***74 Nova*** 5.3L Single Turbo Build
#1
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I just bought 2 5.3L motor for $500. Im using the one 5.3L motor that has 243 heads on it alrdy. Having trouble finding what to do as in forgeing the motor.
The plan:
T76 or T78 turbo
Using trick performance turbo manifold (pass header)
45mm Wastegate
Bov
3" intercooler
75Lbs injectors
Holley Hi-Ram Intake 102mm
102mm TB
243 ported heads
ARP head studs
Ls9 head gasket
Th400
10 Bolt rear end or 12 bolt
E-85
Aeromotive fuel regulator
Aeromotive a1000 fuel pump
20Gal fuel cell
Thats all I got for now. Would some guys that alrdy did 5.3l turbo build. What forged internals should I use? What oil pan is going to fit on the nova?
The plan:
T76 or T78 turbo
Using trick performance turbo manifold (pass header)
45mm Wastegate
Bov
3" intercooler
75Lbs injectors
Holley Hi-Ram Intake 102mm
102mm TB
243 ported heads
ARP head studs
Ls9 head gasket
Th400
10 Bolt rear end or 12 bolt
E-85
Aeromotive fuel regulator
Aeromotive a1000 fuel pump
20Gal fuel cell
Thats all I got for now. Would some guys that alrdy did 5.3l turbo build. What forged internals should I use? What oil pan is going to fit on the nova?
#2
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I do not want to rain on your parade ...just need to know why you are going to buy the hi ram and 102 throttle body?
I would run the 5.3 STOCK with a better cam and PRC .600 dual springs
Get a LS1 intake and aluminum rails if you cannot find a completed stock intake on ebay complete.
Bolt on the stock truck throttle body.
Saving money on the intake and throttle body will allow you to buy a better turbo.
Sell the 243 heads as well, you are going to have almost no gain with them VS stock 5.3 heads...the 243 heads might actually drop the compression which is going to hurt you in the turbo lag department and you will need to have that "tuned" out.
Get a good turbo like the newest T-netics TC7675 .96 AR or a Precision PTE 7675 CAE billet .96 AR....bigger money but the turbo makes the car, not the motor.
If you can, you need a LS1 camaro pan and it needs to be notched 2.5" I believe (check first).
Otherwise, get an aftermarket pan or GM muscle car pan...the rear steer center link on the Nova is a bitch to work around.
Just my 2 cents...built a few of these cars now and the money is best spent in four places : Turbo, tuning, trans, fuel system
I would run the 5.3 STOCK with a better cam and PRC .600 dual springs
Get a LS1 intake and aluminum rails if you cannot find a completed stock intake on ebay complete.
Bolt on the stock truck throttle body.
Saving money on the intake and throttle body will allow you to buy a better turbo.
Sell the 243 heads as well, you are going to have almost no gain with them VS stock 5.3 heads...the 243 heads might actually drop the compression which is going to hurt you in the turbo lag department and you will need to have that "tuned" out.
Get a good turbo like the newest T-netics TC7675 .96 AR or a Precision PTE 7675 CAE billet .96 AR....bigger money but the turbo makes the car, not the motor.
If you can, you need a LS1 camaro pan and it needs to be notched 2.5" I believe (check first).
Otherwise, get an aftermarket pan or GM muscle car pan...the rear steer center link on the Nova is a bitch to work around.
Just my 2 cents...built a few of these cars now and the money is best spent in four places : Turbo, tuning, trans, fuel system
#3
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I would run the stock motor but the guy I bought them from doesn't know if they run or not so I was just going to forged while the motor out. They have no cracks on the block.
I seen a lot of the 5.3 turbo build use the hi ram 102.
Should I get 317 heads? The other motor gots 706 heads on it
I seen a lot of the 5.3 turbo build use the hi ram 102.
Should I get 317 heads? The other motor gots 706 heads on it
#5
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (11)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I do not want to rain on your parade ...just need to know why you are going to buy the hi ram and 102 throttle body?
I would run the 5.3 STOCK with a better cam and PRC .600 dual springs
Get a LS1 intake and aluminum rails if you cannot find a completed stock intake on ebay complete.
Bolt on the stock truck throttle body.
Saving money on the intake and throttle body will allow you to buy a better turbo.
Sell the 243 heads as well, you are going to have almost no gain with them VS stock 5.3 heads...the 243 heads might actually drop the compression which is going to hurt you in the turbo lag department and you will need to have that "tuned" out.
Get a good turbo like the newest T-netics TC7675 .96 AR or a Precision PTE 7675 CAE billet .96 AR....bigger money but the turbo makes the car, not the motor.
If you can, you need a LS1 camaro pan and it needs to be notched 2.5" I believe (check first).
