Junkyard 5.3 turbo build: what do you need?
Speedway Motors' 600 hp turbo 5.3 recipe on a junkyard engine:
- Turbo kit: VS Racing Nex Gen 7875 turbo, 50 mm wastegate, Hooker single-turbo cast manifolds with a transmission-specific crossover, a 3 in intercooler with piping, and a 4 in inlet filter.
- Fuel system: plan well past stock. The stock LS filter/regulator tops out around 450 hp, and a 600 hp turbo build needs roughly 78 lb/hr injectors on gasoline (94 on E85) per Speedway's injector chart, plus a matching pump.
- Tuning for boost; the stock ECM or a Holley/other standalone.
- For ~700 hp: Speedway adds a Sloppy Mechanics Stage 2 cam, LS7 lifters and trays, a 12-point head stud kit, a full gasket set and a new timing chain.
Gen IV engines need an AFM delete for any cam change.
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Confidence: medium — sources disagree or are limited; check the sources below.
Related questions
- Which LS engine is best for turbo/boost?
- How much horsepower does a stock 5.3 make?
- How much horsepower can a stock 5.3 handle?
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- Best cam for a 5.3
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Sources
- What is The Best Fuel Injector For LS? Stock, Aftermarket, Decapped LS Injectors Explained (incl. embedded LS Fuel Injector ID Guide and Sizing Guide) — Speedway Motors
- 5.3 LS Build Combinations: Recipes for 400-700+ HP — Speedway Motors
- 6.0 LS Build Combinations: Recipes for 500-1,000 HP — Speedway Motors