Will be doing a turbo kit on my 56 chevy 3100, running a 03 5.3L Tahoe engine frame trans and all. My question is will be boosting it got 88lbs injectors, ITW 102MM high ram intake manifold, return fuel line. Will be doing ARP head bolts and head studs. Do I have to change springs? And if so whats the best ones out there to run with turbo should be running T4 from 7-14lbs. And anything else I would need to do with the engine so it will handle the boost levels.

 

Well, first of all. You dont have an LS1, you have an 03 5.3. Likely L59 or LM7.

Trans will blow up, so be ready for that.

Get a Bosch 044 pump and a fuel cell, convert your PCM/harness to standalone, run 91-93 min. E85 would be cool and 88s might even be big enough to support it. Springs are only needed if youre swapping cams, which I highly suggest.

Anyway, that 5.3 (that is not an LS1) will handle 14psi with head studs/bolts without issue. The rods are the weak point, and ARP bolts help. 500-550whp is reported as the "limit" but that depends on a lot of things, like off idle timing, vehicle weight, heat, driving style, etc. As I know this is a project and not a daily driver, ARP bolts in that thing top to bottom, good bump stick, PAC1219 springs and let her eat 14lbs

And be ready for a transmission funeral

 

It has the 4l60e, you think wont handle the 500-600hp?

 

I knew it was a 4L60 when you said it was in/from an 03 Tahoe

No, I under no circumstance believe that the 4L60 will hold 5-600hp.

One benefit you do have is that your 3100 is a lot light than most of our modern ****. Curb weight on a 2wd 3100 is in the mid to high 3000# range. With all the bells and whistles, 4200? Thats 1300lbs less than the Tahoe the 4L60 was spec'd to move around

It will work (for a while) and it will be fun and you'll spin some tires. 2 things are certain to break. 10 bolts and 4L60e's

 

4L60e will grenade.

88lb/hr injectors will do something like 700+ on pump gas easy. Get a 3 bar MAP sensor, colder plugs and a wideband o2 sensors. Like he said, stick to around 500-550whp to keep the bottom end alive.

 

i have a 55 chevy cameo with an unknown year 5.3/4l80 combo.

I used pac 1218 springs, china studs, comp trunion upgrade, ls1 cam, meth, intercooler and run about 18 psi with a 7875 on3 turbo. no idea on power but its pretty fun. link to my build in my signature.

Im switching to a log manifold this year as my home brew kit is unsightly but it works..

 

cool truck

 

Didn’t see anyone say ls9 head gaskets while doing studs. It’s a multi layer steel gasket that will Help you not push water.

 

As long as the 5.3 is a iron block, which in 03 it should have been. Gotta be careful running them on 4.8-5.3’s with aluminium blocks as the gasket bore is large enough to be past the iron skirt. They are 4.1” bore