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Friends with a bunch of ls guys but of course none of them actually have a setup to prove power.
how easy is it really to get 500whp out of a 6.0 motor? I’ve been told that is actually really easy to achieve but again, by bunch of people that haven’t done it lol. Does it HAVE to get higher compression pistons?
"real easy" implies that there are plenty of examples and it's the norm. A stock cube 6.0 making an honest 500whp isn't the norm. I would bet there are a few examples around though. I'm sure Tusky must have a couple from his notebook.
"real easy" implies that there are plenty of examples and it's the norm. A stock cube 6.0 making an honest 500whp isn't the norm. I would bet there are a few examples around though. I'm sure Tusky must have a couple from his notebook.
I keep hearing about just throwing a good cam into a 6.0 with head gear for that cam and your all good. I know it can’t be that easy.
I have done it on a 5.7. Should be easier on a 6.0. Is budget or actually getting there more important?
Short answer no, it is not easy or it would not be such a big deal to hit it. You see that a lot though. The commentary I mean.
Do high compression pistons. On 93, you can get to 12.3 compression but that is right at the limit. You will want some cam to get there because you will need rpm. Figure to peak around 6800-7000, and shift at 7600 to even take advantage of the power
It is much easier if you go aftermarket heads. Every little thing matters when you chase that number.
I should mention. I’m not stuck to a 6.0 however price being kept in mind, mods to 6.0 and being at $x versus another ls engine and being way higher priced but making the power out of the box.
price is important to see the cheapest way to make it. I don’t wanna throw 5k at a 6.0 all redone when could potentially buy another ls engine that makes that power with a cam change or whatever for same price.
just must have same engine mounting as the 6.0 so my swap kit will bolt up to it.
I have done it on a 5.7. Should be easier on a 6.0. Is budget or actually getting there more important?
Short answer no, it is not easy or it would not be such a big deal to hit it. You see that a lot though. The commentary I mean.
Do high compression pistons. On 93, you can get to 12.3 compression but that is right at the limit. You will want some cam to get there because you will need rpm. Figure to peak around 6800-7000, and shift at 7600 to even take advantage of the power
It is much easier if you go aftermarket heads. Every little thing matters when you chase that number.
so budget isn’t really what I’m after in terms of information. It’s more, what’s easier and most cost effective to get to that 500whp mark through a 5spd with that bolt up pattern the 5.3/6.0 motor has. Assuming almost all the ls engines have that same style.
For example, is it noticeably cheaper to build a 6.0 to make it so it’s worthwhile to build the 6.0 even though easier to put a larger ls motor in. That’s more what information I’m trying to feel out. There’s so many combinations of these engines. On flip side maybe it’s going to cost $5000 into motor anyways so just buy this larger ls engine and be done with it cause the price factor is close to same.
When I put my turbo 5.3 together I listened to countless stories of these “sloppy” builds for $3000 all said and done. Well I’m 10k into my turbo setup lol. I’m not ok with just piecing it all together and look rushed. I found myself spending more and more to just do things differently but not worry about it later. I’m not hating on those cheap builds. Mine is custom into a Nissan so costs more! Fuel lines etc. point is I know at the end of it all, it has a price tag.
At this point it really depends on your budget. To make things " EASY" you'll be better off stroking the motor to a 408ci motor then applying your heads, cam and intake....
To obtain 500 rwhp you'll need at least 575 horse at the crank. Its possible with a 6.0 motor but its really pushing the limits on pump gas and hydraulic roller "simplicity". You'll need roughly 1.57 horsepower per cube. Its takes some close attention to detail.
I'll run a quick build by you and you can go from there. Check out Richard Holdener 20 LS intakes tested article. One of the combos as follows.
I should mention. I’m not stuck to a 6.0 however price being kept in mind, mods to 6.0 and being at $x versus another ls engine and being way higher priced but making the power out of the box.
price is important to see the cheapest way to make it. I don’t wanna throw 5k at a 6.0 all redone when could potentially buy another ls engine that makes that power with a cam change or whatever for same price.
just must have same engine mounting as the 6.0 so my swap kit will bolt up to it.
I would swap to a ls3. Plenty of cam only ls3 hitting 500 rwhp. The heads will easily support your power. 230/238 cam and a fast intake, full exhaust. Your options really open up with the ls3.
