5.3 turbo build????
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 48
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From: Amarillo, Tx
5.3 turbo build???? Ok so I have a 5.3 long block, I want to do something different than most. I want to do a turbo build up. My goal may be unattainable, but that is where you all come in. My goal is to put 1200 at the wheels with a 150 shot to get out of the hole. My questions are many, So I will just start. Should I push this out to a 383? What cam should I use? What injectors? What size fuel lines? My biggest concern is the engine build, cam, heads? I have a set of 706 and 803 casting heads laying around here? Would either work, I mean can I open them up enough to flow like I will need. Obviously I am going to forge the bottom end. I want to run a ton of boost at the track, but safely run enough to do 700 on the street. I would like to get this engine around 500rwhp without any power adders. I have seen the fairmont 5.3 turbo set up, But I want to do more. I would apreciate your positive input and help. My last car had a 408 with a 300 shot. This time I want to go turbo with this 5.3 I have laying around. Thanks in advance.
there are 5.0 fords with single turbo pushing those types of #'s. kind of wondering what the 5.3 can do ie max psi 20+ and rpms over 7500? not really worried about the heads since after market can flow so well and can have thicker material for boost. 500rwhp without power adders might be pushing it since it will have to built more suited for boost.
there are 5.0 fords with single turbo pushing those types of #'s. kind of wondering what the 5.3 can do ie max psi 20+ and rpms over 7500? not really worried about the heads since after market can flow so well and can have thicker material for boost. 500rwhp without power adders might be pushing it since it will have to built more suited for boost.
You would want to worry about the heads at this hp level. You can see in many other peoples builds once you get to that level 6 bolt heads to prevent lift with this kind of boost requires an aftermarket block. And 500whp N/A, even with lowered compression shouldn't be too difficult out of a stroker. Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 48
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From: Amarillo, Tx
If a 5.0 can get there, then this 5.3 should be able to get there. It is my understanding that this 5.3 crank can hold up to 1000 crank hp. And since this 5.3 love the revs and top end torque is so flat, I would think that it would be a great prospect for a turbo set up. I was thinking of 101 mm turbo or twin 76's. I want this thing to get in the mid to low 9's. But since that kind of horse wont hook for crap on the street, I want it run safely at the 700rwhp (without the NOS) in street trim.
800whp will get you low to mid 9's unless we are talking 6000lb truck. With good internals that would not be a problem. A Gt47-88 or something of the like will get you there with out trouble. A 101 or twin 76's and the block prep and head selection has to be top notch to keep it alive and not pushing water pass after pass.
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one problem I see right off is valve shrouding on the small cube motor. Boost will overcome this to a point but where you are asking everything that this motor will give you need every last HP. I might use a big bore short stroke motor to retain your 5.3l goals. Or you might just be set on using this block in which case you can bore it to 98mm, change heads, forged internals, block fill it and hope for the best. I would guess about 950-975 chp would be the limit. Maybe over 1g with NOS one time on the dyno. JMHO 
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^^^ i think he said that because the 5.3 is a 4 bolt per cylinder set up and at those power levels it is a big probability that the heads will lift. but if you go with an lsx motor that has 6 bolt setup this will not be happening.
http://www.theturboforums.com/smf/in...pic=103675.125
This guy put down 1263rwhp with a 4 bolt setup
This guy put down 1263rwhp with a 4 bolt setup
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 48
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From: Calgary Alberta Canada
Like said above, you won't need anywhere near 1200 WHP to run a 9 second pass unless you are building something in the 6K weight area. My buddies cam swapped 5.3 with a T-76 in a fox body runs 9 second passes all day long, he makes no where near 1200 at the wheels and he runs 18 lbs on race fuel without having a head lift issue. Your vehicle may weigh 1000lbs more than his but thats an example.
The 4 bolt/cylinder blocks are plenty strong, the boost levels and tune will determine head lift.
