LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Planning a turbo 383 build

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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 12:07 AM
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Default Planning a turbo 383 build

I currently have a 93 z28 and am in the process of redoing the entire car. My goal for the car is to be in the 600hp range with a single turbo, automatic setup. The car will mainly be used at the drag strip but also a weekend warrior. Now my problem is, idk where to begin with this. Im not what you would call car smart, but would much rather build this myself and learn along the way. I have almost no knowledge as far as building motors, so what i need help with is picking out what parts to get so i can reach my HP goal. Any help is going to be very much appreciated. thanks!
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 12:54 AM
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Originally Posted by CMURDAx
I currently have a 93 z28 and am in the process of redoing the entire car. My goal for the car is to be in the 600hp range with a single turbo, automatic setup. The car will mainly be used at the drag strip but also a weekend warrior. Now my problem is, idk where to begin with this. Im not what you would call car smart, but would much rather build this myself and learn along the way. I have almost no knowledge as far as building motors, so what i need help with is picking out what parts to get so i can reach my HP goal. Any help is going to be very much appreciated. thanks!
The "easiest" way would be to buy an assembled forged low compression shortblock with good internals so you can turn up the boost if(when?) you decide to. Have a custom blower cam spec'd for you and top it with some good heads like AFRs or TFS 23* (the 21* one's chambers are small), then run a procharger kit. A boosted 383 can easily make 600hp on modest boost, but bring your wallet.

Don't forget to have a ton more cash available for a fuel system, suspension, transmission, and rear end for that much power. You'll also need a cage if you intend to actually race it on the strip.

With that being said, have you ever been in or driven a 600hp car? Rear wheel OR flywheel? You may want to start a bit smaller first - save yourself $15K and try a 355 rebuild with a quality H/C package using ported stock heads and see how you like 400rwhp first. You may be surprised at how fast that can get you into trouble!
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 01:52 AM
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I thought about procharging it, but after some research turbo is spiking my interest more. Im going all out or nothing. I have the time, patience and money to hopefully achieve this. Im aiming for 600 at the wheels, and yes I have driven something with that much power before. Buddy of mine just sold his 638hp SRT4 that i had whooped on multiple times. Power is nothing new to me, granted this is RWD not FWD
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 08:34 AM
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How much money is available for your project?
I'm not sure if you realize the cost of doing this, and the skill required even just to put on a top end yourself. Whether it's turbo or supercharged, the engine build is all the same (except for cam specs).
Like my sig says, I've got 648 to the rear wheels. My total build was over $27,000. This includes me doing almost ALL the work myself. For someone like you, that would need some things done for you, you'd be looking at considerably more cost.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 09:18 AM
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I agree with Puck. 400rwhp street car is very formidable. Also not to discredit your experience with high horsepower, but if your only runs have been in fwd cars then try rwd in a lower range first. Fwd cars have none of the torque and brutal power that a v8 rwd car provides. Its the difference between a group of small children pulling you with a rope around your waist and a 295lb linebacker catching you full speed on the blindside.....just saying.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 09:37 AM
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money is unlimited, im gonna be building this over the next few 2yrs or so. i know this is gonna be alot time and money into this, but im set on getting into the 600s, ive been around fast cars all my life and want something thatll put most cars around my city to shame. but I do have plenty of friends who are gonna help with the build once i figure out what parts i need to get.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 09:44 AM
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Stock cube lt1 with forged guts. Nice heads and cam. 200 shot. Healthy stall. Diet=street dominator!!! Google "termin8r" and watch what a cam only 250 shot ls1 does on the street.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by CMURDAx
money is unlimited, im gonna be building this over the next few 2yrs or so. i know this is gonna be alot time and money into this, but im set on getting into the 600s, ive been around fast cars all my life and want something thatll put most cars around my city to shame. but I do have plenty of friends who are gonna help with the build once i figure out what parts i need to get.
600HP is pretty modest for a turbo'd 383. Need some inspiration? Do a search for SS Aleks' build threads.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by RamAir95TA
600HP is pretty modest for a turbo'd 383. Need some inspiration? Do a search for SS Aleks' build threads.
i watched his video last night and thats what finalized my decision on turboing my lt1
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 10:47 AM
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He's putting down over 1000HP IIRC...
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 11:27 AM
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in the vid i watched was 1005hp. haha i dont need anything that crazy
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 11:43 AM
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I only point that out because your criteria included "mostly drag car," "2 years time," and "money is unlimited," so why sell yourself short with only 600WHP?
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 01:28 PM
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Seems like the sky is the Limit with this.

Like you say money isn't an issue and you want to be different you can keep the LTX platform but there are quite a few people doing 500-550 range with the 5.3's straight from the junk yard on LOW boost its retarded what them motors do. Would cut down on your wait time quite a bit. But then again there is a lot that goes into a LS swap for these cars.

Just and opinion and suggestion read up on the 5.3 Truck motors its quite interesting
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by CMURDAx
I currently have a 93 z28 and am in the process of redoing the entire car. My goal for the car is to be in the 600hp range with a single turbo, automatic setup. The car will mainly be used at the drag strip but also a weekend warrior. Now my problem is, idk where to begin with this. Im not what you would call car smart, but would much rather build this myself and learn along the way. I have almost no knowledge as far as building motors, so what i need help with is picking out what parts to get so i can reach my HP goal. Any help is going to be very much appreciated. thanks!
A nice 355ci or even 383ci with a T76 turbo should get you there with ported stock castings and a very mild cam. Keep in mind, you want to do this for an auto, so 600rwhp is probably ~725-750fwhp.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 08:04 PM
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an srt-4 has more tq than power by the way and once modded , if he telling the truth and it is that much power than he used a dcr engine and tq for those have been past 700 but I highly doubt it. There is also weight dif a 2800 pound car vs 3400 He probably added 200hp to it, not many people in the country have srt-4s over 600.

So you know though like these guys have mentioned you will need to get fuel parts which arent cheap, suspension which will probably be worth at least 1600$ and thats going cheap. The rear end alone to be able to put that amount of power down is at least 2k. The engine is going to cost at least 4k

Last edited by bizerk1; Sep 13, 2011 at 09:36 PM.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 09:07 PM
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Like everyone else stated you will need to do due the fuel system, suspension and drivetrain. The drivetrain might possibly be the weakest link in the system. Like qc97 stated the costs add up fast, 2k here 3k there and soon its over 20k total.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 09:15 PM
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Originally Posted by bizerk1
The egine is going to cost at least 4k
I'm going to assume this is a typo. The entire engine will be well over $10,000.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 09:37 PM
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yes and I also mean just the bottom end, and the head will cost at least 1600$
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 10:20 PM
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bizerk, he was running a 2.6 stroker motor with a 60trim and all the supporting mods, put down 638 at the wheels at 33lbs i beleive. the thing is nuts and now unfortanetly totaled due to the kid who bought it not knowing how to drive. but anyways, yes i do know im gonna need all the other mods for it, im literally restoring the car and building it at the same time i guess you could say. i just really need the help right now choosing what parts and companies to go with. ive been lurkin on here trying to read up as much as possible
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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 08:19 AM
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I'd aim higher than 600rwhp.

Its not cheap to try to crack over 850rwhp, ask me how I know. I'm close to 30k and thats cheap. I've done 100% of the fab work to boot. From what I've read I'll be there, if not over. LE Trickflow heads (2.08s), fuel system ($$$ for a reliable one for street use), GOOD trans (more $ signs), GOOD rearend, can't go cheap on anything if you want it to hold for a while.

Last edited by green95vert; Sep 14, 2011 at 08:24 AM.
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