Hey guys I've been lurking around on and off for a month or so now, and I've got a few things I still need answers on. First of all to give you some insite on my project I've got a 95 Dodge dakota sport scsb with a hydrolocked motor. I used to own this truck and sold it a while back. It ate transmissions for dinner every 1.5-2years and it got old with the stock motor and longtubes, so I plan on swaping the engine/trans for a 5.3/4l60e setup. Plus I'm sure the GM drivetrain will get better mileage than the 6-8 city I used to get with the 5.2/mo-repacement trans.

The truck already has caltracs and a detroit locker with 4.11 gears. So I'm not worried about the rear end having issues. I also have a good selection of hand tools and a welder/torches as well for any issues I may run into. I'm only planning on making 350-400rwhp with the truck and have turbo stuff laying around that I could use, or I'll keep it N/A and maybe throw a 100 shot on the truck. but here are the questions I've got for the time being.



1.) On a 5.3 motor can you swap the manifolds side to side and run them upside down for a front mount turbo setup?

2.) I scored a 4L60e out of a 98 TA with blown 3/4 gears dirt cheap and plan on contacting a few places for rebuild quotes. Since it was from an LS1 car it will bolt up to the 5.3 correct?

3.) I have an internally gated T3/T40E 57trim .60cold / .63 hot Stg3 wheel with Precision turbo exhaust housing sitting in my basement that was going to be used on a motor in my ohv cavalier but the car got parted out and sold.
Does anyone know how fast this would spool with a 5.3? I'm unsure on if it will be a remote mount turbo or front mount at this time.

4.) How well do stock bottom end 5.3's hold up to boost and when do rods/and pistons tend to let go given there is a solid tune on the truck?

5.) Does anybody have a solid list of parts needed for 350-400hprwhp on a 5.3/4L60 combo?


Thanks for any input you can give me.

 

1: seen it done before so i guess so.
2: It SHOULD.

 

4.) How well do stock bottom end 5.3's hold up to boost and when do rods/and pistons tend to let go given there is a solid tune on the truck?
Well....pretty damn well. For the levels you are looking at just fine indeed. Stock internals are good for well over 500hp with good tuning I think we'd all agree.

5.) Does anybody have a solid list of parts needed for 350-400hprwhp on a 5.3/4L60 combo?
Headers
Shift kit
5lbs boost.

 

Thanks for some of the feedback guys I look forward to any other insite you can give me. I'm off to work and given the traffic of this forum I'll have some things to read when I get home.

 

I was snooping around the dyno forum and i didn't really see a pattern as to what head/cam packages are popular, does anyone have any recomendations? I'm interested in the TSP 2.5 head/cam combo or possibly the TSP LS6 head/cam combo using the Tsunami cam, and a YANK TRUCK THRUSTER 2600 converter, keep in mind I have 4:11 gears out back.

 

anyone else have some input?