550 rwhp?

[BLKHAWK]

i want to purchase an sts turbo for a project car that im doing on an ls1. I would like to achieve 550 rwhp, but safely and not just pushing it. I know the package is 4000, but what would i need extra to run atleast 10psi. I want the engine to run well, and not it stressing on that amount of hp. If anyone has an idea of what it would cost to achieve that, that would be great. thanks

[NYSS Guy]

Reliable plus fast equals expensive.

To run more than 7-8 psi, and not have to worry about blowing it up, you will need a forged bottom end, etc, etc. I am in over $25k and I'm not done yet. You can do it for cheaper since I am shooting for closer to 700 rwhp. HTH.

[NYSS Guy]

I just thought some more about this. You could probably hit your goals with a set of 6.0 heads, turbo cam, and 10 psi...on the stock bottom end. As long as it's tuned right you should be okay. You just have to remember all the other stuff that comes along with that kind of power. New rear end, fuel system, clutch or torque converter. All the supporting stuff is what starts to add up.

[BLKHAWK]

yea...im sure it is gonna be expensive, i have about 10k of free flow for the car, and gonna put it on a 1998 trans am....so let's see where it will get me. Thanks for the advice and i'll keep that in mind....

[Wheeler99WS6]

I was under the understanding the kit is normally at 5psi and most generally pull around 440rwhp, so with heads and cam I wouldnt think you would have to pull much more psi unless you wanted more than 550rwhp. good heads, cam, upgraded fuel, upgraded turbo, pushing around 6-7psi I would think would be more than enough for 550rwhp.

[HurricaneLS1]

I was under the understanding the kit is normally at 5psi and most generally pull around 440rwhp, so with heads and cam I wouldnt think you would have to pull much more psi unless you wanted more than 550rwhp. good heads, cam, upgraded fuel, upgraded turbo, pushing around 6-7psi I would think would be more than enough for 550rwhp.

Thats what I was thinking.

[topgun1851]

im at 10psi with complete stock internals and everything is running great. mine dynoed 490rwhp on the mustang dyno at EPP, which is usually less than other dynos for some reason, i forget why. so im pretty close to 550rwhp, but also keep in mind, i hardly ever bring it up to 10psi (maybe once a month)

[GA Country Boy]

To put down 550rwhp means your engine is putting out close to 700hp, about double what the manufacturer intended. So when you start thinking about doing that don't think anything in that neighborhood is going to be 'safe'...at least not for very long especially if you're relying on a stock block. 'Safe' is keeping it 'stock' and taking care of it the way GM says. When you modify stuff, especially squeezing more hp out of engines, expect more expense due to more maintenance and breakage and as previously mentioned more breakage down the line (like differentials, clutches, trannies). For example in four years I am now on my fourth transmission, third torque converter, second differential (third in the box in my garage) etc. etc. People with FI cars always get into trouble the quickest by adding "just a little more boost", because we all know people who have run 10 or 14 lbs and are okay...but there are a bunch who tried it and weren't. Listen to the company that makes the system you're buying, set it up like they tell you and you should be okay. If you could run more safely they would be the first to tell you since it's in their best interests to brag as much as possible.

[440 rwhp trans am]

I was under the understanding the kit is normally at 5psi and most generally pull around 440 rwhp, so with heads and cam I wouldnt think you would have to pull much more psi unless you wanted more than 550rwhp. good heads, cam, upgraded fuel, upgraded turbo, pushing around 6-7psi I would think would be more than enough for 550rwhp.

440 thats me!!!

[Wheeler99WS6]

:yup:

[02BlackOnBlackSS]

yea...im sure it is gonna be expensive, i have about 10k of free flow for the car, and gonna put it on a 1998 trans am....so let's see where it will get me. Thanks for the advice and i'll keep that in mind....

10k huh?
Here is what you need:
Get a used sts kit with the gt-67 turbo, (+bov for manual car) - $2700
FMIC kit from EPP or TRT - $700-800
97-98 Vette fuel rails, mototron 60s, racetronix pump and harness, return setup, boost referenced fpr- $750 (hunt the fs forums)
EFI Live + LC-1 - $800
Various gauges - $200
6.0L heads, arp studs, cometic gaskets, 918s, titanium retainers, hardened pushrods, double roller timing chain, titanium valves - $1k-1200
Boost cam - $300
Boost controller - $400
Thats what you need to keep the stock bottom end good. Leaves you with 2250-2500 to spend on some supporting mods:
New clutch - $800
12 bolt - $2000
OR
built 4l80e - $2500 (i guess)
And there goes the rest of your budget.

Have fun!

[Ratdaddy07]

A little advice from what I learned during my build-up and I think most can attest to, it will cost more than you think. Give your best educated estimate and add at least 10%.

