77TA

I have just recently purchased a 2008 5.3 short block aluminum out of an Avalanche. I was wanting to twin turbo it but wanted to leave the bottom end stock. What's a good head cam and intake set up to make around 500 horse at the wheels. I plan on putting it in my 77 TA.

360demonRT

iTrader: (1)

if 500 is all you want out of it, the motor already has everything you need on it. maybe a set of springs to be on the safe side. There is a ton of 5.3 turbo info on this board. go go the search function at the top of the screen, punch in 'turbo 5.3' and you'll get a jack load of hits. Good Luck!

77TA

Thanks

gsxr1k2

iTrader: (6)

^^^ What he said..

LS1NOVA

iTrader: (12)

I put one together thats probably 500rw. Never dyno'd but its a completely stock 02 5.3 with an MP70 .96 on 12psi. Stock valve springs too. Ls1 intake is cheap and will work fine. Twins would just complicate plumbing and add weight. A small single like a Turbonetics TC76 would work great too.

HRHohio

I agree that you should be fine with the LS1 intake and that twins would complicate things too much at this power level. Good recommenation on the TC76.

For a more budget build, you can get an On3 T76 Ball Bearing for $700 shipped. This is the route I went.

I would also think about swapping out the cam while you have it all out. I went with the LS9 cam which people say is worth 40-50 hp more than stock. I put down 551 rwhp @ 10psi in my rear mount setup. Z06 cam is another well recommended cheap cam for these power levels, as is the LS7.

Also, good idea to do the springs now too, especially if you go with the LS9, Z06, or LS7 cam.

Are you going front mount or rear in your 77 TA?

Good luck.

77TA

Thanks for the info on the turbo and cam. And I had thought about front mounting it but I have read about people on here rear mounting them.

HRHohio

There are some die hard fans for both ways. I didn't want to get too invasive in my engine compartment, so I went with rear mount. Done right, there's hardly a noticable difference in my opinion. Split second on spool maybe? If it were a dedicated track car, (gutted interior, etc) I'd think of front mount. As is stands, it's my daily driver with cold AC, and fast enough for me!!! Can't wait to get it to the track next Test 'n Tune or Midnight Mayhem. Hoping for mid 11's. I think that a good goal for a daily driver/ convertible.

If you go rear mount, you can save $$$ by going with stock exhaust manifolds instead of headers. Stock manifolds are actually better for rear mount setup.

Trade off is putting in the scavenger pump system. Equals out I guess.

77TA

What's a good head to put with it because I don't have any yet. I'm new to the LS scene and to the boost scene so I'm trying learn as much as possible.

pwrtrip75

iTrader: (8)

Use a 5.3 head. Any other head with lower compression wont benefit you any, just hinder it.

Your goal can easily be done with a stock 5.3, stock heads, stock cam, stock intake.. Ive built a couple for people like that using the MP70mm. No reason to go bigger. All they did was put 60# injectors and comp 918 springs in the heads. Good fast spoolin daily drivers that sound all stock and move pretty good. And done on the cheap.

77TA

Thanks for the info.