5.3 Turbo Questions
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 313
Likes: 16
From: Lincoln, NE
5.3 Turbo Questions An opportunity has came on the possible purchase of a 1990 Silverado Regular Cab Short Box 2wd w/ a fresh fully forged 5.3, Turbo with boost at 13psi, and a fresh fully built 4l60e. The truck is in show condition as owner is a vehicle shop owner and races late models.
Question is I have no back ground in Turbos, so what should I make sure has been done. Like what ring gap does boost like? Head Gaskets? Whatever else
Also why do so many run a 5.3 over say an 6.0 block?
Oh I guess I should add that at 13psi it made 738rwhp with room left and wants $18k. Has receipts for recent motor and transmission work.
(Block is brand new)
Question is I have no back ground in Turbos, so what should I make sure has been done. Like what ring gap does boost like? Head Gaskets? Whatever else
Also why do so many run a 5.3 over say an 6.0 block?
Oh I guess I should add that at 13psi it made 738rwhp with room left and wants $18k. Has receipts for recent motor and transmission work.
(Block is brand new)
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,293
Likes: 3,617
From: Central Cal.
I can answer the 5.3 vs 6.0 question; 5.3 is by far the most common size LS block there is, coming in most 1/2 ton Chevy pickups since 1999.
Hopefully, if the shop is a very reputable one, he would have done all the right things building it. Ring gaps, head gaskets, etc. would have been researched and done correctly.
But he would be the only one to confirm all this.
Hopefully, if the shop is a very reputable one, he would have done all the right things building it. Ring gaps, head gaskets, etc. would have been researched and done correctly.
But he would be the only one to confirm all this.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 313
Likes: 16
From: Lincoln, NE
I can answer the 5.3 vs 6.0 question; 5.3 is by far the most common size LS block there is, coming in most 1/2 ton Chevy pickups since 1999.
Hopefully, if the shop is a very reputable one, he would have done all the right things building it. Ring gaps, head gaskets, etc. would have been researched and done correctly.
But he would be the only one to confirm all this.
Hopefully, if the shop is a very reputable one, he would have done all the right things building it. Ring gaps, head gaskets, etc. would have been researched and done correctly.
But he would be the only one to confirm all this.
He's admitted that even with the 4l60e being a complete built transmission that if it was a built 4l80e he'd be more comfortable turning up boost. Reading all these turbo builds has kinda gave me boost fever lol.
GM 5.3 Gen IV Block Strength Hi, my favorite AL Block is the late GEN-IV 5.3 because of the THICK cylinder wall.
I KNOW this because I Sonic Test the walls.
I know the GEN IV block is a common casting, the same used for the LS-3.
I know little about the Iron Block 5.3 wall thickness.
Would there be someone here that has "sonic tested" that block ?
Lance
I KNOW this because I Sonic Test the walls.
I know the GEN IV block is a common casting, the same used for the LS-3.
I know little about the Iron Block 5.3 wall thickness.
Would there be someone here that has "sonic tested" that block ?
Lance
When 1 person does everything they know every part and every mistake. A list of parts and mistakes is necessary to determine anything without taking it apart yourself.
See how everyone is asking what turbo. What part. What parts in the trans. Because there are $300 turbos and $3000 transmissions that are about equal in terms of durability. You have to know what part to use.
See how everyone is asking what turbo. What part. What parts in the trans. Because there are $300 turbos and $3000 transmissions that are about equal in terms of durability. You have to know what part to use.
Trending Topics
Get the turbo specs. Then get the motor specs (cam and compression)... wastegate used. Crossover pipe size. And the torque converter specs.
Turbo 5.3 is very popular - can make 1000rwhp with a relatively small BW Cast S400 frame 75mm compressor 83mm turbine 1.10 A/R and a small cam...
Bigger motors need more turbine and A/R to alleviate back pressure. But a 75/83 or 75/87 combo spools fast on a 5.3.
Even something like the Precision PT7675 with a 76/75 .96 A/R setup can do 900rwhp on a 5.3 without much trouble. But would have backpressure issues on a 370...
Moving to something like a BW S400 chassis with a Billet 76mm compressor and 96mm turbine with a 1.32 A/R is going to be good on something like a forged 6L.
On a truck, I would think you want the smaller turbine housing to light off the turbo at 2500 or so and start building boost to move the truck.
And you want a 75mm compressor or so with a 5.3L...
Turbo 5.3 is very popular - can make 1000rwhp with a relatively small BW Cast S400 frame 75mm compressor 83mm turbine 1.10 A/R and a small cam...
Bigger motors need more turbine and A/R to alleviate back pressure. But a 75/83 or 75/87 combo spools fast on a 5.3.
Even something like the Precision PT7675 with a 76/75 .96 A/R setup can do 900rwhp on a 5.3 without much trouble. But would have backpressure issues on a 370...
Moving to something like a BW S400 chassis with a Billet 76mm compressor and 96mm turbine with a 1.32 A/R is going to be good on something like a forged 6L.
On a truck, I would think you want the smaller turbine housing to light off the turbo at 2500 or so and start building boost to move the truck.
And you want a 75mm compressor or so with a 5.3L...
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