Where do you get your info?
I skipped all the answers here, lol. What I would do is know your goals first. Know your budget. I like to search for all the info I can find, find someone that has built an engine or setup as close to mine as possible, see what they did and used and finally, speak to the cam company, converter ect which will get you fine tuned.
I asked for help too. But even after getting the advice I still research it to death when possible.
I asked for help too. But even after getting the advice I still research it to death when possible.
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Nothing wrong with that in my mind. It's not the majority that are interested and passionate enough about the process to geek out on it, like some of us.
Some want their car to do xyz. Some want an engine to do xyz, no matter what the vehicle does. Only a few want to know the how and why, of the how and why.
Sometimes, I just want to know how to remove a stain. And have zero interest in fabric and thread chemistry and why a stain is a stain, and the chemical reactions that take place between a specific cleaner and the source of the stain... Just tell me how to remove the stain. Give me the big giant silver spoon solution.
Last edited by SethU; May 16, 2017 at 01:55 PM.
9 Second Club
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From: Norn Iron
That's true. It's probably appropriate for "most" people, that just want the solution.
Nothing wrong with that in my mind. It's not the majority that are interested and passionate enough about the process to geek out on it, like some of us.
Some want their car to do xyz. Some want an engine to do xyz, no matter what the vehicle does. Only a few want to know the how and why, of the how and why.
Sometimes, I just want to know how to remove a stain. And have zero interest in fabric and thread chemistry and why a stain is a stain, and the chemical reactions that take place between a specific cleaner and the source of the stain... Just tell me how to remove the stain. Give me the big giant silver spoon solution.
Nothing wrong with that in my mind. It's not the majority that are interested and passionate enough about the process to geek out on it, like some of us.
Some want their car to do xyz. Some want an engine to do xyz, no matter what the vehicle does. Only a few want to know the how and why, of the how and why.
Sometimes, I just want to know how to remove a stain. And have zero interest in fabric and thread chemistry and why a stain is a stain, and the chemical reactions that take place between a specific cleaner and the source of the stain... Just tell me how to remove the stain. Give me the big giant silver spoon solution.
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Typically, I like to know the why and how of things too. However, it's literally impossible to do it all the way down to the core science in every situation and aspect of life that presents itself, or sparks the thought in my head "I wonder how that works". It's mentally taxing enough to master a specific job in life, and maybe a couple hobbies... to then create a mastery level understanding of flight aerodynamics, world economics, or (OMG) any opinion/belief based subject that literally has no end... religion, politics, Coke or Pepsi.
Sometimes, that phrase is just appropriate. More so, to tell myself.
Thanks for sharing that.
i dunno I was lying about them so I didnt appear out of touch about current events.
true answer:
I racked up 20+ years or so of messing with NA (lil bit of spray here n there) v8 cars of various makes and power levels
then I watched some sloppy mechanics videos and read the wiki and built a turbo set up and broke lots of stuff.
in the early 90's I wanted a GN and couldnt afford one (and they were cheap too!) . in the early 2000's I wanted a vette or a camaro and couldnt afford one. now I can afford whatever and rather spend my time with SBE stuff and ebay turbos....breaking all sorts of stuff in the process
which is the price of an education I guess LS1 Tech Stories
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Regular
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i dunno I was lying about them so I didnt appear out of touch about current events.
true answer:
I racked up 20+ years or so of messing with NA (lil bit of spray here n there) v8 cars of various makes and power levels
then I watched some sloppy mechanics videos and read the wiki and built a turbo set up and broke lots of stuff.
in the early 90's I wanted a GN and couldnt afford one (and they were cheap too!) . in the early 2000's I wanted a vette or a camaro and couldnt afford one. now I can afford whatever and rather spend my time with SBE stuff and ebay turbos....breaking all sorts of stuff in the process which is the price of an education I guess
true answer:
I racked up 20+ years or so of messing with NA (lil bit of spray here n there) v8 cars of various makes and power levels
then I watched some sloppy mechanics videos and read the wiki and built a turbo set up and broke lots of stuff.
in the early 90's I wanted a GN and couldnt afford one (and they were cheap too!) . in the early 2000's I wanted a vette or a camaro and couldnt afford one. now I can afford whatever and rather spend my time with SBE stuff and ebay turbos....breaking all sorts of stuff in the process
which is the price of an education I guess
Just never ends! 
thats the beauty of it bro. there's always something new to learn and run out to the shop and try 
Staging Lane
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From: Northwest Arkansas
set solid goals and read a bunch. make a parts list. follow it...unless something better comes out while gathering parts.
be specific - my goal is 600 whp sbe gen 4 5.3 with 4L80 and a 3.73 rear gear on a 28" tire in a 3800 lb truck and run 11.99 or better.
Layout a goal like that then start reading.... i researched for like 3 years while gathering parts i had read will work for this goal...
Then you can google 600 wheel hp sbe 5.3....
be specific - my goal is 600 whp sbe gen 4 5.3 with 4L80 and a 3.73 rear gear on a 28" tire in a 3800 lb truck and run 11.99 or better.
Layout a goal like that then start reading.... i researched for like 3 years while gathering parts i had read will work for this goal...
Then you can google 600 wheel hp sbe 5.3....
set solid goals and read a bunch. make a parts list. follow it...unless something better comes out while gathering parts.
be specific - my goal is 600 whp sbe gen 4 5.3 with 4L80 and a 3.73 rear gear on a 28" tire in a 3800 lb truck and run 11.99 or better.
Layout a goal like that then start reading.... i researched for like 3 years while gathering parts i had read will work for this goal...
Then you can google 600 wheel hp sbe 5.3....
be specific - my goal is 600 whp sbe gen 4 5.3 with 4L80 and a 3.73 rear gear on a 28" tire in a 3800 lb truck and run 11.99 or better.
Layout a goal like that then start reading.... i researched for like 3 years while gathering parts i had read will work for this goal...
Then you can google 600 wheel hp sbe 5.3....
I built my turbo car on a very small budget, all used parts and came to the conclusion it will make what ever it makes.
The ultimate goal was to have a fun street car and do it cheap so budget ultimately determined how much power my car would make, whether it would be a street car or race car or what ever.
A budget will also help you determine a build timeline, my small budget meant a two year build time with gathering parts and wrenching.
$.02
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You're absolutely right Doug. The seemingly never ending, exponential nature of it, is the beauty of it.