Head decision for 5.3 NA build.
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Teching In
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I'm frugal, I like to have a purpose and make every dollar work for me.
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From: Central Cal.
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While I'm at it? Can anyone recommend a complete standard bore rotating assembly? Better off piecing together? Having a hard time with finding standard bore pistons but don't want to pay for machining that isn't necessary.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Central Cal.
Get ahold of WS6store, a sponsor/vendor on this site. They are VERY helpful and if they don't have what you need they will know who does. They have good prices, great service, and honest advice.
How much are you willing to spend on this build? And are you against n2o and forced induction? The reason I ask is, that you could likely exceed your power goals using N2o or forced induction for little more or the same cost as building a 4-500 rwhp forged, aftermarket headed, cammed, reliable 5.3. Why not procharge or turbo the sbe, cam it, throw some pac 1218 springs on the top end, and make 500+ rwhp
On 8psi? Also, a cammed springed engine with a 150 shot will make your goals for a couple grand. All depends what you’re looking to do.
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How much are you willing to spend on this build? And are you against n2o and forced induction? The reason I ask is, that you could likely exceed your power goals using N2o or forced induction for little more or the same cost as building a 4-500 rwhp forged, aftermarket headed, cammed, reliable 5.3. Why not procharge or turbo the sbe, cam it, throw some pac 1218 springs on the top end, and make 500+ rwhp
On 8psi? Also, a cammed springed engine with a 150 shot will make your goals for a couple grand. All depends what you’re looking to do.
If down the road, I decide I want to go faster, I'll get a blower and redo things. A cam only 5.3 will make about 3x the power that the original 400 made so we're already seeing a major improvement.
Originally Posted by oldfogey47
regarding the: "Clean up the heads with a little port job" statement...
WHO would you recommend for a "little port job"? I've got a nice pair of 853's that could use this.
Thanks...
WHO would you recommend for a "little port job"? I've got a nice pair of 853's that could use this.
Thanks...
Sorry to the OP
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The ported heads work, no doubt. But the cam transforms the 5.3 from a dog truck 5000RPM slug to a 7000RPM monster ( if big enough on cam)
We've done a pile of combos now, and I only ran ported heads on a couple. Now I use stock castings on everything and add cubes when there is more need. Soooo much better for literally everything. $1500.00 stroker kit and a cheap shelf cam and your in the 600hp range. You could dump 15K into a 5.3 and not get that number, and no where near the torque. Boost is another option that this day and age can be done super cheap, although it is a lot of work, and you must run quality fuel as well as get a very good tune if you want it turn key drive anywhere road worthy.
So I see the 5.3 and 4.8 as budget motors only, they really dont make a lot of sense for much else. Once that is sort of grasped they are HEAPS of fun.
Check this thread out and read the OP's comments.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...3-ls9-cam.html
btw, milling a stock head and checking clearance with clay is cheap and will REALLY wake it up too. Snappy as hell
check out CR gains without porting. Cost around a hundred bucks to mill
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0311em-power-squeeze/
We've done a pile of combos now, and I only ran ported heads on a couple. Now I use stock castings on everything and add cubes when there is more need. Soooo much better for literally everything. $1500.00 stroker kit and a cheap shelf cam and your in the 600hp range. You could dump 15K into a 5.3 and not get that number, and no where near the torque. Boost is another option that this day and age can be done super cheap, although it is a lot of work, and you must run quality fuel as well as get a very good tune if you want it turn key drive anywhere road worthy.
So I see the 5.3 and 4.8 as budget motors only, they really dont make a lot of sense for much else. Once that is sort of grasped they are HEAPS of fun.
Check this thread out and read the OP's comments.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...3-ls9-cam.html
btw, milling a stock head and checking clearance with clay is cheap and will REALLY wake it up too. Snappy as hell
check out CR gains without porting. Cost around a hundred bucks to mill
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0311em-power-squeeze/
Last edited by cam; Jan 12, 2018 at 11:52 AM. Reason: added compression info
The ported heads work, no doubt. But the cam transforms the 5.3 from a dog truck 5000RPM slug to a 7000RPM monster ( if big enough on cam)
We've done a pile of combos now, and I only ran ported heads on a couple. Now I use stock castings on everything and add cubes when there is more need. Soooo much better for literally everything. $1500.00 stroker kit and a cheap shelf cam and your in the 600hp range. You could dump 15K into a 5.3 and not get that number, and no where near the torque. Boost is another option that this day and age can be done super cheap, although it is a lot of work, and you must run quality fuel as well as get a very good tune if you want it turn key drive anywhere road worthy.
So I see the 5.3 and 4.8 as budget motors only, they really dont make a lot of sense for much else. Once that is sort of grasped they are HEAPS of fun.
Check this thread out and read the OP's comments.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...3-ls9-cam.html
btw, milling a stock head and checking clearance with clay is cheap and will REALLY wake it up too. Snappy as hell
check out CR gains without porting. Cost around a hundred bucks to mill
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0311em-power-squeeze/
We've done a pile of combos now, and I only ran ported heads on a couple. Now I use stock castings on everything and add cubes when there is more need. Soooo much better for literally everything. $1500.00 stroker kit and a cheap shelf cam and your in the 600hp range. You could dump 15K into a 5.3 and not get that number, and no where near the torque. Boost is another option that this day and age can be done super cheap, although it is a lot of work, and you must run quality fuel as well as get a very good tune if you want it turn key drive anywhere road worthy.
So I see the 5.3 and 4.8 as budget motors only, they really dont make a lot of sense for much else. Once that is sort of grasped they are HEAPS of fun.
Check this thread out and read the OP's comments.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...3-ls9-cam.html
btw, milling a stock head and checking clearance with clay is cheap and will REALLY wake it up too. Snappy as hell
check out CR gains without porting. Cost around a hundred bucks to mill
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0311em-power-squeeze/
It’s all preference in the end. I just made 600 whp and 630 rwtq on a Thompson Motorsports forged bottom end 5.3 with 241 heads, and a 76mm on3 turbo at 12psi. Without supporting mods, power plant cost me around $6k.
Originally Posted by 76firechicken
It does seem a bit pricey for not much return. Much more to gain with just the cam.
maybe I'll just stay that path and upgrade as I see fit after it's running.
maybe I'll just stay that path and upgrade as I see fit after it's running.
I have a clean 5.3 block I'm rebuilding at stock bore size with flat top pistons for a reliable NA build to drop in my 76 trans am.
I have 862 heads, I can use but don't know if they're the best option. Are they worth getting ported for my purposes or are aftermarket casting the better option?
I have 862 heads, I can use but don't know if they're the best option. Are they worth getting ported for my purposes or are aftermarket casting the better option?