L33 refresh and cam advice
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Teching In
Joined: Aug 2014
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L33 refresh and cam advice I just bought an l33 for my LS Miata build. Now I know the l33 is a good starting point with the flat top pistons and the 243 heads.
I plan on stripping it down and replacing the bearings, rings and gaskets. Trying to avoid much machine shop work aside from skimmimg the heads and a vakave job. I'll also be putting in a cam at the same time. My experience is pretty limited with LS engines so I'm asking what you guys suggest for the block and heads. I'm looking for about 425-450 chp. Any cam suggestions? I've still got lots of research to do but I wanted to get an idea of what I'm going to be looking at.
I plan on stripping it down and replacing the bearings, rings and gaskets. Trying to avoid much machine shop work aside from skimmimg the heads and a vakave job. I'll also be putting in a cam at the same time. My experience is pretty limited with LS engines so I'm asking what you guys suggest for the block and heads. I'm looking for about 425-450 chp. Any cam suggestions? I've still got lots of research to do but I wanted to get an idea of what I'm going to be looking at.
The 5.3L will be a great setup in your Miata, especially given the weight advantage! How aggressive are you wanting to go on cam, and will you be running a manual transmission? 425-450 flywheel HP will be achievable with ported heads and the right cam. If you're planning on paying to have the heads skimmed and a valve job done, you might consider sending them to us for porting, valve job, and milling! We do port customer's GM castings:
http://www.texas-speed.com/p-1172-pr...-castings.aspx
The $750 will include everything I listed, along with pressure testing to ensure the valves seal and reassembly. You can read more about Precision Race Components and what goes into our heads below:
http://www.texas-speed.com/t-prcheads.aspx
We offer a wide variety of cams that will work great for your setup. It all comes down to how aggressive you want to go. We offer really mild grinds, such as a 212/218, and we offer more aggressive grinds, such as our Torquer line of camshafts (low 230's duration). If it was my car, I would look at our 228R camshaft. It will have a nice, lopey idle in your 5.3L, and it will make excellent power! It has more than enough room for piston-to-valve clearance as well, so that won't be a concern.
Let us know if we can help you with your build. We also offer mail-order ECM tuning where we can tune your computer for the new setup. We also stock all of the bolts, gaskets, bearings, etc. that you'll need to put it all back together!
http://www.texas-speed.com/p-1172-pr...-castings.aspx
The $750 will include everything I listed, along with pressure testing to ensure the valves seal and reassembly. You can read more about Precision Race Components and what goes into our heads below:
http://www.texas-speed.com/t-prcheads.aspx
We offer a wide variety of cams that will work great for your setup. It all comes down to how aggressive you want to go. We offer really mild grinds, such as a 212/218, and we offer more aggressive grinds, such as our Torquer line of camshafts (low 230's duration). If it was my car, I would look at our 228R camshaft. It will have a nice, lopey idle in your 5.3L, and it will make excellent power! It has more than enough room for piston-to-valve clearance as well, so that won't be a concern.
Let us know if we can help you with your build. We also offer mail-order ECM tuning where we can tune your computer for the new setup. We also stock all of the bolts, gaskets, bearings, etc. that you'll need to put it all back together!
__________________
Largest Stocking Distributor of LS-x Engines / CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!
COMP - FAST - PACESETTER - DIAMOND RACING - EAGLE SPECIALTY PRODUCTS - CALLIES - COMETIC GASKETS
RAM CLUTCHES - MOSER ENGINEERING - KOOK'S HEADERS - ARP - GM BOLTS AND GASKETS - MSD - NGK
POWERBOND - ASP - AND MORE!
Largest Stocking Distributor of LS-x Engines / CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!
COMP - FAST - PACESETTER - DIAMOND RACING - EAGLE SPECIALTY PRODUCTS - CALLIES - COMETIC GASKETS
RAM CLUTCHES - MOSER ENGINEERING - KOOK'S HEADERS - ARP - GM BOLTS AND GASKETS - MSD - NGK
POWERBOND - ASP - AND MORE!
Even with over 100k miles, you might be surprised at the condition of the bearings, rings and bores.
Mine had 136k miles, and with the exception of the rings being gunked to the pistons, all was good. I carefully cleaned everything and put it back together.
Then put a turbo on it.
Ron
Mine had 136k miles, and with the exception of the rings being gunked to the pistons, all was good. I carefully cleaned everything and put it back together.
Then put a turbo on it.
Ron