[boostedSS]

I just thought some more about this. You could probably hit your goals with a set of 6.0 heads, turbo cam, and 10 psi...on the stock bottom end. As long as it's tuned right you should be okay. You just have to remember all the other stuff that comes along with that kind of power. New rear end, fuel system, clutch or torque converter. All the supporting stuff is what starts to add up.

I agree. And he'll also see more than 550 rwhp. I'm thinking in the 580's- 600 dependin if it's auto or stick.

[bulletz28]

Can stock bottom end handle the HP, ?

[SSilver2K]

Can stock bottom end handle the HP, ?

Only with a perfect tune. I lost #5 & 7 pistons at 9 psi. Only took out the ringlands luckily but the slightest detonation at 550+rwhp power levels on stock pistons = kaboom!

[bulletz28]

ok, I'm thinking about stock crank, forged rod , pistons and rings. AFR 205's 224/224 .581/.581 114LSA that would do it right. And shoul pass emissions.

[bulletz28]

That would handle 550 to 600RWHP

[boostedSS]

I was running 10 psi on stock pistons.It lasted about a year and was getting blow by(worse and worse the more i beat on it) but it just would'nt blow up. It just pissed oil. I'm sure eventually it would've broken something(the rings were prob shot).
With forged pistons and rods and a lil less compresion you can easily make 600 plus rwhp and be very safe and not sacrafice much longativity.

[30th290]

i was able to run 25psi from 15 psi with meth injection on my turbo trans am.i know the ls1 is a totally different beast,but alky works http://www.alkycontrol.com/

[BLKHAWK]

well i ended up getting the kit from a dealer in utah. Im gonna plan to run 12psi atleast, and im gonna have to forge the pistons and rods...to make the bottem end to hold out. A friend of mine races, and says that auto is the way to go. Says you go manual...and you'll burn out your tranny even rebuilt with clutches having to be replaced more often. Also going to run it with meth injection. Well see how that goes....

[02BlackOnBlackSS]

well i ended up getting the kit from a dealer in utah. Im gonna plan to run 12psi atleast, and im gonna have to forge the pistons and rods...to make the bottem end to hold out. A friend of mine races, and says that auto is the way to go. Says you go manual...and you'll burn out your tranny even rebuilt with clutches having to be replaced more often. Also going to run it with meth injection. Well see how that goes....

What about a FMIC? You will need it at that level.
What fuel system do you have planned?

[djvaly]

To put down 550rwhp means your engine is putting out close to 700hp, about double what the manufacturer intended. So when you start thinking about doing that don't think anything in that neighborhood is going to be 'safe'...at least not for very long especially if you're relying on a stock block. 'Safe' is keeping it 'stock' and taking care of it the way GM says.
I agree, I would get a new block, 402 or 408 forged ls2 stroker, then you can boost it up no problem. stock LSx motor don't go obove 6-7psi or you'll fuk it up really fast. invest a good 4.5k on a 402 stroker, then good heads, cam, and intake, that alone shoud be close to 480rwhp, then put the turbo on watch it go 600rwhp at mid level boost.
but do have the rear end 12 bolt and tranny built up for that :firedevil:

[BLKHAWK]

yea im gonna end up going with the fmic, as for the fuel system not sure yet. It's gonna be a while before i can have the time to do all of this. Still havent gotten kit yet...gonna be a 1 month and half before the car will be up and running. Not in a rush though, want to take my time and then put everything on at once. Coming out to be pricey!!!

[maxgee]

I'm going Turbo end of the month, if all goes according to plan.
What rear end do you guys recommend from Moser?

[jimmybling31]

I was under the understanding the kit is normally at 5psi and most generally pull around 440rwhp, so with heads and cam I wouldnt think you would have to pull much more psi unless you wanted more than 550rwhp. good heads, cam, upgraded fuel, upgraded turbo, pushing around 6-7psi I would think would be more than enough for 550rwhp.

the turbo in the sts setup can push up to 12psi I think. I was looking into it for a while. it's a very efficient setup. sts, 42# injectors, heads, cam, tune and you should be at 550

[cailey37]

Well, just my two cents but I wouldn't buy an STS kit if my life depended on it! I wont install another one! They have issues with them. Mainly the oil return and it not being pumped out well enough. It ends up getting into the intake tract of the turbo and it's just a mess! I've seen this first hand. We sat the car on the dyno and it was fine but once you got it out on the road it just couldn't "push" the oil to the front of the car while fighting the g-forces and all. Novel idea, but needs some work for sure. You'll end up spending more money trying to get the thing right than if you just put the turbo up front where it belongs.

Just hate seeing people led down the STS path until STS improved their system. Take this for what it's worth but I'd look at a different setup.