You could also swap in a ls7 and then complain you wish you had 700 at the tires.
An aftermarket casting is not needed to obtain 500 rwhp. Look in my cookbook thread as i posted a members (BES stroked nova) LY6 motor with a custom hydraulic roller cam cranking over 500 rwhp and running 10s at 128 mph or so is 3700 plus cube car.
I would swap to a ls3. Plenty of cam only ls3 hitting 500 rwhp. The heads will easily support your power. 230/238 cam and a fast intake, full exhaust. Your options really open up with the ls3.
You could also swap in a ls7 and then complain you wish you had 700 at the tires.
before i did my turbo build I was set on just buying an ls7 and I was convinced I could turbo my car and make power for way less money... then real life happened And I spent 10k plus anyways. Atleast NA I could’ve kept ac too.
before i did my turbo build I was set on just buying an ls7 and I was convinced I could turbo my car and make power for way less money... then real life happened And I spent 10k plus anyways. Atleast NA I could’ve kept ac too.
How on earth did you spend $10k on a turbo setup? You cannot count $1 that is required for the LS swap itself since going NA you would have spent that anyways.
How on earth did you spend $10k on a turbo setup? You cannot count $1 that is required for the LS swap itself since going NA you would have spent that anyways.
I stopped keeping track after awhile. Can add another $1500 for full stainless exhaust that’s being made right now. the $3300 for the car also counts the swap. I stopped adding to This listed awhile ago cause it was all this little stuff I had to buy and just adds up.
I had spend another 200 to make all braided line from tank to motor, bulkhead fittings needed. Welding hotside was $500. Turbo feeds, drains... yada yada it’s just keeps adding up. Have $700 for tune. $780 for radiator fan/shroud.
much of that MAYBE had to be done for the NA but none of the custom work. I had all the swap kit already for that initial 3300 and I could’ve sold my 5.3 that is all redone. So honestly would’ve really been driveshaft and motor. Could’ve kept the TB and intake, used the returnless v8 style fuel filter system with stock chassis lines. Just would’ve been so much easier and had AC.
now that my turbo car done with exhaust. (This week) I have another car sitting around with really. I’ve outside and interior so thinking of throwing a less custom NA swap.
I stopped keeping track after awhile. Can add another $1500 for full stainless exhaust that’s being made right now. the $3300 for the car also counts the swap. I stopped adding to This listed awhile ago cause it was all this little stuff I had to buy and just adds up.
I had spend another 200 to make all braided line from tank to motor, bulkhead fittings needed. Welding hotside was $500. I ended up needing water pump spacers, power steering hose I had to make... yada yada it’s just keeps adding up. Have $700 for tune. $780 for radiator fan/shroud.
You can't say your turbo setup cost $10k when you're counting the price of the CAR and a stainless exhaust.....Nearly everything you listed would cost you money if it was an NA setup.
EDIT....I see you added another paragraph. I agree it obviously cost you more to fab up things like the hot side and actually purchase turbo components and larger injectors, etc. So the turbo setup was likely $3k or less.
You can't say your turbo setup cost $10k when you're counting the price of the CAR and a stainless exhaust.....Nearly everything you listed would cost you money if it was an NA setup.
I mean I don’t disagree with you of being technical about it. However I stopped keeping track of all the stuff I had to keep getting on amazon. The total amount just tally up to a lot. NA would’ve been much easier and less custom work done. Regular exhaust would’ve worked fine that fits the shell and just needed the aftermarket headers that are already produced. Etc.
idk just feel that the total price where I am now with turbo car in general, I could’ve been at same price range if NA. Maybe not if counted every penny up but I’m thinking it would’ve been pretty close.
An aftermarket casting is not needed to obtain 500 rwhp. Look in my cookbook thread as i posted a members (BES stroked nova) LY6 motor with a custom hydraulic roller cam cranking over 500 rwhp and running 10s at 128 mph or so is 3700 plus cube car.
It's not, and that's not what I said. I said it's easier with AM castings. Plus I was thinking NOT stroking the motor. If I had to chose between a 408 and a stock ls3, I'll take the ls3 every time
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NA 500hp, how cheap is it really? 
