5.3 lsx turbo advice

[Nick_04K]

Im thinking of putting an lm7 or possibly lq9 into an s14. I want to put a healthy 600whp turbo on it and dial it in for a fun all around car/non dd.

So is SIKKY still the best trusted swap kit?

Should i use truck manifolds reversed for the turbo kit? Examples and input would be great.

[Bmxer300zx]

Im thinking of putting an lm7 or possibly lq9 into an s14. I want to put a healthy 600whp turbo on it and dial it in for a fun all around car/non dd.

So is SIKKY still the best trusted swap kit?

Should i use truck manifolds reversed for the turbo kit? Examples and input would be great.

Sikky is a trusted kit but $$$. Theres alota kits now hooker even makes mounts and headers that need a gto oil pan.
Cxracing also has a kit and writeup in tech. Theres small issues with it but one was just fixed as far as the dipstick now available.
Tons of people flip the truck manifolds forward just google "diy lsx turbo kit" and other searches like it.
Wanna see a badass less than $6k build using a vortec 4.8 swapped into a fairmont using 2 different heads, diy manifolds and $300 power master turbo and ran mid 10's first time at track?

“Cheap Thrills” – Matt Happel’s Turbo 4.8L Swapped Ford Fairmont - LSXTV (http://www.lsxtv.com/features/car-features/cheap-thrills-matt-happels-turbo-4-8l-swapped-ford-fairmont/)
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I'm venturing into a 4.8 lsx myself. Will be flipping manifolds forward, v-banding off them and using bits and pieces from cxracing and xcessive. Also mating a z32 trans as well, should be fun lol

[xoxide]

Fueled Racing swap kit or bust as far as mounts and parts go. You will not be disappointed.

The CX kit is cheap, but if you go look at some of the issues its just not worth it. The motor sits to high and to far forward.

[stev0n]

Hooker is the only way to go for mounts. they're better quality than hinson, daft, fueled, or CX. You can run the GTO or Canton pan with them. And they're not ridiculously overpriced like sikky & hinson & all the others (except CX). They're about $600 for the mounts & canton pan.

Mine is NA, so I can't help you with the turbo part, but several of the silviav8forums.com guys have turbo'd their LS swaps. Some are using truck manifolds, some making their own. I've heard the c6 manifolds work fairly well.

[2muchboost]

@BM......how are you going to mate the 4.8 to the z32 trans sounds interesting. I'm also looking into a 4.8 or 5.3 into my s14.

@NICK....they are right go with Hooker setup. Most of these swap kits are way overpriced. All of these setups (4.8, 5.3, 6.0) are solid. Look at the LQ4 also.

[The Dude]

I have Fueled and everything fits perfect without modification. However if you're not worried about your headers clearance around the steering shaft then I would probably go with cheaper mounts. Stay away from Daft Innovations.

[Bmxer300zx]

@BM......how are you going to mate the 4.8 to the z32 trans sounds interesting. I'm also looking into a 4.8 or 5.3 into my s14.

@NICK....they are right go with Hooker setup. Most of these swap kits are way overpriced. All of these setups (4.8, 5.3, 6.0) are solid. Look at the LQ4 also.

http://zilvia.net/f/chat/437053-lsx-z32-stock-tt-transmission.html
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This guy did it on his 6.0 swap in his z32using the z32 transmission. He used the ls1 flywheel and had the 300zx ring gear mated to it. Also had the 300zx clutch mated to the ls1 flywheel.

I found another build of a kid that did it had mocked up his own adapter plate using wood and had it cut at a shop using steel for $150. He milled down the bellhousing the thickness of the adapter. Theres also in that link the swap1uz company say they can make adapter but probably at $4/500 price.
Using a "white bunny" clutch kit with the flywheel drilled out to lsx patern the z32 wich is a 8 bolt doesn't leave room to be drilled properly. From what I "read" the input shaft lid is the same but I'm not holding my breath on this.
I have a rb25 lightweight flywheel, clutch and z32 trans already. Will be getting the motor ina month the option of a 5.3 under 100k with harness and ecu for $800 is opted to me or $600 for 4.8.

[2muchboost]

I like it.....only thing that worries me is the flywheel spacer for higher power and tq applications. Cool idea for sure.

[Bmxer300zx]

I like it.....only thing that worries me is the flywheel spacer for higher power and tq applications. Cool idea for sure.

Ha yeah I wont be I'll have the bellhousing milled down the thickness of the adapter.

[blessedhellrider]

deff the correct platform to build .

iv herd the 4.8 is more desired as far as boost goes. dont know why ,maybe rpm range.

i will say 5.3/4.8 is the exact same block . and forged pistons are harder to get "need custom made" .
diamond pistons can make 5.3 forged pistons
5.3 is same rods and crank as ls1/5.7 and ls1 pistons are everywhere !!!
just bore the 5.3 to 5.7 ..bingo cast iron ls1!!!

[Bmxer300zx]

deff the correct platform to build .

iv herd the 4.8 is more desired as far as boost goes. dont know why ,maybe rpm range.

i will say 5.3/4.8 is the exact same block . and forged pistons are harder to get "need custom made" .
diamond pistons can make 5.3 forged pistons
5.3 is same rods and crank as ls1/5.7 and ls1 pistons are everywhere !!!
just bore the 5.3 to 5.7 ..bingo cast iron ls1!!!

