turbo lq4
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
turbo lq4 I finally saved the money to start my build. I ran across a engine builder and he told me i will need about $20k to build a reliable turbo engine. That was a bit hard to believe seeing a lot of people out there is building budget turbo engines. Well so far here is what i have planned for my engine so far. Tell me what you guys think.
wiseco forged pistons
eagle rods
317 heads-i have plans to have them ported
trunion upgrade
spring kit
ls9 gaskets
high volume oil pump
cam( i dont know if i want a tick performance cam or go with Lil john motorsports)
BW s475
Some parts thats still up in the air
Bov size
wastegate size
intake
ls3 heads
ls9 heads
wiseco forged pistons
eagle rods
317 heads-i have plans to have them ported
trunion upgrade
spring kit
ls9 gaskets
high volume oil pump
cam( i dont know if i want a tick performance cam or go with Lil john motorsports)
BW s475
Some parts thats still up in the air
Bov size
wastegate size
intake
ls3 heads
ls9 heads
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Im no expert by any means but it really depends on what your building it for. what type of HP are you wanting? There are plenty of guys on here that are throwing together junkyard engines and running some rediculous power. I hope to be one of those gentlemen here in the near future. LS engines are a solid platform for building. If you added up all of my engine build costs im well under 5k. Personally i am a Stock bottom end, DIY ported heads with the valve train upgraded with the guidance of John at Lil John Motorsports running a Billet S480 clone. Depending on what you want, i think your plan is a solid start and may need a few tweeks here and there to get you where you want. Best of luck and ask away. I may not know a lot but ive learned a bunch form guy on here.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 382
Likes: 2
It's a fine line......when I started my turbo build for my nova I already had a lq4 and ls3 heads.
You could simply get 5.3 add springs head studs and a cheap ls6 cam s475 and make decent power.
My stock bottom end lasted one drive, boost controller failed and bent a rod.
I now run on the spring and have a forged lower end.
That being said I'm considering turbo ing my 56 Chevy and will Probally go 5.3 .
You could simply get 5.3 add springs head studs and a cheap ls6 cam s475 and make decent power.
My stock bottom end lasted one drive, boost controller failed and bent a rod.
I now run on the spring and have a forged lower end.
That being said I'm considering turbo ing my 56 Chevy and will Probally go 5.3 .
$20k wtf? even if you didnt want to do the work yourself or have a local machinist do it, which most I would never trust...at least not around here. You can buy an assembled ready to roll monster of a forged engine for like $7k already built with nice heads, shipped to your door from one of the vendors like Thompson Motorsports. If you only need a short block you can spend like $5k and do your heads yourself, and bolt them down. Done.
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 382
Likes: 2
When he said 20k I was assuming that included motor + turbo stuff + fab and tune + farming the whole thing out......atleast I hope that's what he meant lol
Just cost me 3800 to do weisco pistons compstar rods main studs balance/assemble on my short block
Just cost me 3800 to do weisco pistons compstar rods main studs balance/assemble on my short block
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
20k isnt far fetched by any means. The guy is just showing him how fast it could add up. Because it does! The mere fact of him mentioning "his engine builder" implies he s gunna hopefully use a professional on alot of this. Its not hard to spend that kinda money.
Decent long block-5k-10k
Turbo(s) and all fabrication, even if doing it yourself-4k-7k
fueling and other supporting mods-3k and up
misc, fluids, gaskets, tuning, etc-$$$
This **** all adds up quickly, most people are untruthful about thier all in number when it finally gets to up n running
im sure there are tons of cheap ways and shortcuts and sloppy mechanics tricks, but they too rely on alot of luck, deals, and already been there done that knowledge! Just sayn, it aint hard to drop 20k on a built turbocar set up.
Cheap, fast, and reliable,...you can only have two
Decent long block-5k-10k
Turbo(s) and all fabrication, even if doing it yourself-4k-7k
fueling and other supporting mods-3k and up
misc, fluids, gaskets, tuning, etc-$$$
This **** all adds up quickly, most people are untruthful about thier all in number when it finally gets to up n running
im sure there are tons of cheap ways and shortcuts and sloppy mechanics tricks, but they too rely on alot of luck, deals, and already been there done that knowledge! Just sayn, it aint hard to drop 20k on a built turbocar set up.
Cheap, fast, and reliable,...you can only have two
TECH Regular
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 487
Likes: 4
My first turbo build/efi build ever and I used alot of the sloppy mechanics tricks and budget and was able to complete my turbo Nova project for less than what you are projecting the cost of a decent long block. Now I wasn't shooting for the moon HP wise, but 600WHP is definitely in the cards. I won't complain with that, lol.
I do agree that it isn't hard to spend extra money though, lol.
I do agree that it isn't hard to spend extra money though, lol.