Arthur
The 4 bolt/cylinder blocks are plenty strong, the boost levels and tune will determine head lift.
Arthur
i just said it is a high probability that the heads will lift. there is a guy on this forum that lifted his head at 900whp. i just think it is worth spending an extra 2000 bucks for the lsx block and not worry about it.
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 48
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From: Calgary Alberta Canada
Agreed. At that power level head lifting would almost be a given...
If you have the money to get to that power level you should definately have the money to afford a stronger block and heads to match. $60,000 build and you decide to use a block you can pick up at a junk yard? Give me a break.
yea it does not get better then iron but there are big design differences between every engine block. eg lq9/lq4 motor has 4 bolt per cylinder and the lsx has 6 but both are iron block. that is why the lsx is rated a 2500hp and the lq9/lq4 at around 900/1000hp. warhawk has 6 bolt aluminium blocks but they are not cheap.
Well, the real question is why spend twice as much money building a 5.3 that probably wont live as long as a bigger lower rpm engine that costs less. Like said above, your limited on valve size due to bore.....thats fine, but even if you bore to 3,890 you still cant get any big head on it. So you have to spend maybe 4000 in porting to get a small valve "junk" head to still only get close to what l92's flow or gpood aftermarket heads that go on 4.000 bores and bigger. Most of the 1200 hp + engines are probably using ls7 or ls7 style heads with 2.20 + intake valves.
In the end you can spend the same or less money and get better stuff. Sure you can use a stock crank, but for a pretty small sum you can go to a stroker crank....all the pistons and rods are pretty much the same money....cams....all pretty much the same...
To get a 5.3 to make the same power as a ls7 427 turbo engine your gonna need nhra ss money behind you. Typically those guys spend 60k a engine, most in r&d, porting head after head after head, 100's of hrs on a dyno, 10-20 cams, belt drives, pumps testing different rings packs, etc etc etc.....for every last hp. Can it be done.....yea, but is it easy, no.
I recentlybought a complete lq9 off craigs list, trans, wiring harness, pcm drive shaft etc....the whole take out for 500$. If building a decent stroked 6.0(4000$ or less) is out of the budget, then you should probably rethink going turbo to make 800 + hp.
In the end you can spend the same or less money and get better stuff. Sure you can use a stock crank, but for a pretty small sum you can go to a stroker crank....all the pistons and rods are pretty much the same money....cams....all pretty much the same...
To get a 5.3 to make the same power as a ls7 427 turbo engine your gonna need nhra ss money behind you. Typically those guys spend 60k a engine, most in r&d, porting head after head after head, 100's of hrs on a dyno, 10-20 cams, belt drives, pumps testing different rings packs, etc etc etc.....for every last hp. Can it be done.....yea, but is it easy, no.
I recentlybought a complete lq9 off craigs list, trans, wiring harness, pcm drive shaft etc....the whole take out for 500$. If building a decent stroked 6.0(4000$ or less) is out of the budget, then you should probably rethink going turbo to make 800 + hp.
There is a reason why Majors 429 ci motor is forsale for only 24k or so......thats a deal.....and does not include a lot of other stuff you need.
You can bet that the r&d on his set ups triple that price too.
As for 1200 hp iron blocks....yea they exist , but dont think just because you read about, make em all true or make it easy. Chances are a lot more likly that the true ones have years and years and years of experience behind them, and lots of broken stuff, and tested stuff that doesnt really get talked about much.
This is funny coming from me, cause I love the stock stuff and cheap builds, but if you want to go all in, you have to pay to get inthe game.
You can bet that the r&d on his set ups triple that price too.
As for 1200 hp iron blocks....yea they exist , but dont think just because you read about, make em all true or make it easy. Chances are a lot more likly that the true ones have years and years and years of experience behind them, and lots of broken stuff, and tested stuff that doesnt really get talked about much.
This is funny coming from me, cause I love the stock stuff and cheap builds, but if you want to go all in, you have to pay to get inthe game.