HDJdreams
SILVER Star
Wow, the V8 Swap thread up to almost 1000 posts!
My 80 needs more motivation! I am eagerly awaiting the bolt-on turbo kit, but a few things really nag me: First is the limited ratio spread of the A343 (I am 3 hours from Moab, but have to drive on 80 mph freeways to get there - do I pick axle gears for freeway or rockcrawling?), second 1FZ is rare in the US and expensive to overhaul, third it would be great to shed some weight if possible.
Trying to figure out the least expensive path to 6 speed auto, 400 ft-lbs, and hopefully aluminum block. The 6.2 is pricy, 6.0 is cast iron and paired with 6L90 (longer and heavier than 6L80), so what is possible with the 5.3?
I have heard that LS motors respond well to just tuning and a cam swap, but the articles I have seen chase horsepower and show the gains in the upper rpms. For the 5.3 that are mated to 6L80s, can you gain much torque below 3000 rpm from tuning? What about from simple bolt-ons up to a cam swap? Is the stock cam already about as good as you can get for torque in lower rpms?
I apologize if this seems like a simple question. I am a few decades behind on the adding power game, the last time I played was 20 years ago - with the 70s era AMC/Jeep V8 - a carb, manifold, and ignition did wonders on those.
My 80 needs more motivation! I am eagerly awaiting the bolt-on turbo kit, but a few things really nag me: First is the limited ratio spread of the A343 (I am 3 hours from Moab, but have to drive on 80 mph freeways to get there - do I pick axle gears for freeway or rockcrawling?), second 1FZ is rare in the US and expensive to overhaul, third it would be great to shed some weight if possible.
Trying to figure out the least expensive path to 6 speed auto, 400 ft-lbs, and hopefully aluminum block. The 6.2 is pricy, 6.0 is cast iron and paired with 6L90 (longer and heavier than 6L80), so what is possible with the 5.3?
I have heard that LS motors respond well to just tuning and a cam swap, but the articles I have seen chase horsepower and show the gains in the upper rpms. For the 5.3 that are mated to 6L80s, can you gain much torque below 3000 rpm from tuning? What about from simple bolt-ons up to a cam swap? Is the stock cam already about as good as you can get for torque in lower rpms?
I apologize if this seems like a simple question. I am a few decades behind on the adding power game, the last time I played was 20 years ago - with the 70s era AMC/Jeep V8 - a carb, manifold, and ignition did wonders on those.
