I have a 99 Z71 with a 5.3 around 240k miles. Good compression and oil pressure. Wanting to upgrade the power but still want it to be reliable. Thinking about a cheap ebay turbo kit but using a borg warner S475 turbo. Been doing alot of research but I would like some opinions. And possibly some guidance. Thinking around the 500ish +/- for reliability. Just had the tranny rebuilt so I think it should be good for a small power increase and still be reliable.

 

wont be reliable with that 60e in a full size. 4l80e, a good tune and ditch the g80 and you should be good.

 

I know I am gonna get flamed for this, but I have no intentions of racing it. I use it to haul my 4 wheeler and I want to put a lift and larger tires. So hoping that the turbo will make it still have some nuts and not be gutless. I think the 80e is a good option and possibly 4.56 gears

 

If that is the case then why not a tvs 1900 blower? Easier and probably less maintenance then a turbo. Still go with a 4l80 and a trutrac.

 

It will be gutless unless on boost.

You need a blower not a turbo.

 

Agreed!!!

 

My 60e has survived for 80k miles with a blower. My truck currently makes right at 530 at the wheels off an MP122 at 14 psi, and I haven't broken it yet. I mean, I did break it before but not since I put the hardened shafts in it about 4 years ago.

But, I would recommend a blower over a turbo for what the OP is wanting to do as well.

 

Go with the blower, turbos are great but cheap kits come with cheap parts and its harder to tune. Hard for me to say because I'm a turbo guy. Blower won't kill your engine with a boost spike, burn a valve or a exploding compressor wheel possibly exploding into your intercooler if it has one. Good blower like a 1900 stated in earlier post, diy, tunes are everywhere and your engine and wallet will thank you enough to get a nice lift, tires, and a built trans. Just my 2 cents!

 

"Cheap kit = cheap parts. The borgwarner is a heavy turbo. Putting that on a cheap kit would require lots of modifying to make fit. Then the piping will crack from the weight.
Not sure where this idea turbo kits have a maintenance issue.
If you install a good quality kit, set the boost at a reasonable level. And don't keep jacking with it. You will have zero maintance issues.
Doing this over 12years now.
I have never seen a compressor wheel explode in your basic kit.

There are always good used kits for sale; "turbo" and blowers. If funds are tight, be better off buying a quality used kit then a cheap one.

 

Thirty six years in this, one peterbilt 379 with 600 Cummings signature, John Deere tractors, one Subaru wrx sti. Good deals, remans, etc. Can explode from one problem or another. Have had amazing success with turbos,boosted 2stroke snowmobiles, Semi, pickup, and that sti I miss to this day. Armageddon I'm putting on my Silverado. All I am getting at is buy cheap it will end bad or take up valuable time. Just know what your getting, get it tuned, leave it alone and hold on for a fast boosted ride. Blowers have their issues too. Do your research is the main point.