we made another dozen runs at the track last night. everyone one of them at the limit of the turbo wich is around 600rwhp. when we turned up the power on this 5.3L turbo fairmont we thought we might be living too close to the edge for much durability but i am starting to think we must not be too close to blowing it up.

we have been to the track 5 times and the dyno 3 times. one trip to the dyno we made 34runs. we have around 150runs on this set up between the dyno and the track. at least another 30 hard runs on the street. at least 50 full runs at full power of around 600rwhp.

the motor makes no smoke, no funny sounds, idles smooth and quiet and uses very little oil. since the track made us remove our front exit exhaust we dont have any crank case evac at all, just a valve cover filter and strangely there is no oil coming out of that filter at all.

our exact set up is a junkyard 5.3 with unknown miles that was siting in the corner of someones garage for at least 2 years. zo6 cam, decent valve springs. mp70 turbo, ebay intercooler, 50lb injectors, single gss392 with boost a pump. turbo400 with a stall that flashes to 5000+, 2step and brake.

even if this thing blows up tomorrow i feel like we have shown how strong these things are when tuned and fueled properly. in a stick car i bet we would be over 700rwhp on the dyno.

 

thats amazing!

 

what kind of MPH and ets is the Fairmont pulling off?

 

so far our best run is

60' 1.40
1/8 6.38 @ 111
1/4 9.96 @ 137

3200lb raceweight. 94deg day, 2200 elevation, decent tail wind.

most of our runs are in the 10.teens. we are working to make it hook consistantly right now and are shooting for consistant high 9's.

last night we raced it in a local index race. we signed up for the 6.50 class. only 3 guys in that class and we won with a 6.53 and a 6.60. it was a blast. so far we have won $40 in a grudge race and $50, tshirt and trophy last night in the index race. this is the most fun/$$$ ever.

 

thats re f-ing diculous...... i've been watching your build threads and track threads with optimal interest. i have a friend with a 5.3 truck and has been contemplating on getting some boost on it but wasnt sure how much it would hold...... this should answer some good questions for him....... thanx parish. and he LOVES your truck

how much boost did you run for that 600rwhp?

 

here is a thread about our last trip to the dyno. there is some bs so just skip down to the charts http://www.performancetrucks.net/for...&highlight=zo6

15psi got us real close. that is what we are running at the track. on the dyno going from 15 to 18psi got us very little so we dont crank it up to that level.

 

here are a few pics from last night at the track. it looks like we are geting some weight transfer but it is still lighting up the tires. we went from a 15psi launch to a 8psi launch and got the same 60' so it seems anything about 8psi is just going up in smoke. our track is not sticky.

 

That is a sweet budget strip thrasher. Can't believe the engine has taken all that abuse without any hiccups.

Lightweight cars are the way to go!

Do you think for instance if "one had" a basic 364 build up (LS2 block, LS1 crank, forged rods/pistons) and a set of AFR 225's/LS6 intake and a Z06 cam with one of the new ST80 turbos it would pull to 7,000rpm? Or would that cam be the wrong profile?

 

sweet sleeper, are you the one with videos on youtube of a sb turbo truck smashing vettes supras and bikes?

 

Thats a cool car, it really takes the 'let the turbo do the work' thing to the max and goes to show with decent tuning it can last.

 

That is a cool setup. tuning is definatly key.

 

I realize that you are trying to keep it on the cheap but I am willing to bet you would probably find a even more power just by swapping on a good intercooler. Good luck with it and please keep us posted.

Jim C.

 

we have a 12x24x4" ebay unit. i would be kinda suprized if a name brand of the same size give us more than a few more hp and the cost would go from $150 to what? maybe $1000?

if anyone wants to send us one we would try it out with back to back dyno tests.

 

I have one I will send you to try out. It is one that I have left over from a Cartech kit that I had on one of my previous Mustangs. I made some brackets and put in in my GN Datsun. I will gladly send it to you to test out and see if it is any more effecient or not. Just do me one favor - make sure I get it back in the same condition. Send me a PM with your address and contact info and I will ship it out to ya. I have another and it resembles the one you describe in your above measurements. I am using it for my LS1/GN conversion. If you would like to try it as well, let me know. Take care and good luck.

Jim C.

PS- The one in the pics is the bigger of the two. The one from the Cartech kit uses a Garrett core.

 

id like to see the results of the IC comparison too! nice of you to let him borrow it

what is the compression ratio of a 5.3?

 

i think to be a fair comparison the two cores would need to be the same size and same style of inlets. that unit looks to be about 6" thick?

 

Cr should be 9.5 stock I think.

Damn good looking car. Nice setup. Wish it was mine. HEHE.

 

Great info here. Anything new here?

 

car was sold

 

Mine lasted 3 years making 640whp through a crappy converter before spinning #8 rod bearing. Other than that the inside of the engine looks new yet. Its a 5.3 100% stock from a junk yard with unknown miles on it also. I'll probably turn the crank and put it back together stock with better bearings.
I did have a cam in, 317 heads and nitrous on top the 15psi.

The stock bearings look like super soft aluminum. Rod bolts held fine. I would say a stock 5.3 with some aftermarket bearings would probably run forever making 600-700whp.