Which LS engine is best for turbo/boost?
Popular choices are the iron-block 6.0 truck engines (LQ4, LQ9, LY6, L96) and the 5.3s: plentiful, cheap and proven in Speedway's boost recipes. Speedway's 800 hp 6.0 single-turbo recipe keeps the stock bottom end but requires E85 at that level. Their 600 hp 5.3 turbo recipe is mostly bolt-ons, and the 700 hp 5.3 adds a cam, head studs, LS7 lifters and a timing chain (no pistons or rods in the list).
Past those levels Speedway's 1,000 hp 6.0 recipe adds forged pistons and H-beam rods. Budget the fuel system too: the stock filter/regulator tops out around 450 hp.
Confidence: medium — sources disagree or are limited; check the sources below.
Related questions
- How much horsepower does a stock 5.3 make?
- How much horsepower can a stock 5.3 handle?
- How much boost can a stock 5.3 handle?
- Junkyard 5.3 turbo build: what do you need?
- Best cam for a 5.3
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Sources
- General Motors LS-based small-block engine — Engine table — Wikipedia
- 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