Right now, I have a stock LS. I plan on going turbo. I've read quite a few of these type of post and it seems the most asked from the guys that help out are that you set goals and have a budget.

So my budget is $5000 more specifically about $1000 a month (Not in a rush to complete)

Here are my goals.
Daily Driven car that I can have fun with as well as take it to the track a couple times a month.
The HP goal is roughly 300. I was originally hell-bent on making this power or whatever power I make on low boost for reliability. 11psi or so. However, the more I read, it seems to be psi goals are pointless.

So now with all of that said. Important question is should I go the VTEC route? Most threads I've read with HP goals similar to mine, it’s often suggested to stick with the non VTEC head.


I've started "wishlist building" the motor but want to run it by you more experienced guys before I start buying so I don't waste or run into avoidable problems.

Here it is so far (No head work included because of uncertainty of VTEC)
Garret T3/T04 Stage 3 57 trim Turbo
GO-AUTOWORKS Mini Ram Manifold & 3" Downpipe/Dumptube Combo
Tial 44mm Wastegate, Tial Q 50mm Blow Off Valve
2.5" precision intercooler
440cc RC injectors
255 Walbro Fuel Pump (only because I already have it)
Omni 3bar map sensor (again, because I already have it)
Wiseco pistons 10.97:1 compression
Eagle rods
Will be tuned with Hondata s300. 93 pump gas.

All comments and advice are welcome, Thanks in advance.

 

You're actually pretty well in the right direction. You won't need a VTEC head, but it can give you a better powerband. On the flip side, though, it's one more thing to fiddle with, which means one more thing that can go wrong. You don't need rods or pistons for 300 on an LS, either, so you can save yourself some money there. You'll need more injector, though - look more in the 700 cc/min or higher area. The Garrett T3/T04 is kind of old. There are definitely better options for your goals.

 

Thanks for the fast reply. If it's not essential I will look probably stick with the ls head. And if i decide i need more later down the road then I'll go that route.

I will look into injectors as well as a better turbo tonight. Any suggestions on the turbo.

 

I'm kind of a huge fan of the disco potato (GTX2860R). Great spool, and great power delivery for your goals.

 

I would recommend a compression ratio closer to 10.5:1 for a 93 octane setup like yours.

The turbo kit you have put together is a good choice.
If you have not bought the RC 440cc injectors I would use something larger like ID 1000 injectors so you have room to grow.

Concerning engine management, Hondata S300 is a good choice..

I think you will be a lot happier if you choose to go with a vtec cylinder head setup.

 

Conveniently placed not-so-innocent self promotion, right there...

 

lol you mean when you decide you need more down the road. can't avoid the inevitable lust for more power. if you get it, with the ls head you can add valvesprings and a set of cams like 403's or bc stage 2's. I tuned a buddys car with those brian crowers and it came on hard and ripped around 4500 still pulling nicely at 7200 when i set the limiter due to stock rod bolts for longevity concerns. sadly, between the cams and the accompanying pretty needed intake manifold, there is your vtec head cost.

the 57 trim is kind of old news, but it was a staple in many a build for many years. get something thats not right on the end of efficiency with your initial goal. anyone run the borg s256?

What tranny do you have?

here are some often overlooked benefits of a vtec setup imo. It gets better gas mpg, they run cooler egt wise. i was faced with this decision in the early 2000s. i went with a 57 trim on an ls. it was fun, made 240whp @10 psi and i drove it for like 2 years. then i put a piston and rod lsvtec in and wondered why i didnt do that sooner

 

Almost certain a better turbo will get him better mileage and performance overall for this power goal especially more than a vtec head.

 

Thanks for all the replies.
I'll be home soon to look into a better turbo and injectors. I will definitely check out those mentioned.

The thing with VTEC is this: A good friend of mine has a bunch of built gsr heads. Now we haven't discussed any prices or anything because of me being on the fence and everything. I only say that to say this, if it is recommended that I do headwork on the ls head. It might actually be cheaper to go VTEC.

You're right, blackeg I know people with 500hp+ build and still want more. But I have another motor set aside that I'll get into when this one is all said and done that I might shoot for high numbers with.
Right now I have a LS tranny. (Grinds) I was thinking I'd go gsr but then there's that age old debate LS vs GSR for boost applications.

Wiseco has the 10.97 and then 9.4, I believe. So I might have to look elsewhere. CP perhaps.

Edit*
I didn't realize ID Injectors were that cheap. I remember seeing them at $1000 or some outrageous price.(Must have been looking at v12 applications lol.) I will definitely go with them.
Looking at the Spec turbo .70 a.r by Bullseye Power for consideration.
With CP pistons on a non VTEC head I can sit at 10.5 compression. With a VTEC head 9.8.

