Need help building a 5.3 for a porsche
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14
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From: Southeast Missouri
Need help building a 5.3 for a porsche So I bought an 85 porsche 944 widebody to do an ls swap on. For now I just want a nice mild build 5.3 to put in, maybe add nitrous down the road. Im using the porsche 5 speed transaxle and will have a clutch that will hold the 400whp i want to put to it.
Im thinking:
Lm7 5.3
Ported heads
Ls6 intake
Torquer v2 cam
Headers
Will this combo get me even close? Or do i just need to wait for a deal for a bigger displacement ls?
Im thinking:
Lm7 5.3
Ported heads
Ls6 intake
Torquer v2 cam
Headers
Will this combo get me even close? Or do i just need to wait for a deal for a bigger displacement ls?
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 255
From: Coast of San Mateo County Between Pacifica & HMB
Maybe with FAST 92, LS6 intake and 5.3 tough to get 400 RWHP
(480+FWHP) with factory castings and moderate cam. FAST
worth 15+ on that combo, if you have room for the LSXRT
add 10 more.
(480+FWHP) with factory castings and moderate cam. FAST
worth 15+ on that combo, if you have room for the LSXRT
add 10 more.
Just a heads up I believe those trans axles can only hold a little over 400 hp..... You are roughly doubling the power it was ment to hold.
More or less for if you plan to do more down the road.... Parts for it can be pricey or hard to get... Not going to find one in a junk yard so if you brake it you may be hating life.
Personally if it was me (lots of Porsches in my family including a 924 turbo with I believe is the same transaxle) I would keep it under 400.... It's what a 2500 pound car..... Don't need as much power as one would think.
If you want more power then the 400 talk to renegade (in airizone I believe) first and see what they say.
More or less for if you plan to do more down the road.... Parts for it can be pricey or hard to get... Not going to find one in a junk yard so if you brake it you may be hating life.
Personally if it was me (lots of Porsches in my family including a 924 turbo with I believe is the same transaxle) I would keep it under 400.... It's what a 2500 pound car..... Don't need as much power as one would think.
If you want more power then the 400 talk to renegade (in airizone I believe) first and see what they say.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Missouri
Thank you for the replies.
My plan is to push this transaxle to/past it's limits and then install one out of a turbo 944. They are all over ebay for 6-700 bucks and guys are running them with ls1 swaps around 400whp with no issues.
I'll have to keep an eye out for good fast 92 deals. Can't justify the cost of a new one, but I know it would be a good step up over an ls6 intake.
I'll do some searching and reading, curious if lm7 heads are worth porting.
My plan is to push this transaxle to/past it's limits and then install one out of a turbo 944. They are all over ebay for 6-700 bucks and guys are running them with ls1 swaps around 400whp with no issues.
I'll have to keep an eye out for good fast 92 deals. Can't justify the cost of a new one, but I know it would be a good step up over an ls6 intake.
I'll do some searching and reading, curious if lm7 heads are worth porting.
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TECH Addict
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,189
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From: Portland, Oregon
Personally, never been a big fan of **** cars, but that widebody looks nice. It will be respectable with an American V8 in it and some real tires.
Port the lm7 heads... West coast cylinder head stage two, should be more than adequate for your needs. If the truck intake fits, use it over a ls6 intake.
Don't get caught up chasing arbitrary power numbers. Build the 5.3 and stick it in there. Get it running and drive it a bit. Then make the decision if it needs more.
Port the lm7 heads... West coast cylinder head stage two, should be more than adequate for your needs. If the truck intake fits, use it over a ls6 intake.
Don't get caught up chasing arbitrary power numbers. Build the 5.3 and stick it in there. Get it running and drive it a bit. Then make the decision if it needs more.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 255
From: Coast of San Mateo County Between Pacifica & HMB
Personally, never been a big fan of **** cars, but that widebody looks nice. It will be respectable with an American V8 in it and some real tires.
Port the lm7 heads... West coast cylinder head stage two, should be more than adequate for your needs. If the truck intake fits, use it over a ls6 intake.
Don't get caught up chasing arbitrary power numbers. Build the 5.3 and stick it in there. Get it running and drive it a bit. Then make the decision if it needs more.
Port the lm7 heads... West coast cylinder head stage two, should be more than adequate for your needs. If the truck intake fits, use it over a ls6 intake.
Don't get caught up chasing arbitrary power numbers. Build the 5.3 and stick it in there. Get it running and drive it a bit. Then make the decision if it needs more.
You don't like **** cars,
Do you call Ferraris Fascist Cars?
How old are you?
Are you a WWII Vet? or?
TECH Addict
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,189
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From: Portland, Oregon
I meant no offense to the Porsche company, the peoples of Germany, or any actual *****, for that matter.
I do not call Ferraris fascists cars.
I am 30 years old, not a world war two vet.
Just don't usually like Porsche/bmw/mercedes vehicles... Maybe not dislike, but I'm just not impressed by them, generally.
That's not to say I don't respect their performance, or appreciate the craftsmanship... I'd just rather have a Cadillac.
The widebody Porsche is nice. Sorry for calling it a **** car.
I do not call Ferraris fascists cars.
