Fresh start
You can get over 500hp at the crank and it still be reliable but when you start pushing 500rwhp is where issues can REALLY start to arise. It's all in the quality of parts used too and time spent on the tuning and build as well. Don't cheap out and take your time. There are guys that have made more power than that but it seems that 500rwhp is the average for ticking time bomb
TECH Resident
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 926
Likes: 18
From: Central Texas
After 500 you will need to upgrade the clutch, transmission, axles and differential just to start with, drive shaft needs looking at too. Some turbo guys are making 700-1000 on bottom end stock 5.3's don't last long but they are cheap...These are strong engines
The gen 3 engines are limited by the weak connecting rods at around 600 WHP through an unlocked auto and that's pushing it hard. Stay around 5-600 WHP and you'll be fine with the stock bottom end and good tuning.
