Ok guys,
I've got an L98 ('91 GTA) in mint condition and I'm wanting in the neighborhood of 600hp. I've been considering a turbo(s). This is not a daily driver but I don't want to have to worry every time I pull out of my driveway. Is it possible to achieve these results with a reasonable amount of money or should I look @ other options? I've also been considering swapping in an LS motor. Looking to spend in the neighborhood of $4-5k. I also want to keep the A/C. Obviously I don't know much about turbos but I know what it does to my '07 duramax (13.8 / quarter , 19mpg). Would the forced air raise my RPM's? Is the turbo a good combo with the torqey TPI? Any useful advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

4k-5k is not enough for a turbo build. I would recommend bbc like a 565 or 598 u would still need to up your budget.

 

A 598 for a whopping 1hp per c.i.? No thanks I'll pass. I've always believed in hp on-cheap and I'll fully admit I may be low on the budget side but you gotta try right? I may be overly positive but for $5k guys are building 500hp LS motors and that includes the motor.

 

Eh if you do it right you may beable to pull off a budget turbo build for 5 grand, using stock motor or atleast with pistons/re-ring it. 600hp can be done with a great tune but thats pushing it on the stock bottom end

 

So with a beefed up short block I'd be OK? Anything else I need to look out for? I just bought the Corky Bell & Hugh MacInnes books they recommend on this sight but I haven't received them yet. 'Preciate it. I just need to know if a turbo build or all new motor base for that range of hp would be better. Thanks!

 

Ever consider nitrous shot?

If your gonna build a turbo motor, i'd seriously look into building the bottom end. You can try to push that stocker to its limits and guys have done that to over 800hp but its dangerous and really depends on your tune and luck.

You could do a simple 383 build for 450-500 hp on motor and add a 400 dollar nitrous kit for another 150 for around 5000 if you price it right. But nitrous isnt always there like boost with a turbo or blower

 

Yeah, I'm just not much of a bottle guy unless it's 12oz. in my hand. You hit the nail on the head, I want it when I want it and I don't want to worry about it runnin' out. I could put $6k into this motor (or another) but $5k comes quicker, right? I've tossed around about a bazillion ideas (centrifugal charger, LS motor, turbo) and I'm tired of not having a direction. I do know I want 600 streetable dependable hp with A/C and I don't want to have to sell one of my kids. I've gotten an extra 80hp out of my current TPI and you wouldn't believe me if I told you how little money I spent so I'm trying to keep that same dynamic. Thanks for your input!

 

P.S. - One thing I haven't mentioned. One of my obstacles is deciding to go w/ a power adder combined w/ the TPI (IN

 

Whoops - hit the return button. Anyway, keep the TPI w/ a power adder (in the interests of saving money) or go w/ a whole new motor?

 

Oh do tell

 

It's all in the tune. I have a good buddy that has a JY smog era 350, JY cummins turbo on a blow thru set up and the car puts down 500rwhp and runs mid to low tens on a regularly. When I say JY, I literally mean JY, right down to the GM heads and head gaskets. As a matter of fact, you may have seen him on Pass Time this week, on the Arizonas Fastest Street Car episode. It was the black Nova wagon that blew the back tires off and went 11.4 @ 124, the car only had 14lbs that night but has seen 22lbs. We have also done other LS/SBC stock bottom end builds that have put that down plus. How about the Hyperutectic pistoned 355 we built that lived for 3 seasons spraying 300 on it. If the tune is right, it will live till it is not right. Keep in mind, the tune has to be RIGHT!!!

 

For whats its worth, i have a BBS single turbo manifold for sale, 400 bucks and it MAY work with AC but i have no idea. I would have to check for you

but you can easily make a simple mild steel log header and make a single turbo on these cars. You can fit a T4 in there which will be exactly what you need for 600 crank hp which is near 500whp.

Like said, tune will help alot and 500whp isnt asking a whole lot out of that motor compared to what some guys do.

BUT if you could atleast change the pistons/rings and rod bolts, that shouldnt run too much money and give MUCH more piece of mind

 

Thanks IROC I appreciate it. No I haven't seen your buddies car but I'll look for it. I might be going down to Texas later this year for Pinks - All Out. I've got a good friend with a '91 Silverado SS w/ a 6-71 BDS blower runnin' high 10's & he's thinkin' about runnin' it. Thanks for the info, I just needed to know if I was being realistic and headed in the right direction!

 

Thanks guys. Always nice to get good info from good people. If anybody else has any other useful input it would be most welcome! If you still have that turbo in a couple of months I'd be interested. I just spent my last bonus on a Magnaflow exhuast and Edge chip for my duramax!

 

Well, here is how one guy ran 9s on a stock bottom end, junkyard engine.... and he still used the TPI and factory torque arm.... It takes a couple days to read it all but here it is.

http://www.theturboforums.com/smf/in...?topic=61219.0

His car was in either Car Craft or GM High Tech. Also, search on TGO for TurboedTPI. His car was in GMHTP, still uses tpi and runs 10s.

This should give you a few ideas about which direction to proceed.

Kevin

 

It is enough if you do the work yourself and find good deals on parts.
And PDOG51, turbo is the way to go. Take your time, find good deals and you can make it happen. Good luck.

 

Thanks TurboedTPI! Yeah I'll do all the work myself. What size,type, & brand of turbo are you using? Where did you get the proper ecm done? What cam? Thanks for your help hope I'm not picking your noggin too much!