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Turbo 5.3 with big cam.

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Old 06-23-2014, 10:12 AM
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Default Turbo 5.3 with big cam.

I am building a fox body with a 5.3 turbo. It used to be a carbed setup, but now i am switching to efi with stock pcm. I currently have a 5.3 with a ms3 on 112 lsa. I know the came is big and not ideal with a turbo. My question is will it still run good on 9-10 psi or will it lose alot of boost out the exhaust. My turbo it a 76mm on3. Thanks, Jared
Old 06-23-2014, 10:31 AM
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if that is the 237/243 cam you are leaving a lot of power and spool time on the table.if it is a street car id change it. jmho.
Old 06-23-2014, 11:08 AM
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Yes that is the specs. How much power are we talking. I would think it would still do better then a stock lm7 cam would do.
Old 06-23-2014, 12:08 PM
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lets see if one of the cam guys reply . i know that long exaust lobe will not work well with much backpressure like your on3 turbo will have. it whould be better with a large exaust wheel like a s475 has. but they will have some first hand experiance that will help .

it also depends on your convertor and trans. to get it spooled. if you cant get it out of the hole it wont et very good. you can try pming stock48 he is a good guy and he could give you a better idea. he might post as well. .
Old 06-23-2014, 12:11 PM
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How much boost you planning on?

My guess would be 50rwhp midrange, 20rwhp up top and 500rpm later spooling. But it'll sound sick though!

You have any idle clips? i bet that thing thumps.
Old 06-23-2014, 01:15 PM
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I dont know on amount of boost. I am going to try and keep it under 15psi. I plan on just running 8-10 psi to start with. I would be more then happy if it made 525-550 horse at the wheels on 9-10 psi. I have a th400 with a 3600 stall and a 3.73 reag gear.
Old 06-23-2014, 02:05 PM
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I have a big cam on mine but am only running 2.73 rearend and a tight stall which helps it load up quick.
That stall and gearing might kill it though.
Old 06-23-2014, 02:23 PM
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How big of cam and how much power are you making at what boost?
Old 06-23-2014, 02:33 PM
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When it comes to turbo cams... if it runs good n/a it will run good with a turbo. It will act just like it did n/a, torqueless till 5k then pull like a train. Only problem im seeing is your cam starts to pull at the same time the exhaust starts to choke on the turbo. Bigger exhaust side turbo or smaller cam would work better, but I say try it if it's in there already it might surprise you...
Old 06-23-2014, 02:55 PM
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Ya i was actually surprised na the little 5.3 with the ms3 cam actually had power at around 4k. I just dont want the boost to bleed out and not make power. Ill be happy if it matches the power of like say a ls6 cam.
Old 06-23-2014, 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Jake99
When it comes to turbo cams... if it runs good n/a it will run good with a turbo. It will act just like it did n/a, torqueless till 5k then pull like a train. Only problem im seeing is your cam starts to pull at the same time the exhaust starts to choke on the turbo. Bigger exhaust side turbo or smaller cam would work better, but I say try it if it's in there already it might surprise you...
This isn't always true. If it was, there wouldn't be turbo specific grinds.
Old 06-23-2014, 04:25 PM
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You ever seen a turbo cam run faster then a n/a cam? Some people have this wild idea you will push all boost out the exhaust when you have more exhaust pressure then boost pressure, on the sc engine you have to be careful but turbo engines will take almost any cam. Look at speed inc. Turbo cams then compare them to what texas speed puts in the same engine n/a.
Old 06-23-2014, 05:23 PM
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What is your definition of "run good"? My car is faster with the stock cam than it was with a bigger turbo cam. It depends on your setup. I've only foot braked my car and the extra torque down low really helped get the car out of the hole. The valve train is whisper quiet now and I get better fuel mileage. I did 504rwhp/617lbft at 8.6lbs through a th400 so your goal seems to be inline. I went from 12" of vacuum to 21". I would never do the big cam thing again if it were me but you have it so try it. If you don't like it a cam swap is doesn't take very long.
Old 06-23-2014, 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by chiaj144
What is your definition of "run good"? My car is faster with the stock cam than it was with a bigger turbo cam. It depends on your setup. I've only foot braked my car and the extra torque down low really helped get the car out of the hole. The valve train is whisper quiet now and I get better fuel mileage. I did 504rwhp/617lbft at 8.6lbs through a th400 so your goal seems to be inline. I went from 12" of vacuum to 21". I would never do the big cam thing again if it were me but you have it so try it. If you don't like it a cam swap is doesn't take very long.
i picked up 100 rwhp from a cam swap at 18 psi. game. set. match.
Old 06-23-2014, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by LILHEMI
i picked up 100 rwhp from a cam swap at 18 psi. game. set. match.
And those magic specs were...?
Old 06-23-2014, 06:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Photochop
And those magic specs were...?
magically not stock.
Old 06-23-2014, 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by LILHEMI
magically not stock.
great info
Old 06-23-2014, 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Jake99
When it comes to turbo cams... if it runs good n/a it will run good with a turbo. It will act just like it did n/a, torqueless till 5k then pull like a train. Only problem im seeing is your cam starts to pull at the same time the exhaust starts to choke on the turbo. Bigger exhaust side turbo or smaller cam would work better, but I say try it if it's in there already it might surprise you...
This guy knows what he is talking about.
the key is selecting a turbo to compliment the rpm range the cam/engine dictates, and setting up the drive train to take advantage of the rpm range that your cam/engine/turbo combo give you.
I personally think your combo will be fine, BUT the turbo will choke before the engine is done, and when you step up to a good flowing turbo, you will need a very good converter.
what are the exact specs of the turbo?
Old 06-23-2014, 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by LILHEMI
magically not stock.
SSS...............Super secret ****.
Old 06-23-2014, 08:07 PM
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im sure you super sleuths in here can dig up my cam specs. im too lazy to track them down for you.


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