Going to start another turbo G body when I get back from cruising the coast in biloxi this month and want to iron out the small details so I can have most of the parts when I get back. I'd like to keep things pretty simple with this car, spend money only where it is needed and have a fun 8.50 SBE with AC and full interior!

I'd like to make this el Camino a stronger and healthier version of the green Malibu which has a gen 3 5.3 and billet 72mm



So far this is what I am working with and would like opinions on cam choice, Intercooler brand or possibly no Intercooler at all, which intake manifold and compressor wheel diameter.

Gen 4 5.3 Shortblock
Stock 243's BTR .660's
eBay studs
T4 KBracing hotside kit
Boosted Solution 66mm wastegate
2.25' Crossover
Reduced 3.5' Downpipe to clear AC box
Loud Valve Boost actuated cutout
FTI level 5 1.69 1st gear powerglide
3.50 or 3.20 Rearend gear
Holley Dominator
E85 flex fuel
Ricks tank dual 450 Walbro bucket in stock tank
Holley 160's
Circle D converter

Being that I have a 1.69 Gear set I'm going to need to have a good amount of low end and mid range torque for some decent 60' times which is where I'd like some opinions on cam,intake manifold,and turbo.

Camshaft

I picked up a very low mileage stage 2 BTR turbo cam and I am contemplating whether or not this would work well with what I am trying to achieve.

Camshaft specs are 218/223 .598/.571 112+3

Should I look at a larger camshaft? Something like the stage 1 222/227? Or keep the cam, possibly advance the camshaft a few degrees to help with mid range power?

I would probably need to take this combo to 6600-7000 to trap in the 150's with a 3.50 Gear. Maybe 3.20's would be a better option.

Intake manifold

By all the builds I have seen, stock manifold just makes the most sense for what I am doing but the question is which one!

Out of the ls1/ls6/78mm truck intake or 87mm truck intake which would be best for that Torquey low/mid range that I am trying to achieve?

I have a ls1 intake, 78mm truck intake and a brand new TBSS 87mm truck intake laying around here at the shop. The ls6 would be the most expensive option as I would need to source one and purchase it.

Compressor wheel

What I do know is that I will be using a T4 96mm turbine s400 turbo. I have yet to decide which wheel between 76/80/84mm and what size AR housing for the T4 that I am going to use.

I know the fancy V2 cover wheel is out but is it really necessary? Is the new cover beneficial for spool or is that something that is only good if you are trying to push whatever compressor wheel you have to the limit?

I was thinking a v1 race cover ETR S476 with 96mm turbine and 1.25AR T4 wheel would get the job done. I could go all the way up to 84mm wheel but I feel all that extra compressor wheel will just slow down spool up, forced induction even makes a 1.10 and 1.0AR housing I believe for the 96mm turbine... thoughts?

Intercooler

Treadstone makes a nice 1300hp Intercooler for 500$ but has anyone seen any improvement over the CX racing units? CXRacing makes a 36x18x4 and 29x12x5 both for around 250 bucks! I would think those eBay Intercoolers would be good for 800-900whp

With that said I also considered Non Intercooled since it will be on E85, possibly add one or two methanol nozzles. What is everyone's thought? I haven't seen many builds without Intercoolers, maybe there's a reason for that.

 

25x16x4 cxracing intercooler in my buick. It's not an 8 second car but should be in the 9s with it this weekend.

 

I'm running the treadstone unit, Jarrett's cam, and a billet wheel s480, hoping to be at the track soon. I am under 3400 lbs race ready with a 6.0 so I can let you know how it goes. I'm hoping for similar goals but we shall see

 

Awesome!! How are your inlet temps with it? We have the same design on the green car but it's not the 5' core and it does well.

 

It is around 130 at the traps.

 

Use your cam it will work great. TBSS intake for sure it makes the most mid range torque which will help spool and that 330' time. Do a 2-2/18" hot side this will also help it spool and be quicker down the track. Read this http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=308464 Run the biggest compressor wheel probably the 84mm or so. If you are not limited by a specific class size the spool difference will be minimal but the hp difference will be huge. The 84mm compressor wheel will do 1400 rwhp with the 96mm exhaust wheel. Definitely run an intercooler with e85 I think you will regret it when you are trying to run 8.50's if you go non intercooled.

 

Wait a minute, could we possible see a build thread from you that actually gets closure? lol

 

Several of my builds made it to completion ��

 

I have a guy that will even trade me a BTR stage 1 which is a 222/227 113+3. That cam shaft has -1.5* of overlap versus -3.5* that the 218/223 112* has. I will probably spin this thing to 7000-7200, I wonder if the 218/223 cam will like that much rpm?

I just seen that Jose can now put the 85mm wheel inside the V1 cover to keep costs down. I might just do a s475/96 or pay a little extra and do s475/92 T4 1.25AR to meet my initial goals and I will be a compressor wheel and cover upgrade away from a 1200+whp unit.

Kit has already been built and it's 2.25' which is an upgrade from what our other Malibu has.

Here is the kit nearing completion.

 

I like the car and color.

Only thing I can say for sure is

1. if you care about the engine, use an air filter

2. you might pick up some power if you get an intake tube on the front of the turbo.

 

It has one, only removed at the track although there isn't much to be gain without fresh air going to it. I did rip the hood skin off my hood on one pass and ended up removing the hood entirely and gained 2mph from the fresh air going to the turbo.