Need your input on a few things...
1. According to my calculations, a 5.3 with a 6" crank pulley and 3" blower pulley should put me at close to 15lbs boost at 6000 rpm. Does this sound correct?
2. There are numerous threads with turbo 5.3's, but very few Procharged. Will the blower have any positive or negative differences vs. the turbo?
3. I have a few spare sets of 317 heads laying around and am contemplating tossing a set on the 5.3. I've read a few threads claiming the engine felt sluggish with the low compression. I'm concerned about the low compression since the blower won't make max boost until near max rpm. Should I swap in the 317's or keep the stock heads and run meth?
4. If I do use the 317 heads, I plan on using the ls9 gaskets. I've read that they will work but wanted to confirm.
5. Will I benefit from running arp head studs, or will arp bolts suffice? I've already picked up a set of arp rod bolts.
6. I have a set of 42lb green top injectors. Will they be mated out with this setup? Should I go ahead and step up to some 60's?
Thanks everyone!
Last edited by Strokinit383; Jul 27, 2011 at 09:36 AM.
I think your going to have a problem trying to hit 15lbs of boost with a 6rib setup too. Iirc 317s on a 5.3 would put you at like 8.5:1 compression which does help run more boost on pump gas, but you might hate cursing in the car when your not making boost. Slot of people have ran ls9 gaskets on a 5.3 with 317s. As for the head studs vs bolts Im a bit curious as well, but for 15lbs I would say studs. There is also slot of talk about running arp rod bolts and having to get your rods recapped? That's why people recommend running katech rod bolts. And about the injectors, I think it's safe to say 42s are going to be too small. I would say run 60s at least.
As for the injectors, again, 60# injectors at a minimum, especially if you're looking to make 15# of boost.
With the cost to step up to the 8 rib setup, I would contemplate ditching the blower and going turbo. Thoughts?
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thats just for the bracket. idk about the pulleys.
and that is also for an fbody, i dont know if it will work in the v.
or if the setup is even going in the v.
98BlownZ28 - Definitely not going on the V. This is going into my old 94. Im thinking I will just push the 6 rib to the max. Maybe I can pick up a used MMS crank pulley or similar to help out with the belt slip. Run a belt wrap standoff and do everything I can to combat belt slippage.
What does everyone think about the heads, stay with the stockers or drop on the 317's? Since I most likely will not be able to achieve the boost I'm looking for, maybe I should stick with the 5.3 heads and 3.4 pulley. This will put me around 10-11 psi. Sounds doable on a stock block, right?
Think about it this way. Take a box stock motor with factory exhaust, heads, cam etc and spin the blower to make 8 psi of boost and you'll make around 430-450 hp. But add a complete exhaust setup and you'll drop your boost pressure to 5-6 psi, but make 470-480. See my point? It's not like in a turbo setup where the boost pressure is control by your blow off valve. So that's why it's hard to figure out exactly how much boost you'll make because it's really dependant on blower speed and engine mods.
I'd rather make more power with less boost since it's easier on engine components to make 500 hp with 6psi than 450hp at 10psi.
Sorry, I'm rambling after taking painkillers and having a beer trying to cope with kidney stones and a bulging disc in my back.
Think about it this way. Take a box stock motor with factory exhaust, heads, cam etc and spin the blower to make 8 psi of boost and you'll make around 430-450 hp. But add a complete exhaust setup and you'll drop your boost pressure to 5-6 psi, but make 470-480. See my point? It's not like in a turbo setup where the boost pressure is control by your blow off valve. So that's why it's hard to figure out exactly how much boost you'll make because it's really dependant on blower speed and engine mods.
I'd rather make more power with less boost since it's easier on engine components to make 500 hp with 6psi than 450hp at 10psi.
Sorry, I'm rambling after taking painkillers and having a beer trying to cope with kidney stones and a bulging disc in my back.
Basically....with a blower, will I make more power with less blower output and higher initial compression or higher blower output and lower initial compression and better flowing heads???? Wheres the balance between the two?
Sorry for the long winded question....my head is spinning!!!
As far as the bolts and studs go. That is personal preference dependent on future plans and what kind of pulley combo you go with over your current set-up.
Also in regards to the six rib pulleys. You can use them but you definitely need a bigger crank pulley. That 6" crank pulley is horrible and provides **** for torque down low. I currently run a MMS crank pulley (7.85") I think and a 3.5" blower pulley and I make around 8-9psi depending on the weather and slipping. I believe with a standoff pulley (ChevyChad style), bigger crank pulley, and the 3.4" blower pulley you will meet your goal of 500 to the wheels.
You will definitely need 60 lb/hr injectors minimum. So sell the 42's and start looking for some 60's.
Good luck. When my forged LS1 goes I have aluminum 5.3 shortblock all ready to stick in as my back-up until I can build another forged engine.
Last edited by Packy; Jul 30, 2011 at 12:04 PM.