 

Wiseco pistons Eagle rods delta cams holset h1c 336hp 298tq on 15psi comp is 8.3:1 I know way to low but fist one I did 7 years a go and still running strong

 

With 5gs in hand, and plans for more later, do yourself a favor and get the block sleeved.just my 2 cents

 

So he can cut out a huge amount for a rather uneeded investment? Unless he want to go 2l in the future, there is no reason to sleeve

 

X2. Leave it alone.

 

Sleeves for 300?

Maybe a trip to CSS, but not full sleeves.

 

since im assuming you are going to go 81.5mm from 81mm anyway, css isnt a bad idea at all

 

Css and basic piston rod motor. Stock cams will even get you your goal for now.

 

??? for a 300whp motor?
You can get almost or around 400whp (around 500 on stock sleeves) all stock and still be reliable, definitely don't need any of this for 300.

 

just because some people make lots of power stock block style doesnt mean that everyone can or should. id rather have my motor be a bit overbuilt than underbuild. a bad tank of gas, some heatsoak in traffic you never know. the bone stock ls block that came out of my friends wife's integra had a hairline crack in the sleeves.

 

I tend to agree. Mine was sleeved years ago just for the fact that I wanted to make sure nothing went wrong engine-wise, and I was only at a "measly" 400whp. (Measly by today's standards, anyway).

 

7 years, that's awesome

Yes, 81.5
As far as wanting more power. I'm sure I will, but not for this motor. I have another swap ready to go that I will go for a high hp set up for track. This car will be a daily and reliability is most important to me. So while sleeves are out of the question, I will consider CSS for that extra security. I never really thought too much into it because I always looped them in with BGs. Now reading countless thread after thread, I see they're proven and reliable.

 

I have ran my setup at 27psi at the track but never dyno ed it at that so nice idea what power.
got a sleeved ls ready to in now but this one is going in the wife's car. A Lil over built for the goal but never let me down.

 

OK, 6 months later and.... Nothing. Shortly after making the
original post. "Life happened" lol. The main thing was I lost my job.
Now I have a better job, so it all worked out in the end. Bought a
new car, so I'm ready to pick back up/ actual get started on this build.

The budget is still the same($1000-$1500 per month) No actual "total" budget.
The HP Goal is now 400-450hp. If the build is capable of more,
that'd be great too. This is I guess, my satifaction number.
What is still important to me is the driveability and reliability of the
car. I have no intentions of driving this car everday. Which is why i
bought another car but I'd like to be able to, if that makes sense.

With that being said, I've been doing some thinking, research, etc.
And have modified the list accordingly. Here it is.


GSR Head, PNP (Already Have)
Ferrea Competition Plus Valves
Brian Crower Springs and Retainers
LS Block, CSS (option to trade for GSR Block and go full GSR)
82mm 10.0:1 CP Pistons/Eagle Rods(LS) 82mm 10.05:1 Wiseco/Eagle (GSR)
Edelbrock Performer X Intake Manifold
Skunk 2 68mm Pro Series Throttle Body
ID 1000cc Injectors
600hp Precison Intercooler
Custom IC Piping from local shop
45mm Turbosmart Wastegate
Tial 50mm BOV
Still looking to use the Mini Ram Manifold & 3" Downpipe/Dumptube Combo
Gave a friend my 255 walbro Fuel Pump, So now that I have to buy, I was thinking the AEM 320 as the price is close.
Tuned on S300, 93 pump gas

Still uncertain about a few things such as cams. I see Stock GSR
used in a bunch of builds. But is one of those "because it works"
kind of things.Basically, at what point do they begin holding you
back, where you'd really benifit from an upgrade. Then the qestion
would be are the ever popular pro1s the best choice or something
better. Keeping in mind, the "driveablility" (Nothing to harsh)


For a turbo. I have a gt35 (less than 100miles) that I'd be able to
purchase from a friend. I also been looking into the gtx2860 as
suggested. I'm looking for one that's not going to take too long to
spool. Which is another reason I choose the mini ram setup.
However nothing is set in stone. I value all your opinions, so if
there is anything in this setup where I might be drastically limiting
myself or overall just on the wrong path. Please LMK. All feedback is
appreciated.

Edit: For a transmission. There is a local shop selling a SIR-G, So i may very well go that route.

 

youll always benefit from cams, but too big can be a problem. if your still set on the mini ram, youll want something that compliments that manifold. and not working against it, as in causing back pressure issues and whatnot. people have used pro1s near or under 500whp without issue, but theyll benefit the setup more over 500whp.

 

Well that gt28 is a 350bhp turbo and the gt35 is a 700bhp turbo so...i guess you could start small and upgrade later, if you don't mind swapping turbos and getting re tuned

 

Thanks guys, I'm not set on anything yet, that's why i wanted to get some more feedback. Would you recommend A full ram horn or a entirely different style? I'd like to keep a full exhaust. Pro 1's it is.

I didn't realize that, I'm trying avoid doing things twice. Lol
When I was looking, I kept seeing them in 500hp builds.I didn't take into account that they may have been pushed to their limit. So the GT35 is a good buy?