Putting a turbo on my truck...

Automotive Your Ride
1

Heres my other truck, its a 2000 1500 that came with a 4.8 nv3500 5 speed 4x4. Im in the process of installing a 5.3, M12 T56 out of an 04 GTO along with a front mount turbo kit. Heres the thread I started on another site

Heres the truck on the lift at my buddies shop…

We wanted to get the truck moved this weekend, and also get it ready to drop the motor in. While the motor was out, this would be the time to put in the new injector harness’s for the new 60# injectors.

Heres the stock injector and clip, vs the new clip and injector…

While my buddy worked on that, I wanted to get the trans cross member finished up so that would be ready to go. This is what we started with. I cut some steel to make a couple of gussets and then burned em in.

We finished up with the truck and went back to my buddies house to work on the 5.3. I got it out of an 02 Avalanche and it had 77k on it for $350 bucks.

Pulled the valve covers and was pretty surprised at how clean it was. The intake ports had a lot of carbon but other than that, so far it looks pretty good. The guy I bought it from said he ran Royal Purple from day one. I had bought a cam package for a friend but they had backed out so I had a 216/220 114lsa cam, LS6 springs and 7.4" hardened push rods so that what we put in the 5.3. Here’s us swapping out the LS6 springs.

Springs all installed and cleaned the motor a little.

Decided to throw on the log and turbo to see what she’d look like and for a little motivation. Its a KBRacing turbo kit and I had purchased a used Garrett GT4202r 74mm compressor wheel 1.15 A/R exhaust housing. The exhaust housing is a little big for my application currently, but I bought it to be used on my 6.0 when its done. I wont be using these valve covers just yet.

We also got the carrier bearing cross member welded in the truck as well and started on the fuel pump install. We have lots to do but hopefully next weekend we can get the motor and trans in the truck, and start to assembly the turbo kit.

Im really excited about working on the truck again and cant wait to get her done and take her for a ride! :slight_smile: Ill keep everyone up to date as much as possible while working on the truck.

Let me know what you guys think and if you got any questions…

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What did you do to compensate for the increased compression ratio? How much boost are you looking at creating? Have you thought about installing heavier duty head gaskets and head studs?

My one concern for this project would be forcing too much air into the cylinders and you lift a head (or both heads) off the block.

Kris

3

It will be at the stock CR and stock everything else besides the cam, springs and push rods. Ill probably be running about 8lbs of boost. The most important thing about this is to make sure that my tune is spot on, if that is good then Ill be around 500-550hp easy. Guys have done projects like this all the time with completely stock motors and have had great success.

Actually there was one guy who had a 4.8, and his only mod in the motor was a cam, and upgraded rod bolts and he put down 798hp! Tune is key with these motors.

Im not going to say I know everything FI, but I have done my research and its not like I just randomly threw this turbo kit on there.

4

Yeah with 8 lbs of boost you should be fine as long as you’re not using an intercooler because the charged air will be hotter than normal, therefore it’ll be less dense and should maintain your stock CR.

Throw an intercooler on 8lbs of boost and you’ll stretch those head bolts real quick :wink:

Kris

5

Yes I do have an intercooler that I will be running on my truck. Again I dont know if you have a lot of experiences with turbo charging an LSx motor, but I have done a lot of research on this. I am confiendent that this set-up will work well but thanks for your kind wishes.

Heres a pic of the turbo kit…

6

Nice project!

I’d definately rather have an intercooler than not…
detonation = unhappy heads, gaskets, pistons, etc…

tune, tune, tune - lol

7

Thanks

Another way to keep IATs down is meth too. I will be adding meth very shortly but that does play a big factor as well. You guys are stuck on detonation for some reason. There goes into a lot more than just heat you know, fuel(octane) and timing play a huge factor in this, and again thats why I said a good tune with make this setup very streetable and reliable.

8

Sweet project!

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I totally agree. That’s why I said tune tune tune.
Yup - A/F & timing. 8 lbs w/ an intercooler is pretty easy to deal with.

I run a supercharger at about 9 lbs on a 93 Mustang w/ 92 octane
No intercooler and stock hyper pistons.
Been looking into running E85 so I can bump my timing a little.

10

Yeah I’m familar with forced induction … been doing it on diesels for a LONG time brother. Just making sure you don’t need to buy a new engine.

It will definately be a sweet project … post some more pics up once you’ve got it ready to launch.

Kris

11

Nice sized turbo, How much power are you looking to make?

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Yeah its actually a little too big but thats alright. I bought it to be used on my 6.0 that Im putting together over time. Id be very happy with 500-550 rwhp.