Talk me into/out of an S480
Talk me into/out of an S480 So a great deal came my way on a genuine s480 turbo, I just don't know if I'll be happy with the "overkill" nature of a big single on my build. I know this turbo will meet and exceed my goals with ease, I'm mainly just concerned with spool and the street manners of a big single.
Car is a 1964 Impala. I've got an LQ4 that I'll be throwing gen4 rods in and with forged pistons. Cam is undecided at the moment, but will get something fairly mild for street driving comfort. Transmission will be the original powerglide that has been built to handle some abuse, and a stall to suit my needs.
The turbo has the big 96 1.32 housing, and race cover. I figure with a 6.0 and the right cam, I shouldn't have to worry too much about the torque in the lower rev range and the turbo will provide more than enough up top.
I read threads about guys with 5.3s spooling these 96 wheel turbos fine while using autos, but I know that is somewhat a matter of opinion to what guys consider acceptable response.
Can pick up the turbo for around $800 new. Thoughts?
Car is a 1964 Impala. I've got an LQ4 that I'll be throwing gen4 rods in and with forged pistons. Cam is undecided at the moment, but will get something fairly mild for street driving comfort. Transmission will be the original powerglide that has been built to handle some abuse, and a stall to suit my needs.
The turbo has the big 96 1.32 housing, and race cover. I figure with a 6.0 and the right cam, I shouldn't have to worry too much about the torque in the lower rev range and the turbo will provide more than enough up top.
I read threads about guys with 5.3s spooling these 96 wheel turbos fine while using autos, but I know that is somewhat a matter of opinion to what guys consider acceptable response.
Can pick up the turbo for around $800 new. Thoughts?
An 1.32 S480 isn’t a “big single” for a 6.0. I ran one in my 4.8 and was pulling sub 2 second 0-60 times (at a track). So acceleration/response is far from an issue on a drag car with a Trans brake and the proper converter. IN my experience more power/response was never something I needed on the street. I pulled tons of power and limited boost on my 4.8 to get traction on the street with 30” MT drag radials. That said if I were to jump on the car at say 3000 rpm in high gear from a roll… it won’t accelerate like a smaller turbo would. Depends on your power goals and application. No reason for a 1000hp turbo if 700hp makes you happy. The T6 S475 is underrated IMO. Spools quicker than the S480 and makes almost as much power. The billet 6 blade S475 is a great unit. You can also go 1.10 T6 if you want more response. I really don’t believe a T4 belongs on any V8 as a single with a 600whp+ goal. But my applications are always drag street/strip toys.
That sounds like a good deal, I wouldn't pass up on it for sure.
I've got a billet S484 on my rod/piston 5.7 and its no slouch, its set for 10 lbs. at the moment and will hit that number by 3,500ish rpm whacking the throttle in first gear from a roll, gonna set the two step up on the brake pedal so I can brake boost while rolling, should be way more fun.
On 12 lbs. it made 734whp through a slipping TH400 if that helps.
A 6.0L would be even better, select the appropriate cam and converter and make your power goals with ease.
As far as street goes, I drive mine all the time with a full manual TH400, drives great.
Tipping into third gear lugs a bit but gets going decently, I try not to whack the gas in third gear at lower rpms because its just not a good idea imo.
I've got a billet S484 on my rod/piston 5.7 and its no slouch, its set for 10 lbs. at the moment and will hit that number by 3,500ish rpm whacking the throttle in first gear from a roll, gonna set the two step up on the brake pedal so I can brake boost while rolling, should be way more fun.
On 12 lbs. it made 734whp through a slipping TH400 if that helps.
A 6.0L would be even better, select the appropriate cam and converter and make your power goals with ease.
As far as street goes, I drive mine all the time with a full manual TH400, drives great.
Tipping into third gear lugs a bit but gets going decently, I try not to whack the gas in third gear at lower rpms because its just not a good idea imo.
That's kind of what I was thinking, especially with the lower price point for a genuine Borg. It's the cast wheel but I don't think it'll make enough difference for me to notice or even care honestly.
Just for reference you can get a "fancy" next gen billet S480 for the same price that likely outperforms the cast S480.
https://turbo4less.com/product/vsr-8...let-t6-1-32ar/
And a "Standard billet" S480 for $709.
IMHO the cast Borg S480 will outperform the stnadard billet VSR S480. I'd guess the "next gen" S480 unit above has an edge over the cast borg.
https://turbo4less.com/product/vsr-8...let-t6-1-32ar/
And a "Standard billet" S480 for $709.
IMHO the cast Borg S480 will outperform the stnadard billet VSR S480. I'd guess the "next gen" S480 unit above has an edge over the cast borg.
