Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum and new to forced induction, but I've been around F-bodies for years. I recently found a 98 Trans Am for a price I couldn't pass up. I went out and bought it without having a plan for the build.
I have a D1SC Procharger kit with twin 4.5" intercoolers, ARP head bolts and ARP rod bolts, 1-7/8 headers, and a true dual exhaust. I will also be doing a 0411 ECU swap, as well as beefing up the transmission, chassis, suspension, brakes, rear end, fuel system etc to support the additional power. I don't have a budget for this, but I'd like to keep it somewhat wallet friendly.

The goal is a fun street car that I can drag race occasionally. 10s would be great, but 11s are also fine.

Here are the options I'm considering and some thoughts. Please remember these are just bullet points, I know there are a lot of other parts to each of these:

1. Build the LS1 and save the procharger for another project. Replace the perimeter bolt heads with something like TSP LS6 Brawler heads, a cam around 230/232 .600/.600 112lsa, LS6 intake. I think this would be the easiest build, but least powerful.

2. Build the LS1 for the procharger. Aftermarket casting heads (I like Trick Flow, but I cant find them in stock), dumpster fire cam 224/228 .600/.600 114llsa or Tick Blower stage 1 cam 223/235 .615"/.605" 116+5lsa, LS6 intake - I was thinking about keeping it around 7psi to be safe. Is supercharging an early LS1 worth the risk?

3. Buy a 5.3. Open up the ring gap, keep the heads from the 5.3, upgrade valve springs and rockers, dumpster fire cam, LS1, LS2, or LS6 intake. - This should handle more boost, right? If this is a good option, what pulleys / how much boost would you run?

4. Buy a 6.0 LQ4. Open ring gap, keep the heads from the LQ4, upgrade valve springs and rockers, Tick Performance Blower Stage 1 V2 LS2 cam225/237 .62x"/.61x" 116+5lsa, LS2 or LS6 intake. - Same question as option 3: What pulleys / how much boost?


What would you do? Is there a better option I'm missing? I'm not opposed to swapping heads on the 5.3 or LQ4 if it would be a significant improvement. I'm also not married to these cam choices.

I look forward to seeing your feedback. Thanks for reading

 

#4. After my fbo/sc ls3 took a dump I had a shop build a 402 w/LSA heads. Can handle 1000+. Just beef it up.

 

I’m currently building option 3.

Gen 3 5.3 with gen 4 pistons and rods. Rings gapped
862 heads with dual springs
Bald Eagle boost cam
Uograded oil pump, timing chain, balancer.

going to put a d1sc and shoot for 10psi

all mated to a th400 and a 8.8 rear end

 

MarshmallowMan: Thanks for the input. LSA heads are a good choice. I forgot you can put rec port heads on an LQ4.

Codys89RS: That's another good cam. Did you get the 8.8 from Hawks? Good luck with the build

 

Last car was an 02 Camaro SS six speed car, SBE LS1, CNC ported 317 heads, mystery turbo cam, old T7875 Turbonetics turbo made 700whp for about four years before I sold it.
Its all about the tune.
New owner wrecked it in a month.

 

I am not sure where the rear end came from. It was in the car when I got it.
Before i roll it back out of the shop I will need to tear it down so hopefully I will have more information!

 

If you are only going to boost the engine 7 psi, I'd just keep the LS1 that's in there.

 

Thanks TheBallSS. It's good to know that a SBE can hold 700rwhp. Do you know if the 02 LS1 was tougher than the earlier LS1s? Mine was built in 1997.
Sorry to hear about your last car. That would break my heart.

Thanks for the reply. I was looking for parts locally and came across a Moser 12 bolt. If the specs are good I'm going to pick it up.
I'm going to keep an eye on your build thread. I'm emotionally invested in that harmonic balancer.

Thanks Pro Stock John. I would run more boost if I do an engine swap.
I read 7psi was the safe maximum for LS1s. I don't remember where I saw that, but it stuck with me.
If I swap the engine I'd be more concerned about the twin 4.5" intercoolers becoming inefficient. I remember Bob@BruteSpeed saying they get hot around 14 psi. I suppose I'd shoot for about 12 psi.


I'm leaning towards the LQ4 at the moment.

 

I'd put the procharger on the ls1 and run it as is with the necessary fuel system upgrades that would support your long term goals. While running that motor on low boost and enjoying it I would be piecing together a well built forged motor to be ready to drop in when I want more boost.

 

Yeah it hurt to have to machine a $700 balancer but when I looked around and a few guys had to do the same I felt a little better. Assuming with the dual roller (which was overkill) and the high volume melling oil pump it was just enough. Plus side is the balancer is done and ready to go!

did you ever decide which route you ended up wanting to go?

 

Running about 16 psi here on a cast bottom end LS6 so 7 psi is not near the limit. Run what you got.

 

That's some good advice. I'm going to get the rest of the car ready to handle the power before doing the swap.

I'm going to look for an LQ4 or LQ9

 

You've made up your mind but I hit a rod/piston LS6 with 21 psi (Vortech YSi) and it lived. I would not be too concerned about boosting an LS1 to 12 psi.

Iron block adds 105 lbs to the car. I'm doing the opposite, will pull my SBE LM7 for a fully forged LC9 this year.

 

Very interesting.

You and ddnspider have me reconsidering.

 

it's all in the tuning. Run good fuel or add a cheap water meth kit and you can run plenty of boost to break other stuff besides the bottom end.

 

I hit 24 PSI by accident a few times on a twin turbo SBE 6.0L with ARP head studs and a LS9 gaskets. And that was after replacing 2 bent rods and damaged pistons while trying to figure out a waste gate issue while tuning it.

 

This gives me hope for my rod/piston LS1 at 20+ lbs. with my S484.
Was this something you did often?
Was this a drag car and how high did you spin it?
Sorry to derail the thread lol.

 

It was a '98 Formula, I had a blower on it and then turbo, went 9.3@145 not all optimized.

Tune is key.

 

Sorry for bringing back this old thread. I know I've been gone for a long time, but I didn't want to leave it open ended.

The advice from Pro Stock John and ddnspider convinced me to stick with an aluminum block. I bought an L92 from a 2007 Escalade and I am gathering parts now. I also got a Lunati Black Magic Gen IV supercharger cam (227/244 .614"/.595" 115LSA) before they were gone.

 

Just remember that a 411 pcm can't control a l92 with a 58x crank trigger without a converter box.