63stingray

iTrader: (5)

Ok guys here is my goal. I will explain the car here in a minute. My goal(s) are 400whp for $4,000 or 500whp for $5,000. This is my project and where Im currently at. I have been holding out for some great deals but I need to get this project going ASAP.

-1996 Z28, fresh paint, 4" cowl hood needed all front suspension - $400
-stock 2005 L33, has great compression in all cylinders - $300
-Built th400 - free, I already had it
-LS1 k member w/ upper and lower A arms, bilstein shocks, springs, LS1 steering shaft, steering lines, power steering pump assembly - $200
- I have sourced complete front LS1 brakes for $150 which I will be picking up this week
- both front spindles sourced from local junkyard for $60

So basically I have around $900 in this car, soon to be about $1100. I have all the LS1 accessories minus the idler pulley and crank pulley. Im selling 1 of my 2 cars, which will bring in around $3000. I want this to be a budget build, but not cobbled together. Im being cheap at the moment due to my wedding coming up. Just looking for advice and possibly some guidance because I dont know which way to go. I dont want nitrous, period. How would you finish this build? Thanks for any help!

"MAC"

iTrader: (1)

Cam, heads, lifters, valve springs, full exhaust, CAI, gears and tune.

redtan

iTrader: (5)

Port the heads, cam package and a FAST intake should get you there.

63stingray

iTrader: (5)

fairly new to the LSX scene. Where can I get my 799 ported for a reasonable price? Cam package will be in the works soon. I have been considering the turbo route. Also I will probably go the LS6 intake over a FAST, because I still need intake, throttle body, fuel rails, and injectors. I can probably get an ls6 intake with everything else I need for the price of a FAST.

Always2Slow

iTrader: (8)

You don't need ported heads. Just get a quality valve job on the heads and a cam. Even an LS6 intake will accomplish this goal, but a fast is better if you can squeeze it in.

Marc 85Z28

iTrader: (8)

Yes, he does. Remember, this is only a 5.3 with a TH400 behind it. 400rwhp isn't going to happen with near stock heads or a mild cam. 500rwhp NA won't happen.

redtan

iTrader: (5)

He ain't putting down 400rwhp from a 5.3 through a TH400 with stock heads and intake. Heck, an LS1 with 243 heads would struggle to do that unless it was a monstrous cam.

"MAC"

iTrader: (1)

^^True, and i forgot to mention intake with what i said earlier. So a quick recap, Cam, Heads, intake, full exhaust, CAI, gears to complement the stall, trunion upgrade and tune.

H8R

I'd get some TEA 5.3's and all the supporting mods, you'll be close.

stomis

You said no nitrous but what about turbo? An ebay t4 with stock heads, intake, a cam and springs swap could put 400 on the wheels easy with low boost. Could turn it up for 500 if you wanted.


Im almost done building my NA 5.3 (330ci) with trickflow 205s and a fast LSXRT with 11.25:1. Im expecting my build to be as much NA power as you could get from a 5.3 with it still having a good torque range for a stick DD. Very similar build on here got 500hp out of 11:1, same heads, very similar cam, and a stock ls6 intake. Ive got my fingers crossed for 550hp at the crank but we'll see.

garygnu

some ported Texas speed ls6 heads with a big cam should make 400rwhp .