Ls1 engine 500 hp
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: Norwalk, CA
Car: 91Z28
Engine: 5.7 ls1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
No it will not be dangerous just get some sfc and you should be good.
As for the build you could do it in a very good budget im at around $2000 in parts for my turbo setup and should push around 600rwhp at around 15psi and this is with a stock 4.8
If your budget is $6000. I would get this
-S480
-lq4 with forged rods. pistons(forged crank if you gonna want over 1000rwhp)
-317 heads
-fast intake/tb
-custom boost cam
oh main studs, and head studs
As for the build you could do it in a very good budget im at around $2000 in parts for my turbo setup and should push around 600rwhp at around 15psi and this is with a stock 4.8
If your budget is $6000. I would get this
-S480
-lq4 with forged rods. pistons(forged crank if you gonna want over 1000rwhp)
-317 heads
-fast intake/tb
-custom boost cam
oh main studs, and head studs
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
Thanks both of you! I will read all that stuff.
I will definitely look into that setup sickrs
There are so many different ways to do this so I have been reading a ton of build threads. Definitely staying busy. Also been reading books on the Ls engines to better understand them
I will definitely look into that setup sickrs
There are so many different ways to do this so I have been reading a ton of build threads. Definitely staying busy. Also been reading books on the Ls engines to better understand them
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: Norwalk, CA
Car: 91Z28
Engine: 5.7 ls1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
yeah theres hundreds of combos you could build very budget friendly ones and big money ones i did mine budget friendly way under $6000 and thats including the whole engine and tranny swap.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: Norwalk, CA
Car: 91Z28
Engine: 5.7 ls1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
Yeah to start off got the car cheap with the 4.8 done and completed it heres a pic of how it looks right now some motivation to go turbo 

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: Norwalk, CA
Car: 91Z28
Engine: 5.7 ls1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: Norwalk, CA
Car: 91Z28
Engine: 5.7 ls1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
Haha thats true...
Now back to topic don't want to hijack your thread.
If i where you just swap in a stock 5.3 engine with a ls6 cam with a t76 and you will reach your goals with that alone and enjoy it.
Now back to topic don't want to hijack your thread.
If i where you just swap in a stock 5.3 engine with a ls6 cam with a t76 and you will reach your goals with that alone and enjoy it.
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
Now by leaving it stock won't it cause faster wear on the engine. I would assume a turbo would cause a lot of strain on an engine and over a period of time will need to get fixed up
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: Norwalk, CA
Car: 91Z28
Engine: 5.7 ls1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
Yea but there has being lots of people running boosted 5.3 and 4.8 all stock engines for over 10k miles and they are good as long as your tune is good you should not have any problem at all. Instead what i think will go before the engine are gonna be your rear end and transmission.
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 10
From: San Diego, California For Now
Car: 88 Formula, 90 Iroc RIP, 92 RS Sold
Engine: 305 to 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
seen stock 5.3 hit close to 900 hp on stock internals
but running that in street car longevity wise is questionable only a matter of time before start spitting metal and bending rods etc
you can never go wrong with upgrading pistons and rods stock crank can handle the poser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: Norwalk, CA
Car: 91Z28
Engine: 5.7 ls1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
As Zach mentioned anyways why would you want over 600rwhp on a daily car that will beat any car that wants to go against you driving around lol.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: Norwalk, CA
Car: 91Z28
Engine: 5.7 ls1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
Oh ok then you will have nothing to worry about then just buy a 5.3 some arp rod bolts, head studs and slap a ls6 cam and a s475 and tune and you got your 600rwhp drivable too
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
From: Clovis NM
Car: 2012 F350 lariot/1991 Camaro RS
Engine: Powerstroke/6.0
Transmission: 6R100/4L80e
Axle/Gears: 3.73/3.42
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
LOOK around dont rush and you will find good deals I have a 6.0 t78 turbokit that I have less than 1200 into so then I would need a ecu and wireing
I got the lq4 for 250 then got ls3 heads then got a LS3 in trade and sold the lq4 with harness and ecu with the ls3 heads for 3200 I am installing the motor in trade for a forged 383 alum head SBC (i can sell for 2k easy)
Car stuff is all about trading buying and selling and knowing the right parts to get. Its how I support my hobby
I am installing a all aluminium 6.0 L76 LS3 heads Holley hiram intake 102 mm Holley dominator ecu 4l80e built ky turbo kit t78 and I never once had to pull from my bank acount its all on trades buying and selling (and I powdercoat)
I got the lq4 for 250 then got ls3 heads then got a LS3 in trade and sold the lq4 with harness and ecu with the ls3 heads for 3200 I am installing the motor in trade for a forged 383 alum head SBC (i can sell for 2k easy)
Car stuff is all about trading buying and selling and knowing the right parts to get. Its how I support my hobby
I am installing a all aluminium 6.0 L76 LS3 heads Holley hiram intake 102 mm Holley dominator ecu 4l80e built ky turbo kit t78 and I never once had to pull from my bank acount its all on trades buying and selling (and I powdercoat)
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,895
Likes: 429
From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
as long tune is good and not going 1000hp
seen stock 5.3 hit close to 900 hp on stock internals
but running that in street car longevity wise is questionable only a matter of time before start spitting metal and bending rods etc
you can never go wrong with upgrading pistons and rods stock crank can handle the poser
seen stock 5.3 hit close to 900 hp on stock internals
but running that in street car longevity wise is questionable only a matter of time before start spitting metal and bending rods etc
you can never go wrong with upgrading pistons and rods stock crank can handle the poser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 10
From: San Diego, California For Now
Car: 88 Formula, 90 Iroc RIP, 92 RS Sold
Engine: 305 to 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
LOOK around dont rush and you will find good deals I have a 6.0 t78 turbokit that I have less than 1200 into so then I would need a ecu and wireing
I got the lq4 for 250 then got ls3 heads then got a LS3 in trade and sold the lq4 with harness and ecu with the ls3 heads for 3200 I am installing the motor in trade for a forged 383 alum head SBC (i can sell for 2k easy)
Car stuff is all about trading buying and selling and knowing the right parts to get. Its how I support my hobby
I am installing a all aluminium 6.0 L76 LS3 heads Holley hiram intake 102 mm Holley dominator ecu 4l80e built ky turbo kit t78 and I never once had to pull from my bank acount its all on trades buying and selling (and I powdercoat)
I got the lq4 for 250 then got ls3 heads then got a LS3 in trade and sold the lq4 with harness and ecu with the ls3 heads for 3200 I am installing the motor in trade for a forged 383 alum head SBC (i can sell for 2k easy)
Car stuff is all about trading buying and selling and knowing the right parts to get. Its how I support my hobby
I am installing a all aluminium 6.0 L76 LS3 heads Holley hiram intake 102 mm Holley dominator ecu 4l80e built ky turbo kit t78 and I never once had to pull from my bank acount its all on trades buying and selling (and I powdercoat)
sent you a pm ?? about powdercoating
Buddy has a 4600+ lb silverado with a weak rod 5.3 thats been running 600-700 whp for couple years now on street. Excellent tune, 7500 rpm to boot. No issues yet. I agree up over 800+ could really be pushing it with fatigue life but for a yearly drag car on budget lol its doable
Last edited by Zach/90\irocZ; Mar 13, 2013 at 03:10 PM.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: Norwalk, CA
Car: 91Z28
Engine: 5.7 ls1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 959
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From: Houston TX
Car: 02 SS
Engine: 408 TT (1108rw-93/m1)6700rpm
Transmission: TH400(slipping)
Axle/Gears: 12bolt/3.42(whines😠)
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
I can do all the research in the world it won't help if I don't understand the concept behind it and what happens to the engine when you add a turbo. That is why I am asking you guys. You can explain things in better terms and easier to understand. And everyone's build is different so to understand what I need I have set a budget and seeing if is a realistic goal
Buy
Maximum Boost by Corky Bell
Excellent source of basic info. All the basic in/outs of turbocharging
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
The thing about your goal to make 500rwhp N/A then add boost is that to make 500+rwhp N/A you're going to need high compression that won't be "ideal" for boost application.
Ton's of guys on ls1tech sell their big cube N/A motors(big head big cam 427's etc) and drop in a stock bottom end 5.3's or 6.0's with turbos.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-ind...l80e-sold.html
If you want N/A check out this build:
H/C 346 LS1's making 522 rwhp naturally aspirated through an auto:
http://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomete...4-10-11-a.html