I am 30 years old, not a world war two vet.
Just don't usually like Porsche/bmw/mercedes vehicles... Maybe not dislike, but I'm just not impressed by them, generally.
That's not to say I don't respect their performance, or appreciate the craftsmanship... I'd just rather have a Cadillac.
The widebody Porsche is nice. Sorry for calling it a **** car.
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
So I bought an 85 porsche 944 widebody to do an ls swap on. For now I just want a nice mild build 5.3 to put in, maybe add nitrous down the road. Im using the porsche 5 speed transaxle and will have a clutch that will hold the 400whp i want to put to it.
Im thinking:
Lm7 5.3
Ported heads
Ls6 intake
Torquer v2 cam
Headers
Will this combo get me even close? Or do i just need to wait for a deal for a bigger displacement ls?
Im thinking:
Lm7 5.3
Ported heads
Ls6 intake
Torquer v2 cam
Headers
Will this combo get me even close? Or do i just need to wait for a deal for a bigger displacement ls?
I had this conversion done on my car. I used a complete pull out from a 98 Camaro Z28. With me personally, I was looking for something in the 300 to 350hp range. I must say once you complete this project you will not be disappointed. Even if you don't reach 400hp you will love this car! I used Texas Performance Concepts for my conversion parts. These guys were awesome when it came to support. I had to call them a few time when my builder or myself had questions. My car is purely street ride that I'm totally satisfied with. I thought about the 5.3 motor but the 5.7 all aluminum f-body set up was a perfect union. There were some modifications to get hydro boost to clear my vavle covers. But once the job was done. It was great! The car will leave you smiling every time you drive it! The best conversion that I have ever had the pleasure of driving!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14
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From: Southeast Missouri
Sorry for the late reply, and thank you for your input! That's what I like to hear! I'm using TPC as well, hopefully will have the deluxe kit ordered tomorrow.
And thank you David. I found the 944s to be hit or miss on whether I liked them or not, I ended up driving 8 hours to pick this one up because I liked the wide body. I think it gives the car a sporty, more aggressive look. I'll have to use a car intake, truck intake wont clear. I may just get a dorman ls intake seeing as how they are $330 new and perform nearly as well as an ls6 intake.
Regarding porting, a local engine builder told me it would be a waste of time. Said there isn't much to port on these heads and the gains dont justify the cost. I'll stick this 5.3 in with just a cam and freshened up heads and maybe I'll build a nice 6.0 to put in it down the road. I may not want to sink a bunch into the first engine that goes in this car anyways, in case something goes wrong I'm not out a whole lot of money.
And thank you David. I found the 944s to be hit or miss on whether I liked them or not, I ended up driving 8 hours to pick this one up because I liked the wide body. I think it gives the car a sporty, more aggressive look. I'll have to use a car intake, truck intake wont clear. I may just get a dorman ls intake seeing as how they are $330 new and perform nearly as well as an ls6 intake.
Regarding porting, a local engine builder told me it would be a waste of time. Said there isn't much to port on these heads and the gains dont justify the cost. I'll stick this 5.3 in with just a cam and freshened up heads and maybe I'll build a nice 6.0 to put in it down the road. I may not want to sink a bunch into the first engine that goes in this car anyways, in case something goes wrong I'm not out a whole lot of money.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Missouri
Regarding cams, I'm looking at a crane cam 224/232 115lsa .590/.590. Think it's too big? I read an article comparing different cams in a 5.3 and they were really impressed with it (made 440bhp and torque wasn't terrible down low). I would like to have a bit of lope at idle which the 115 doesn't help, but it should be pretty street friendly.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14
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From: Southeast Missouri
Alright, I'm getting ready to purchase a cam kit and got ahold of texas speed today. I was recommended to run a 228r @110 lsa.. that sounds huge to me, for a 5.3 with stock 862 heads. But they are the professionals. I was recommended previously by midwest engines to stay away from 110lsa because they're tough to keep idling correctly. I'm curious what you guys think before I bite the bullet.
TECH Addict
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,189
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From: Portland, Oregon
Depends on who is doing the tune and how it's being done. Switching to a speed density tune, among other various tuning tricks, can get just about any cam to idle and drive respectably.
If you are competent with tuning, or have a good tuner, then that cam shouldn't be a problem.
If you are competent with tuning, or have a good tuner, then that cam shouldn't be a problem.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,845
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From: Coast of San Mateo County Between Pacifica & HMB
I would go CAM MOTION 5.7 stage 3 or 4
Stage 3, 222*/226* LSA 116* +3*
Stage 4, 220*/224* LSA 116* +3*
228* single Pattern on a 5.3 a little on the big side and LSA110*
will be VERY Lopey!
You will be much happier all the way around with a CAM MOTION
Cam, Talk with Kip not much more to get a Custom.
Just my .02
Stage 3, 222*/226* LSA 116* +3*
Stage 4, 220*/224* LSA 116* +3*
228* single Pattern on a 5.3 a little on the big side and LSA110*
will be VERY Lopey!
You will be much happier all the way around with a CAM MOTION
Cam, Talk with Kip not much more to get a Custom.
Just my .02