Need some advice on a turbo LC9
 

Pulled the trigger on a 2012 4x4 ccsb 5.3 with 55000 miles on it, and need some advice on boosting it.. my current plans are to run it at around 500hp while i save for the big boy parts like built trans, forged rotating assembly, etc, and shoot for 900+ in the next year or two. i guess my biggest concerns are is deleting dod a necessity? how much can these motors take bone stock? is getting the 6l80 built worth it or would the headache of a 4l80 swap be a better route? i was planning on doing something like an s366 on stock everything with a pretty mild tune just to give the heavy pig some more snot while i piece together the rest of the parts, but i'm not sure about whether the 6l80 and dod will take 450-500hp? any input guys?
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The 6L80e will handle the 500hp pretty well with a good tune, the tune is key for these transmission. Personally I'd keep the 6 speed once you add the big power, just get a built up unit.

I think a few members on here have run the stock DoD cam and lifters while boosted for many miles without problems but I think they just disable the DoD system in the tune so it doesn't come on anymore. But at a certain point you'll want to remove those parts and go with a more performance based cam for your big power days.

Stock bottem end will support your 500hp goal too, without a worry given everything else works like it should. People hear are said to push past 800 rwhp on stock motors aswell.

Glad to hear it, eventually I plan on a 3/5 drop, either 20 or 22 black GM honeycomb replicas, turbo cam, dod delete, trutrac in the back, bigger turbo, stall, etc. But for now my 2/3 drop will be here tomorrow, and I figure 500 should be plenty to have a lot of fun in this summer to scratch the itch while everything else gets underway. I just don't want to grenade shit because i'm being impatient right? Also, any idea on front end upgrades for 4x4 shenanigans? I know stock duramaxes destroy tie rods launching in 4x4, but what else should I prepare in the long haul?

I just finished my truck about a month ago, and its been tons of fun. Its a 2010 Silverado 2wd 5.3 turbocharged, and it made 498hp to the wheels on 8 psi using a Trick Turbo 76mm stage 3 kit, comp cams VVT stage 2 cam 214 228 @ 0.050" Full 4 inch exhaust with Magnaflow 30" muffler and 4" high flow cat. The VVT tuning made huge gains in mid range torque.

I did swap out the 6L80e for a built 4l80e however. The 6L would have probably handled the 500whp, but I didn't want to ever worry about it. I did have trouble with the 6l80e at 150,000 miles stock miles. A planetary gear stripped, sent trash through the valvebody and pump and ruined the trans. I didn't want to risk it with the 6l80e. I do miss the deep 1st gear of the 6L80 though. Even with swapping to 3.73 gears, 1st in the 4l80e takes a bit to get rolling.

For a big 1/2 ton truck it moves pretty good.

two things I had found on the 6l80e: there are very few companies building them up to handle better power, (reliably), and also the tuning has to be SPOT ON for them to last.

I would recommend getting rid of the DOD mostly for the weak lifters, but keep VVT.

I had the lc9 and a 76mm turbo when I first got my truck and with 5lbs of boost through a 6l80 and 3.08s it did 420 to the wheels. 10lbs will easily get you to the 500 mark. The 6l80 will take that all day everyday as long as you got a good tune in it. I left the DOD on mine just had it turned off and never had an issue with it. My suggested parts for you would be Tricks cast stainless log manifold, his crossover with a 3.5 downpipe and a Precision 76/75 turbo with a T4 flange .96 ar exhaust housing. That 5.3 will spool it easy and give you plenty of flow up top.

Completely forgot about this thread haha, update: most of the cosmetics are finished, just missing wheels. work is starting to pick back up for the season so it's time to start penny pinching! i think i'm going to go with a local fab guy for the log and crossover, still trying to find the cheaper options as far as intercoolers and cold side piping is concerned, after talking with my tuner last night i'm going precision wastegate and bov from him, and most likely a precision 7275 .96 a/r.

going to keep the dod lifters for now, i've heard 8-9psi isnt too much stress on them but we shall find out haha.

Honestly I'd save your money and go with a different turbo.

There are so many other options that are just as good for less money. Contact Trick Turbo, VS racings (they sell nice intercooler kits).

Hell even a bog weiner S475 turbo is less money and same if not better quality.

My friend who's also a BW dealer around here even recommended the precision, literally asked him to price out a borg and he told me to check on the precision, plus i wouldn't need to modify my a/c lines to fit the 7275 whereas even with an s366 i might have to.