easiest eay to 500 rwhp Ls?

[68shortwide]

Plan on buying a 6.0, my question is what's the easiest and or cheapest way to attain 500-550 rwhp and make it dependable, streetable, somethin to fly down the highway with. Not lookin for a strip killer, just somethin that has a$$ behind it and to maybe do road course or autocross with. Thanks guys

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by 68shortwide

Plan on buying a 6.0, my question is what's the easiest and or cheapest way to attain 500-550 rwhp and make it dependable, streetable, somethin to fly down the highway with. Not lookin for a strip killer, just somethin that has a$$ behind it and to maybe do road course or autocross with. Thanks guys

Keep on smokin' that rope....

[sprint_9]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=500+hp+6.0+LS+build

[slowcpe]

Originally Posted by 68shortwide

cheapest... dependable...somethin to fly

The old saying goes "pick two".

"easiest" will be turbo. That's the route I'm planning on going but for now its "cam only" and a goal of 350-370 to the wheels which will still make for a fun driving truck.

[Lee H]

What's your budget? The combo you desire is about 15k, give or take a few thousand, by the time you buy all the goodies to get there.

[Heavymetl]

Junkyard 4.8

Chinese GT45 turbo

Low boost, don't even need meth injection.

Flipped truck manifolds

Air to Air intercooler

500hp to the tire and hang on!

Making it N/A will take some more cubes without going full out race engine and it'll have nasty street manners. Otherwise a stock-cammed 4.8/5.3 on boost will do it all day long with ease.

[68shortwide]

Pretty much it comes down to turbo or supercharger..take the cheap part out of the equation, I'm an idiot for sayin that lol. Mainly what'll be easy to maintain,run, and it'll perform n not break. Not familiar to turbos other than the basic mechanics of how they operate. Which is the cheaper option, turbo or supercharger....thanks guys..

[no1udknow]

Originally Posted by Heavymetl

Junkyard 4.8

Chinese GT45 turbo

Low boost, don't even need meth injection.

Flipped truck manifolds

Air to Air intercooler

500hp to the tire and hang on!

Making it N/A will take some more cubes without going full out race engine and it'll have nasty street manners. Otherwise a stock-cammed 4.8/5.3 on boost will do it all day long with ease.

Yup, ive been using this link a lot today... read and enjoy :-)
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/h...g_bang_theory/

[hugger6933]

I think I remember that article. They flogged a 150k motor or something like it and when they broke it found out it was a 4.8 instead of 5.3, isn't that the one? You know I've had two tons of these trucks. Both to build and sell and to junk out. The difference in the 4.8 and the 5.3 is hardly noticeable with the exception of the low end grunt if your pulling like a car on a trailer. Not saying a 4.8 won't do it it will just not as easily as the 5.3, but with less fuel. The 4.8 consistently will knock down better economy but I think a lot of that is in the pcm programming. I have a 5.3 short that has a power program that knocks down 26 on the interstate at 75mph. I sold a extra cab Z71 5.3 power programed truck it get 22 mpg on the interstate as well but I've had 4.8's that will do mid twenty's they are rare but I said all that to say this the 4.8 is cheaper on gas than the 5.3 even though the 5.3 pulls the truck easier. also I bought a couple of turbos on e-bay a year or two ago new for like $550 to put on a 6.0. so they are out there cheap too. Jim

[Exgie]

well, yeah, that is a pretty tall order considering you will need somewhere in the neighborhood of 625 hp at the crank.

fairly built motor with a charger of some sort, but there is no cheap in this formula.

[68GenIII]

Heads, cam, exhaust, tune.

[68shortwide]

The more dollars I hear I keep thinking I can settle for 400 rhp ill go all out on a motor after school when I actually have a steady job lol

[slowcpe]

Originally Posted by 68shortwide

The more dollars I hear I keep thinking I can settle for 400 rhp ill go all out on a motor after school when I actually have a steady job lol

This is essentially what I'm doing. Started to add everything up for my build and it'll climb real quick. In fact the necessary valvetrain upgrade for a high-lift cam will run you $1000 plus. The big items aren't bad, but the little things can kill you.

350-400 rwhp is still quite a bit of power. In college I was putting that much power to the ground in my mustang (with the help of nitrous) and it was a blast to drive.

[68shortwide]

I thought about a small nos shot but I'm not big on relying on a bottle to have power, hence the turbo/supercherger predicament. Both supply continuous power and both have an awesome sound. Now to research and see what fits my build and budget better. I could care less how it looks for a year if it performs good. Dads a bodymen/painter for a living so its not like I have to pay for labor for bodywork and paint. Thanks guys. I've brought my expectations down to earth now lol

[bpatrol]

6.0 a good cam with ls3 type heads and a good tune with headers will get you into the 425-450 range depending on cam. an improved intake like a ls3 or fast also.
and that's at the wheels
bpatrol

[class01]

6.2l with heads and cam might be close

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by class01

6.2l with heads and cam might be close

He said "at the rear wheels". A 6.2 with just heads and a cam won't get there. A supercharged LSA won't get there. The beast in the picture would but now he's got to find the $45,000.00 it'll take to get the UPS guy to drop one in his driveway. Any sentence with "500 horsepower at the rear wheels" and "cheap" possesses all of the essential elements of an oxymoron

[IIGW]

Originally Posted by 68shortwide

Plan on buying a 6.0,

no need. 4.8/5.3 is all you need and their cheaper than a 6.0

Originally Posted by Fitz

Keep on smokin' that rope....

great informative reply. You obviously have no clue anything about LS motors.