This^
4.8 has flat top pistons vs domed on the 5.3's, etc also the 4.8 has the shortest stroke of the ls1/x series. Always cheaper and more abundant. Also can be bored to a bigger size and using ls1 parts as well.
Some guys slightly build the heads with stronger pushrods and springs and have reved it upwards of 8k.
Here's hotrod magizines "big bang theory" where they used a pair of CXRACING 76mm turbos and made 1200hp on a stock block what they thought was a 5.3 later finding it out to be a 4.8
Stock GM LS Engine - Big Bang Theory - Hot Rod Magazine (http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp_1109_stock_gm_ls_engine_big_bang_theory/)

[az_240]

I know the fueled kit allows the steering rack to be moved forward by modifying the crossmember by about an inch but what other kits/combos allow this? I imagine anything using the GTO oil pan wouldn't work.

A z32 or maybe z33 trans adapter would be nice... prices for t56 are too insane.

[richbasv]

The motor sits to high and to far forward.http://price.womenobey.com/01.jpg
http://price.womenobey.com/02.jpg
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http://price.womenobey.com/05.jpg
http://healthllife.com/images/images/7.gif

[stev0n]

The hooker kit utilizes the stock motor mount slots & no crossmember modification if you use a canton oil pan. They're headers are also the best quality exhaust by a mile and fit great with ample room around the steering rack/power steering lines & the starter.

[az_240]

Did canton fix the issue with the pan hanging below the crossmember?

[2muchboost]

I would think the 4.8 would be desired due to the shorter stroke allowing higher revs which in turn allows you to stay in certain gear (4th gear per say) longer than having to switch to a 5th gear in the bigger setups (5.3 and 6.0). If your on a Th400 or the like then the shifting requirements are different but on a T56 you would want to minimize the amount of shifts.

All of these Iron block setups are stout. Over on LS you see many many junkyard pulled setups running crazy times with stock internals. The only thing I keep reading is that you would likely want to stick with the 2002+ (dont quote me) setups because they had upgraded rod setups which allowed more abuse. On the older generation motors that seemed to be weak point. Plus these guys are running "cheap" turbos (even Ebay turbos) and having great success.

Also remember that most of these setups were intended for much larger chassis (Chevy Tahoe for example) so moving a lighter 240sx chassis is effortless for it.

Sad I had to ditch the 2JZ setup because I had a stout setup but this new LSx setup should be fun as hell. Shit my uncles 02 Tahoe just hit 260k miles and he changes the oil once every 2 years, drives like a madman, and drives this truck to and from Florida a few times a yr....

[blueshark123]

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_1104_594hp_53l_gen_iii_small_block_for_3252/viewall.html

interesting read on 5.3 turbo for real cheap but not reliable

[2muchboost]

^^Reliable because of the parts used?

[az_240]

Would be interesting to know if the hooker headers or others will fit with the fueled moroso oil pan and mounts.... since it seems the fueled pan is the only one that will sit above the crossmember while retaining the ability to move the steering rack forward. Would also be nice to know how different the positioning is between the mounts.

[silviaks2nr]

If you want a turbo car and 600hp a 2jz/r154 with a 67mm is a smarter choice. You will have to build the bottom end on a v8 for it to hold up and the added expense makes it not worth it IMO. If you wanted 450-500hp it would be more realistic but at that point supercharging makes much more sense too.

[blessedhellrider]

i pretty sure the LSX platform ,need no mods to bottom end other than rod bolts to support up to 800hp.

[blueshark123]

^^Reliable because of the parts used?

Yea the parts and that the motor had a alot of miles, aswell as I would have upgraded the heads more then just some ls6 parts.

If you want a turbo car and 600hp a 2jz/r154 with a 67mm is a smarter choice. You will have to build the bottom end on a v8 for it to hold up and the added expense makes it not worth it IMO. If you wanted 450-500hp it would be more realistic but at that point supercharging makes much more sense too.

Like some one stated on a iron block ls not much is needed besides new rod bolts headstuds.


If i didnt care much about the weight and was bulding more of a straightline car i would have been built a lq9 6.0 and boost the piss out of it.

[2muchboost]

Rod bolts really only applies to the earlier gen motors since the newer (I believe 2004+) motors come with upgraded rod bolts. For reliability at above 700 lbs tq is where I would upgrade Ross and rod bolts though many oem setups have surpassed those numbers and remained reliable.

I do agree the 2J is an awesome choice depending on your flavor.

[Bmxer300zx]

I guess people missed the link I posted above with a 4.8 making 1,203 hp on stock rods, pistons, crank and rods on cxracing turbos none the less.
Or the less than $6,000 fairmont build that ran a 10sec time on a 4.8 with miss matched heads and $300 turbo on ms3 lmao.
I guess a 2jzgte ($1800easy) with a r154 (20 years old usually found in dirt and as expensive as a t56 haha) swapped into something and a bigass turbo would be cheaper lmao

[2muchboost]

That fairmont is out of this world lol.

[SR20PWRALTY]

+1 for Hooker motor mount kit.

[2muchboost]

Nice got any pix^^^^? Thinking about using them with my Drft Freak motor mounts and custom making a drive shaft for the Viperized-T56 I picked up. Now gotta find a 4.8 or possible 5.3 for a good price.