Car went 9's all motor:
There's a few making 450rwhp with big cams, this one is a New Era Cam full bolt-ons and stock factory heads(screen name "studderin"):
Ton's of guys on ls1tech sell their big cube N/A motors(big head big cam 427's etc) and drop in a stock bottom end 5.3's or 6.0's with turbos.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-ind...l80e-sold.html
If you want N/A check out this build:
H/C 346 LS1's making 522 rwhp naturally aspirated through an auto:
http://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomete...4-10-11-a.html

Car went 9's all motor:
Last edited by Z28FAST1; Mar 26, 2013 at 02:15 AM. Reason: ...
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
I have been soo much research to figure out the cost to build a 500 rwhp ls1. There are so many mixed results so it is hard to figure out what is possible and what is not. I have a $6,000 budget and want to know if it is possible (without nos). I was planning to over build the engine so I could add a turbo or super Charger later
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,405
Likes: 2,081
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
I consider that example to be the exception and not the norm. Most people don't have a prayer of making that much power with a naturally aspirated LS1, let alone 500RWHP, and still have reasonable driving manners. That job is better performed by the 4" bore and larger blocks (6.0 and up) and the selection of heads that fit those bores.
To the OP, my suggestion is to start with a 6.0 or 6.2 with rectangular port 72cc heads and drop a big cam in it. This will get you close to 500RWHP for now and the car will be a ton of fun to drive. You can add a turbo or supercharger and hit 600RWHP no problem and the only thing you'll need to change is the cam. The rectangle port heads are current design and give you more choices for intake and supercharger bolt-ons. You can use a cheap LS3 intake and not waste tons of money on an over priced FAST 102. For what it is worth, i have another friend that put his full weight Buick Regal in the 10's with stock L92 heads (truck version of LS3 head) on a 6.0 short block, carbureted. Who cares what the Hp is..... he's in the 10's!
Last edited by QwkTrip; Apr 27, 2014 at 02:06 PM.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,405
Likes: 2,081
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: Ls1 engine 500 hp
500RWHP needs to be respected in any car. This is a power level where you can break loose tires at freeway speed. It is easy to get out of shape and crash. Also, it's too much power to harness on the street at any speed below legal speeds. Self-control and good sense are what will keep you safe and out of jail.
I've had only 1 ticket in my life and it was in a supercharged Corvette. Go figure.
I also lost control of that car and ended up about 100 feet off the road. Again, go figure.
I've had only 1 ticket in my life and it was in a supercharged Corvette. Go figure.
I also lost control of that car and ended up about 100 feet off the road. Again, go figure.
Last edited by QwkTrip; Apr 27, 2014 at 02:28 PM.
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