Ryan Armstrong

iTrader: (8)

i wanna get an iron block motor for my formula. would an lm7 be a good choice for running boost or would an lq4 or lq9 be better?

1_bad94Camaro

iTrader: (15)

an LM7 will hold more boost with truck heads (317), the LQ4 is a low compression engine with a slight dish in the pistons, and the LQ9 is the same as an LQ4 just with flat top pistons.

depending on what your plans are and your budget is the factor.

with an LQ4/9 you can make a 370 or a 408 and boost it up. on an LM7 with the 317 heads you can push up to 18psi from what I've heard.

Ryan Armstrong

iTrader: (8)

ya well i would be on a low budget cuz i am a college student so i dont have lots of money. i was looking to turbo it and run around 12-15 psi

1_bad94Camaro

iTrader: (15)

on a low budget I would say do the LM7. you can pick one up at a junk yard for a few hundred usually, then re ring it and new bearings, you can cam it and throw some stock 317 heads and run 15psi all the time with no problems.

old motorhead

iTrader: (10)

Agree. 5.3's are common in the bone yards. Found one with around 30K on the clock for under $450. No need to do anything to it other than run it. I don't know how long it would live at 15 psi, but I'd bet it would live a long time at 8 to 10psi. My son has been running it for quite a few thousand miles at 8psi. I expect something else to break before the motor.

1_bad94Camaro

iTrader: (15)

I've heard of a few people running 5.3's on 18psi for 3 seasons already. the 5.3 is a strong motor. they just give up around 275,000

IT_SS

iTrader: (5)

I've seen 8xxHP/8xxTQ out of a stock to bottom end 5.3 with twin GT30 i believe

here : http://www.norcal-ls1.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61142

1BAD_LS1 Tunes

iTrader: (8)

5.3, 317's, arp headbolts, 02+ ls6 cam, dual valvesprings, MPT70/.96ar turbo, homebuilt frontmount with intercooler..... stock shortblock!!!

pushing 17psi DAILY, has prolly 600 good long pulls on it... runing 91 ocatne pump gas NO METH...

It puts down 634rwhp! Could do more but wanted it to last a while.... its made it longer than i ever thought it would! I have seen them put down over 800hp like stated above but dont last long...

This is a very proven setup! and extremely budget.... I am considering selling my motor/turbo setup and moving on up to a twin turbo 408 really soon....

CarsandWomen

iTrader: (19)

i expect to blow my factory 141k long block very soon after i install the turbo, the following setup will be lm7 with arp rod bolts and head studs with a cam and headwork, ls6 intake etc. ive seen guys take them to 18psi for a single pull.

IT_SS

iTrader: (5)

634?!?!?! Wow I've been waiting for your new numbers, those are great! Can't wait to get going on mine!!! How are you RPM's above 5k? I hear the Z06 cam is a bit of a let down after that

ReApEr75

iTrader: (4)

That is going to be one nasty b!tch. You going to custom make the twin kit?

Ryan Armstrong

iTrader: (8)

so will i need to put new injectors in the 5.3 or can it just be tuned with stock ones.

1_bad94Camaro

iTrader: (15)

I'd get new ones. Your going to need to compensate for the velosity of air your pushing. I'm running fast 60lb injectors. Those will be plenty for a stock LM7.

1BAD_LS1 Tunes

iTrader: (8)

I turned up the boost 3 more psi and got a th400 in there now.. so between the slipping trans/converter and only 14psi is why it was only at 528hp. THe new trans/converter made a HUGE differnce!

Ya the ls6 cam dies out at 5700rpm and thats all it will do.... but atleast it keeps the rpms down so i dont have to turn the thing sky high to make power on the stock bottom end!

1BAD_LS1 Tunes

iTrader: (8)

Yes ill be making my own kit again... I plan on starting the build in the next month or so and hopefully have it done by next summer, as long as nothing comes up!

Ryan Armstrong

iTrader: (8)

will ls1 headers bolt to a 5.3? i wanna do the motor swap but the car is my dd so i wanna do it as quick and inexpensive as possible than i will get all the pieces for the turbo set up than do all of that at once.

NemeSS

iTrader: (127)

yes. 5.3 still an ls motor

Ryan Armstrong

iTrader: (8)

so do you have to run meth on 15lbs? and do you need multiple fuel pumps or is a single 255 sufficent?

1_bad94Camaro

iTrader: (15)

2 pumps. and Meth just lowers intake temps from my understanding. I may be wrong though.

Ryan Armstrong

iTrader: (8)

oh ok thanks i just wanna run pump gas dont wanna mess with meth