You're constantly seeing LS builds, nothing wrong with that, but what's out there in sbc single turbo builds? 350 or 383's, I bought a 4 dr 57 chev and was going to stick a BBC in it but sbc stuff is every where and since it'd need a pretty stout sb NA motor I figured a 383, turbo deal would fit the bill nicely. It'd make a really cool sleeper on the street.

 

Search the builds section, it was around well before the Ls became so popular. Gen 1's don't get much love anymore when you can build a Ls for cheap.

 

I’ve done several, they work well. I daily drove a 350 with a GT45 from 2014-2020.

 

I was thinking a 475 clone, don't know how it'd spool in a heavy car, how would a 78/75 do, lack some on top end?

 

The s475 or gt45 will work fine, read @flyinhillbilly build thread here: https://www.theturboforums.com/threads/project-truckboattruck.379980/ he is something of a pro at the SBC in a heavy vehicle.

 

You should really plan out the engine combo before choosing a turbo. 45's work well on a mostly stock build, but start adding na hp, and it's no longer the best choice. There are many different configurations of the s400 framed turbo, and I personally would look there before the 7875.

 

Bad as I hate to say it after pricing some stuff, I'd be better off to put a 5.3 in it. Maybe do rod bearings and rings since I have to regap anyway , cam springs and head gaskets and it'd be a lot cheaper than building a 383 sb. I see pretty good results out of VS racing's billet S480 clone. I plan on running a PG and a 3.27 rear gear.

 

It's pretty tough to argue with how cheap they are to build. It's really the same reason the gen 1's were so popular. It's also funny, and hard to believe that some are building Gen 1's to be different.

 

Just gap the rings and run it. Start messing with bearings and you're playing with fire. The SBE engines seem to last forever and the ones that people try to "do it right" end up as garbage. YMMV.

 

Im putting a 355sbc in my car with a 98/88 t4 ebay turbo on it until i can get a better unit. I dont expect my stock bottom end to hold more than 10-12lbs but it will be fun until it slings a rod.

 

I'm not planning over 10 pounds of boost on the street but I might make a few passes and I want to be able to turn it up then.

 

Every time I build a turbo LS, someone buys it before I get it put in and I end up doing gen 1 sbc because that’s what I have laying around.
I sold all my gen 1 stuff, so I may actually get the boosted 6.0 in my 66 this time.

 

Same here. My old 383 was gonna be over 2 grand to update. Went with a junkyard 5.3 ($500) and never looked back. Stock it's only .4 slower in the 8th.

 

Well this has me written all over it lol I have a 55 chevy wagon. Considerably heavy I would say. I had 2 ls engines I could of used sitting in my garage and I went with the sbc. Just a stock bore 350. I have a single T6 s475 on there and it goes pretty good considering im running it on the safe side until I can get it to the dyno. I am also running 3.23 gears, for me it spools alot faster then I anticipated considering some of the feedback I got on here. Some may still think its laggy but its exactly how I wanted it. If you were using a manual trans then id consider a smaller turbo for better spool obviously.

 

I just bought a turbo like you are running 55Bowtie. I've always been old school but the money isn't there like it used to be and I figured this was the cheapest route I could take for some decent performance. I found the 5.3 and the same day I went to get it, I found a MSD 6014 box, intake and carb, all were almost new so I got a decent start. I'm narrowing 1 side of a explorer rear end and using it, 2 inches shorter than the 57 rear end. A little wheel well work and I can get a decent tire under it. Put some pics on here of your 55, I'd like to see it.

 

Yeah I hear that. I told myself I wanted to keep it budget. To be fair the main reason I stuck with the sbc is I didnt have all the money todo what I wanted todo for the whole turbo build last summer so I ended up just refreshing the motor but did whole new top end. This is my build thread on here but if your curious about anything I didnt mention or would like more details dont hesitate to ask! https://www.theturboforums.com/threads/55-chevy-turbo-build.386264/

 

Thanks 55Bowtie, I'll check it out.

 

where is Honkifpartsfalloff when ya need him.

 

No argument against the

No argument against the 5.3. It's a great foundation and proven to respond well with a gt45 or even s480. Don't discount the vortec 350 of you have a gen1 chassis car. Summit now offers a dedicated cam selection at rock bottom price compared to btr, comp, and other manufacturers. Remember the old vortec 5.7 makes way more torque than a 5.3. I'd love to see someone put springs and a cam in one of the old 5.7 vortecs with a good ems and an s480. I imagine the track times are close to a.5.3 LS under the same treatment.

 

What?

A last model year 5.7l rates at 330 ft lbs, an LM7 is rated 325, a l59 is rated 335, this is gen 3 stuff... Vortech made 255 hp, an lm7 made 290 or so. The LS torque curve is much fatter as well, you have another 1000 RPM to work with from the factory. Horsepower is work over time, if you are talking equal boost the LS is always going to make more power. If you are talking bolt on mods the LS has it there too. Lets also not forget than an iron block fully dressed 5.3l is 50-100 lbs lighter than a fully dressed 350. In a drag race on two equal cars, the LS is going to take it every single time, from stock to modified. The 350 is a good enough engine but lets not stroke its ego too much, it is a dinosaur, based on 60's architecture, the bottom end doesn't compare when you start adding boost.

To get a vortech to exceed 400hp you are talking a full head, cam, intake package and fuel management. A 5.3l requires a cam and tune...

If you have a good running 350 go to town, but if you want to make power or need to plop in a replacement engine the LS is a much cheaper platform to do it on.