPM.
Its a T56 car with a Hawks 8.8 & 3.27 rear gear.

I've put roughly 2,000 miles on it so far.
Low numbers aside the car runs great. no odd noises, smoking, oil/coolant consumption.
No evidence of the clutch slipping.

Considering doing a compression test here soon, the motor looked well inside and out and it came from a wrecked avalanche.

Its a stock bottom end motor besides the ARP 2000 rod bolts,
Brian tooley racing MLS headgaskets and ARP headbolts.
Walbro 450 and holley boost ref FPR. Deka 80# injectors.
Summit stage 2 turbo Cam 226/230 Dur .600/.575 Lift, 113+4 Lobe Sep
317 Cylinder heads was told they would bump the compression down to somewhere near 8.6:1 which was ideal

LS7 lifters, TSP .660 PAC Dual springs, pushrods, length is correct,
VS Racing 78/75 with a standard exhaust housing.

Looking for some feedback maybe someone else has experienced something similar, if you see anything you would have done differently please share your thoughts.
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 06:43 AM
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No need to get compression down that low anymore, People regularly run point or more higher. It shouldn't be falling off at 6,200 rpms with that cam/spring combo.
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 06:46 AM
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Is there the chance these lifters aren't keeping up with the valvetrain well enough?
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 09:38 AM
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Can we get a dyno graph?
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 09:42 AM
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Originally Posted by drynugs
Is there the chance these lifters aren't keeping up with the valvetrain well enough?
How high are you winding it beyond 6200?
The lifters aren't what's keeping the power down.
As was alluded to above, it's the very low (for nowadays) compression.
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 09:53 AM
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What was the total timing on 11lbs?
Even with the horribly low compression thats really low numbers for 11psi!
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 10:11 AM
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down a cylinder?
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 05:04 PM
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I'll get one posted soon, its in the car back in the states and the family is dealing with the Hurricane Ian.
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 05:09 PM
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That's what I'm leaning towards now, kinda suspecting that a coil isn't doing it's part only under boost.
I'm using the stock F Body coils with roughly 110,000 Miles on them.
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 05:09 PM
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16 degrees if I recall correctly
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 05:37 PM
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410 RWHP is decent what Dyno was it on ?? Mustang???
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Old Sep 28, 2022 | 09:41 PM
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What altitude are you at.
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Old Sep 29, 2022 | 04:40 AM
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13 feet.
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Old Sep 29, 2022 | 04:41 AM
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Dyno jet, its decent but for 11 PSI i was expecting somewhere near 450.
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Old Sep 29, 2022 | 06:35 AM
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16 degrees would be low and cause SOME power loss for that low of compression but i would think you should be closer to 500 unless your turning some massive mud tires or something.
Also with that cam you should be peaking closer to 7000.
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Old Sep 29, 2022 | 05:40 PM
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Graph might help, did you get that compression test done?
brakes hanging?
11psi with that cam in a 5.3 or a 4.8 should be around 700 hp at the crank. You’re down a cylinder or 2
edit didn’t realize your at such a low compression.
8.6:1 you have a 240hp turd on your hands in NA form add 11psi and you got your dyno numbers.

Last edited by jasons69chevelle; Sep 29, 2022 at 05:50 PM.
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Old Sep 30, 2022 | 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by jasons69chevelle
8.6:1 you have a 240hp turd on your hands in NA form add 11psi and you got your dyno numbers.
You think dropping 1 point of compression would kill over 100HP NA?
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Old Sep 30, 2022 | 11:56 AM
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No but just making a point, it’s probably closer to 300 na.
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Old Sep 30, 2022 | 12:04 PM
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Even if it only made 300rwhp NA 11psi should put him around 525rwhp.
And like previously mentioned no way it should peak that low lol.
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Old Sep 30, 2022 | 02:32 PM
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You do make an excellent point, didn't consider that before but it does make alot of sense.
Trying to get a picture of the graph but the cars back in the states and the family is dealing with the hurricane cleanup.
I do plan on shipping it here soon however, looks like a better set of cylinder heads is next after I run a compression test and get some numbers just incase.

I should have done my homework before going with those cylinder heads I was impatient.
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