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First of all i would like to say that i am a new member and sorry if this isn't posted in the right area (didn't know where else to post)
My (Ute) is a 2011 HSV R8 Maloo (Australian) it had a 525rwhp LS3 (cam&nitrous) before it blew and made a nasty mess of almost everything.
I am going to start from scratch with all new parts but am not 100% enlightened as to what i need.
The goal is to have an LQ9 402-408ci block and a single turbo setup (through 6 speed manual gearbox) street car aiming for 700-750rwhp on E85 fuel. Im thinking of using the Fast LSX manifold with 102mm tb but as to what pistons and other components like cam sizing etc i have no idea for a boost setup.
If you could please give me any advice or point me in the right direction that would be much appreciated.
First off, I wouldn't do a 402-408. I would do a 365-370 based on the iron block. With a power goal of 700-750, look into a Billet S480 from Forced Inductions. This will give you room to grow, still spool good, and you won't have a high BP ratio.
Do something like this.
10.5:1CR 365-370" Engine (Forged Rods and Pistons, I would do a Forged Crank to be safe)
LSA or LS9 Cylinder Heads (Ported, Stainless Valves, good Springs and Retainers)
Custom Camshaft (Martin @ Tick or Lil John)
LS3 Intake Manifold
Billet S480
Built T56 (IMO go built TR6060 for room to grow)
Built IRS or Solid Axle
MagnaFuel MP4303
ID1300s
And a damn good tune.
That will make a fun, safe, and reliable 700-750whp. You could do it way cheaper, or way more expensive, but that is a good middle ground.
First off, I wouldn't do a 402-408. I would do a 365-370 based on the iron block. With a power goal of 700-750, look into a Billet S480 from Forced Inductions. This will give you room to grow, still spool good, and you won't have a high BP ratio.
Do something like this.
10.5:1CR 365-370" Engine (Forged Rods and Pistons, I would do a Forged Crank to be safe)
LSA or LS9 Cylinder Heads (Ported, Stainless Valves, good Springs and Retainers)
Custom Camshaft (Martin @ Tick or Lil John)
LS3 Intake Manifold
Billet S480
Built T56 (IMO go built TR6060 for room to grow)
Built IRS or Solid Axle
MagnaFuel MP4303
ID1300s
And a damn good tune.
That will make a fun, safe, and reliable 700-750whp. You could do it way cheaper, or way more expensive, but that is a good middle ground.
Great advice. The longer stroke just hurts reliability and is not needed in order to make power with a turbo. The additional cubes mean you need a bigger exhaust housing, turbine and DP to make the same power which all complicate packaging.
I've herd the FAST intakes don't hold up all to well under boost. If you still have the ls3 intake just use that.
Ummm, I think you're getting some bad information. I have both the stock intake manifold, and one of the LSXr 102 intakes, & I can absolutely confirm that the FAST intake is considerably beefier/more substantial than the stock GM unit.
But don't take my word for it...
"All FAST LS manifolds incorporate provisions to drill and tap for direct port nitrous nozzles. What about boost? Per Reese, "The LSXR and LSXRT were specifically designed for up to 30 pounds of boost. We have guys running 20+ PSI without issue." - Link #1
"I put 19-20psi thru a LSXR102 for over a year with no issues." - Link #2
I'm sure there are probably more out there to find, but the two above should be a good start...
Ummm, I think you're getting some bad information. I have both the stock intake manifold, and one of the LSXr 102 intakes, & I can absolutely confirm that the FAST intake is considerably beefier/more substantial than the stock GM unit.
But don't take my word for it...
I'm sure there are probably more out there to find, but the two above should be a good start...
LS6 intake is the only one that's significantly stronger for boost.
700 whp is honestly a pretty modest goal. You don't need to over complicate your build for that power. A forged 6.0 with stock unported heads and a cast 76mm turbo will do that fairly easy.
DEFYANT always pops in recommending turbos that significantly outperform people's goals. Like when they want 800 or so HP and he recommends the 1700 HP billet GT55-94. A billet 80 is a 1250+ HP turbo and isn't cheap. A stock out of the box S475 is half the price and will make close to 1000 whp on the right combo. That's more than enough room to grow.
Ummm, I think you're getting some bad information. I have both the stock intake manifold, and one of the LSXr 102 intakes, & I can absolutely confirm that the FAST intake is considerably beefier/more substantial than the stock GM unit.
But don't take my word for it...
I'm sure there are probably more out there to find, but the two above should be a good start...
Well... I've done tons and TONS of searches. I'm using cathedral port heads so the LS6 is what I'm useing. Sorry if I hit a nearve. But as someone else stated the LS6 intake is stronger, so my search criteria told me the truth on that.
700 whp is honestly a pretty modest goal. You don't need to over complicate your build for that power. A forged 6.0 with stock unported heads and a cast 76mm turbo will do that fairly easy.
DEFYANT always pops in recommending turbos that significantly outperform people's goals. Like when they want 800 or so HP and he recommends the 1700 HP billet GT55-94. A billet 80 is a 1250+ HP turbo and isn't cheap. A stock out of the box S475 is half the price and will make close to 1000 whp on the right combo. That's more than enough room to grow.
You are correct, I do like to recommend larger/more expensive turbo's than needed. Why? A larger turbo will give you room for more boost, if the rest of the setup is built to handle it you're just the turn of a **** away from more horsepower. How many people say they want 7-800whp, but really they want 1-1200whp? A lot. On something like this a Billet S480 would work amazing! With the proper setup it could have amazing spool and huge HP number possibilities. A Billet S480 made 1219whp on a fully optomized race setup, solid roller, race gas, etc. This is a street car. An S475 would work, but anything near 1000whp would be out of its efficiency zone.
WOW, thanks for the replys guys! this forum is reallt helpful.
Im not sure why but it seems here in Australia 90% of the guys chasing 700-900rwhp are using at least a 402ci? Are you saying that running a 402 would reduce the life of the engine compared to a 376?
Also with the turbo, it makes perfect sense of whats been said. bigger is better right? Do the billet s80 come in a stainless finished? Thats one thing that i DO want is a nice shiny snail staring at you when you pop the bonnet (hood)!
What about cam specs? i originally had a 224/230 at 114 but thats got a nice bend in the middle now!
Just because Everybody is doing it doesn't mean its right, or required... Plenty of people are in the 700-900 zone on stock cube engines... Hell theres a ton of them in that zone on stock bottom end motors... Lil Hemi on here made 800 to the tire on a Gen 3 5.3....
If reliability is what you want... Id build an Iron block Flat top piston and rod 370 and throw some Trick flow As Cast 220's on top of it. Stock LS6 or LS2 intake and be done... If your LS3 heads lived through the last motor grenading you can use those and the stock intake too.
LOSLS2 is dead on with his comments about cubic inch. All it does is move you up into a turbo thats going to be more expensive unit. Stay at 365-370 so an S400 based unit can be used. Its capable of 1200+ rwhp depending on which one you choose. A cast 80 version would be my Minimum on this build.
09-01-2014, 08:23 AM
LQ9 Single Turbo All New Build 
but the two above should be a good start... 
Do the billet s80 come in a stainless finished? Thats one thing that i DO want is a nice shiny snail staring at you when you pop the bonnet (hood)!