Otherwise, get an aftermarket pan or GM muscle car pan...the rear steer center link on the Nova is a bitch to work around.
Just my 2 cents...built a few of these cars now and the money is best spent in four places : Turbo, tuning, trans, fuel system
I would run the 5.3 STOCK with a better cam and PRC .600 dual springs
Get a LS1 intake and aluminum rails if you cannot find a completed stock intake on ebay complete.
Bolt on the stock truck throttle body.
Saving money on the intake and throttle body will allow you to buy a better turbo.
Sell the 243 heads as well, you are going to have almost no gain with them VS stock 5.3 heads...the 243 heads might actually drop the compression which is going to hurt you in the turbo lag department and you will need to have that "tuned" out.
Get a good turbo like the newest T-netics TC7675 .96 AR or a Precision PTE 7675 CAE billet .96 AR....bigger money but the turbo makes the car, not the motor.
If you can, you need a LS1 camaro pan and it needs to be notched 2.5" I believe (check first).
Otherwise, get an aftermarket pan or GM muscle car pan...the rear steer center link on the Nova is a bitch to work around.
Just my 2 cents...built a few of these cars now and the money is best spent in four places : Turbo, tuning, trans, fuel system
I would just use an ls6 intake for this setup. stock48 is using the stock truck intake.
#6
TECH Resident
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Here's some piston info if you're dead set on replacing pistons:
Wiseco makes a "drop in" replacement piston for the 5.3 called the "junkyard dog".
http://www.wiseco.com/Catalogs/Automotive/Chevrolet.pdf
available at TSP:
http://www.texas-speed.com/p-4180-wi...rist-pins.aspx
BUT if it were me, I'd open it up, inspect the existing pistons and if there's no busted pistons, button it back up and run it. For the cost of the Forged pistons, you can replace the short block almost twice, or get a 6.0 LQ9. Even if one of the pistons is bad, you can get a new "used" piston on Ebay for $40. Stock pistons have been run at >1000 hp. As long as your tune is spot on.
Good luck!
Wiseco makes a "drop in" replacement piston for the 5.3 called the "junkyard dog".
http://www.wiseco.com/Catalogs/Automotive/Chevrolet.pdf
available at TSP:
http://www.texas-speed.com/p-4180-wi...rist-pins.aspx
BUT if it were me, I'd open it up, inspect the existing pistons and if there's no busted pistons, button it back up and run it. For the cost of the Forged pistons, you can replace the short block almost twice, or get a 6.0 LQ9. Even if one of the pistons is bad, you can get a new "used" piston on Ebay for $40. Stock pistons have been run at >1000 hp. As long as your tune is spot on.
Good luck!
![Happy](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)
#7
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I want to make about 1000rwhp.
So the stock 5.3 oil will work on 74 nova?
I think im going with the forge "junkyard dog" pistons. Im going to take the motor apart and make sure nothing damage.
Whats the best Intake and heads to use?
So the stock 5.3 oil will work on 74 nova?
I think im going with the forge "junkyard dog" pistons. Im going to take the motor apart and make sure nothing damage.
Whats the best Intake and heads to use?
Trending Topics
#9
Launching!
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: New York Queens
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Is this gonna be a street car? 1000rwhp is a lot of power, if you are planing to drive the car in the street I would say shoot for 6-8 hundo because you're gonna have a lot of issues trying to stick 650rwhp down. 1000rwhp is pointless unless you like doing sideways smoke shows at 80-90mph
#10
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I want the car to make 1000rwhp but turn down the boost driving it. Its going to be a street/drag car.
If I forged the stock block with the "junkyard dog" pistons I should be able to run 20 to 25psi easy right? I should make 1000rwhp.
Does anyone know if someone done the junkyard dog pistons on 5.3L turbo build and what they put down?
If I forged the stock block with the "junkyard dog" pistons I should be able to run 20 to 25psi easy right? I should make 1000rwhp.
Does anyone know if someone done the junkyard dog pistons on 5.3L turbo build and what they put down?
#11
TECH Resident
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Have you seen what the stock pistons are capable of? With enough octane and the right tune:
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/h...g_bang_theory/
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/h...g_bang_theory/
#12
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Auburn Alabama
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
My Chevelle makes a little over 1100 to the tires @ 19 psi and its totally useless on the street unless you like doing burnouts at 70 mph. Even @ 10 psi it still spins the drag radials pretty bad. Be careful what you wish for.
#16
TECH Resident
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Dirty Dingo makes a nice product.
http://dirtydingo.com/store/index.php?cPath=323
I bought a pair for my 72 build... GREAT QUALITY... (still in box right now)
http://dirtydingo.com/store/index.php?cPath=323
I bought a pair for my 72 build... GREAT QUALITY... (still in box right now)