lt1 with turbo 
lt1 with turbo
Guys have done 8psi if they use alky or intercooler, otherwise 6psi is a safer bet. All that really needs to be forged is the pistons. Met a guy a few years back who put forged pistons in an Impala after cracking a stock piston, everything else stayed stock and he hit it with 12psi intercooled + alky over 9psi. Was not terribly fast but was long term reliable. Ran mid 12 at 108 with 2800/3.42s and was his year round car, as evident by the salt stains in the hood liner.
There is argument as to what breaks the stock pistons, some say detonation cracks them, others argue that too much heat from lots of boost or juice causes the ring gaps the close and rip the top off the piston. IMO both ideas are right some of the time.
There is argument as to what breaks the stock pistons, some say detonation cracks them, others argue that too much heat from lots of boost or juice causes the ring gaps the close and rip the top off the piston. IMO both ideas are right some of the time.
Forgings straight out of the '70s no less, the powdered metal rod used 95+ are if anything slightly better. My current motor has the "pink" rods and I was frankly disappointed to find them and it is a 94.
Rods are of far less concern than the pistons. The usually fail under tension not compression, meaning rpm hurts them, not power.
These are just the ramblings of someone who takes the time to understand things though, so they will contradict what most others will tell you.
Rods are of far less concern than the pistons. The usually fail under tension not compression, meaning rpm hurts them, not power.
These are just the ramblings of someone who takes the time to understand things though, so they will contradict what most others will tell you.
The main thing you should figure out is where / how you plan on acquiring a setup. Mine is being made with an old SBC header flipped and chopped up on the driver's side. The passenger's side is a hooker shorty that's going to be chopped also. Once it's done I plan on running around 7 psi with a Garret GT42-74mm on my completely bone stock 93. Once I get the alcohol setup figured out it will be set to kill.
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I'm running 5psi on low - 7psi on high with meth.injection on my stock lt1 motor. Just remember to have the car tuned very good, upgrade the fuel system, injectors, fuel pump. I been driving with my set-up for over 4 years now with no problems. Thats with the STS turbo kit
Seeing as atmoshperic presure at sea level is just under 15psi adding 7 is almost 150% of ambient pressure, granted there is some parasitic loss due to the backpressure, but still it seems like offering the plenum 150% of NA pressure would still provide some gains.
Should be noted that boost pushing on the valves will effectively cause you to need a little more spring, the LT4 springs would be perfect for a stock cammed setup, cheap and reliable.
Should be noted that boost pushing on the valves will effectively cause you to need a little more spring, the LT4 springs would be perfect for a stock cammed setup, cheap and reliable.
I'm running an STS at 7 lbs non-intercooled. It dyno'd 378/399 rwhp/rwtq a couple years ago. My best 1/4 mile time is 12.6 @112 on street tires. There are cheaper ways to get to the same level, unless you pick up a system used for cheap. My plan was to buy and install the turbo myself, have some fun with it on the stock motor and drivetrain, then eventually build a new motor (currently doing this) and have much more potential.
I would like some more info on you guys who have done a homemade kit using other parts. I have been thinking a turbo for awhile now and my buddy would help me do it. He just got done with a twin turbo kit on his Firehawk!
