stock 5.3 bottom end
Im building a forged pistons and rods in my 5.3 to be safe bc I want to run 20lbs of boost and be safe around town and the occasional track pass.
Trending Topics
15 lbs from an ebay GT35 with a stock cam on a 5.3 is about 500 whp at BEST. 15 lbs from a Billet 88mm with a custom cam and good tune could be upwards of 900 whp. So which is it? 15 PSI is 15 PSI regardless and thats all the block can safely handle?
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Take a single engine @ 15 psi (measured at intake manifold), it doesn't matter if you push 15 psi with a GT35 turbo, an 88mm turbo, or an electric leaf blower. If you're measuring 15 psi at the manifold every time, you'll have the same hp. (if nothing else changes... cam/heads/etc).
Most people who ask, "How much PSI can I run" are assuming stock bottom end, stock cam (or maybe a Z06 cam), and stock heads. In this case the 15 psi could correspond to 600-700ish rwhp. I think this is what Vettewreck was meaning... an essentially stock motor.
In the case of the OP, if he's doing a custom cam and ported heads, he could reach the same hp level at 10psi because the restriction (cam/heads) in flow is less. I think that's what you're eluding to (HexenLord).
Regardless, turbo selection should take into account psi and cfm flow.... (referencing a turbo's compressor map).
Hope this helps.
Take a single engine @ 15 psi (measured at intake manifold), it doesn't matter if you push 15 psi with a GT35 turbo, an 88mm turbo, or an electric leaf blower. If you're measuring 15 psi at the manifold every time, you'll have the same hp. (if nothing else changes... cam/heads/etc).
Last edited by vettewreck; Jan 15, 2014 at 01:46 PM.
The gen 3 rods have been pushed up to 996whp through a locked auto {there is a video somewhere of the camaro that did it}... its gonna come down too the tune and fuel from what I have seen.
How much more power? hard to say but it will vary, however it probably isn't enough to be nit picky about as there isn't an exact hp number you can say a stock 5.3 will hold in the first place.
Things to watch, take out timing around peak torque, and make sure you obviously have it tuned safely and smartly.
I will beat the crap out of mine 2-3 more times at the track, I'm hoping to go 8.70s and then swap in a forged LC9 with Summit Racing crank/rods/pistons and a set of TFS 220s.




