Posting for a friend. He has the new style Silverado. Has 12000 miles on it. Pampered. Hasn't seen rain or snow lol.

Looking to turbo it next week.

How much boost will it take? We're aiming for a safe reliable level. What is the max boost it can take?

How much power will the tranny hold?

What do we use for engine management and tuning? HP Tuners? Any tuner you guys recommend?

It's a 1500 with a 5.3L V8.

 

6-8psi. The tranny is the weakest link.HP tuners works fiune. Do not remove the torque management from the tranny parameters or kablooie!

Rich

 

Thank you very much!

 

The little 5.3 will hold a lot. From smaller turbos like the mp70 many have run upwards of 20psi and right around the 600rwhp mark. The tranny is without a doubt the weak link though.

6-8 with a good tune would be very safe and still should put you prett well into the 400 range and gobs of torque. I would say put the smallest turbo you can get away with on it. A truck is most likely not going to be the case of constantly wanting more. 450 on a daily driven tuck would be a blast. 800 would be almost pointless.

So yes again I just echo'd what Rich said, but this is from my own experiences and many others.

 

So 6-8 psi would put him at 400 hp at the crank? The STOCK bottom end will hold 600 rwhp?

 

Reliably? Roll the dice and see if those number work on a lottery ticket. But yes the 5.3 has many times held 600rwhp for a while.

I bet 8psi would doo 400rwhp...

 

A lot depends on how it is driven. If it's under high boost for long periods, there will be a piston "problem" in short order. WATER/meth injection does wonders for stock pistons and boost. And on a truck, there is room for a huge water/alcohol tank. That's the way I would go. But the trany is still the weak point.

I have a 6.0 L76 Silverado, which has an upgraded 4L60E (the 4L70E). And I have been thinking about a Kenne Bell. But even the upgraded tranny, I am still leery. With a decent tune, sensible driving, and water injection I would worry more about the tranny than the motor if you keep the boost under control.

Rich

 

grip, head to LS1tech to the forced induction section

probably 1/2 the people in there are running 5.3's with turbos.

1982z28with18s on here has a 5.3 turbo with a cam pushing 550? at the wheels through a th400 and 8.8".

 

Thanks Adam. I posted on there as well.