Originally Posted by Lee H

The combo you desire is about 15k,

not anywhere near that, much much less

Originally Posted by Heavymetl

stock-cammed 4.8/5.3 on boost will do it all day long with ease.

this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this
4.8/5.3, stock everything, except add ARP rod bolts. Then boost away. There are plenty of how-tos and videos and the major car mags showing this exact thing done.
A junk yard 5.3 is about $400. Cheap enough if you blow it up at around 1100hp, you just go get another junk yard motor. It’s too easy.

[Heavymetl]

Originally Posted by Fitz

He said "at the rear wheels". A 6.2 with just heads and a cam won't get there. A supercharged LSA won't get there. The beast in the picture would but now he's got to find the $45,000.00 it'll take to get the UPS guy to drop one in his driveway. Any sentence with "500 horsepower at the rear wheels" and "cheap" possesses all of the essential elements of an oxymoron

Incorrect.

"Cam only" LS3's have been putting down 500rwhp now for quite a while. It's a 376" engine. Cam only is somewhate subjective, but that generally means stock cylinder heads and bottom end, with all the nice supporting bolt ons. Headers, underdrive, etc. The stock LS3 intake is outstanding on does not need changed. However, LS3's aren't cheap.



As for the junkyard turbo route, there are considerations in engine differences. The garden variety, Gen III LM7 has the older style rods in them. Good for ~600rwhp safely. And from what I've seen, they bend rather than break. The 05+ engines have the improved GEN IV floating rods and are considerably stronger. Several stock bottom L33's (aluminum H.O. 5.3) and later 4.8's have been pushed to 900 rwhp before failure. Impressive.

I wouldn't change the rod bolts. They fail primarily with RPM, and any 01+ LS is good to 6500 with stock parts. As said before, the later GEN IV style engines can spin even higher.

When it comes to turbo builds, spend your money on the following:
- Turbo
- Fuel system
- Tune
- Trans
- Converter

If you spent your money carefully and did all the fabrication yourself, you have 500rwhp for less than $5,000.

[Custom 68]

I did mine with a T70 turbo. Junkyard 5.3, I am running a T56 so that probably gets me a bit more at the wheels.
Will it last forever? probably not but they sure are strong. I started stock, needed more so swapped a used cam a year later, then nitrous only a 75 shot but that sure woke it up. Then I found a used turbo got some piping and started fabing. After the new power I trashed my converter in my 4l60 so I stuck the T56 with a big clutch and run it. With the small turbo it has tons of torque everywhere. I really did mine pretty cheap by comparison. but I did mine in stages so the $ don't hurt all at once. These motors are everywhere and seem to like boost and cams.
fortunately this is my hobby so if it is down for a bit I can deal with that.

[68shortwide]

i think im gonna find a 6.0, put L92 heads and an aftermarket intake on it and see what i get. if its not near what i want, i can always buy a cheap 5.3 and use the 6.0 in the camaro

[RManson]

Here are two realworld examples for you that we just wrapped up:

LS327
Trickflow heads
Comp Cam and related components
Torq Storm supercharger (8lbs boost)
GM DBW throttle body
Holley Mid-Rise Intake
Made 530hp to the rear wheels on Westech's dyno.

4.8L LS Stroker (383)
Eagle rotating assembly
Mahle forged pistons
Comp Cam and related components
FAST LSx 92mm intake manifold w/ Big Mouth throttle body
RHS heads
Made 551hp at the crank on Superior Automotive's dyno.

Both of these builds have been/are currently being covered in either Custom Classic Trucks or Classic Trucks magazine so you can find more info on their related websites.

Anyways, figured I'd through some real numbers into the conversation. Good luck with whatever you do, but I think you'll like the LS option regardless!

[67 chevelle]

19244099 + a quality Manuel transmission will do it , lsx 454 might be cheaper

[Lees68GMC]

I'm confused, I've regularly seen, (GTOs, Corvettes, SSRs) first-hand on dynos, 600+ normally aspirated (No Turbo, No S/C or Nitrous) You guys aren't talking about Fords are you? Heck the Real Experts on LS HP is Holden down in Australia they've been doing it for decades (yes, I realize the LS came to America in 97) Check out Australian V8 Supercars for fun. You don't have to have a Pratt-Miller GM race car, or a Katech engine to get the 500 RWHP he's asking about. Here's a few done in the home garage, however the "Easiest" isn't necessarily the "Cheapest" though.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Heavymetl

Incorrect.

"Cam only" LS3's have been putting down 500rwhp now for quite a while.

Keep on smoking that rope! Cam only LS3's are available from several sources (you aren't one of those) BUT that's 525 HP at the flywheel, not the rear wheels.

An LSA is a supercharged 376 and gets 550 at the FLYWHEEL. Still not there.

You won't get there with 5K either.