5.3 HP estimation?

[T5MalibuWagon]

With a 5.3, gm hot cam, performer RPM, 650 cfm or so holley and some headers what kind of power would you expect?

I have been trying to decide if I what to put a trusty old sbc in my rambler or go on to the unknown with a lsx. I know that you can find 6.0 all over the place, but I kinda like underdogs. With a car that weights 2500lbs a stock 5.3 could put me in the low 12's and I would be really happy to see some mid 11's with a little hotter set up. I would be running a t56 with it odds are so rear end ratio would be set up for 1/4 mile, I would guess that it will see 3.90s or 4.11s. Any input?

 

[Doober]

Car Craft did an article on a 5.3, with a Lingenfelter cam the power peak jumped nearly 100hp. I believe you might be near 400 easy hp with a cam.

 

[Horsepwraddict]

Im running a performer RPM Carbed intake with a holley 650 DP on my 5.3. My cam is a little bigger, its a TR220-114. I talked to a cylinder head place out in california who said they had tested carbed intakes on 5.3's and it wasn't uncommon to see 30-35hp from the intake alone, and about another 40hp with a well matched cam. Im hoping for around 380hp to be conservative, with the right setup im willing to bet 400hp (or at least real close) isn't un-realistic.

 

[455_82malibu]

my brother made 340 hp with almost the same combo with cast iron manifolds..so you may get 350-360 with headers.

 

[Horsepwraddict]

my brother made 340 hp with almost the same combo with cast iron manifolds..so you may get 350-360 with headers.

at the wheels?

 

[455_82malibu]

yes...so your close to 400 engine HP

 

[Horsepwraddict]

yes...so your close to 400 engine HP

nice, thats more than i was hoping to make. Still not going to get my hopes up though lol

 

[T5MalibuWagon]

Cool. I think that means no sbc for me. I was really looking for around 400 hp as that could put it in the low 11's. Probably means that I can get it in the high 11's, lol. I know where theres a yard with about 10 of them so when I get ready all I will have to find is the t56. I am guessing that by the end of it I would like to have around $2500 in the running gear. Dont know if thats realistic but that would be about the same that it would take me to put a 400 hp sbc in there with a t5. I think I would be better off with a 5.3 and T56, thanks for the help.

 

[HarrisonTX]

Cool. I think that means no sbc for me. I was really looking for around 400 hp as that could put it in the low 11's. Probably means that I can get it in the high 11's, lol. I know where theres a yard with about 10 of them so when I get ready all I will have to find is the t56. I am guessing that by the end of it I would like to have around $2500 in the running gear. Dont know if thats realistic but that would be about the same that it would take me to put a 400 hp sbc in there with a t5. I think I would be better off with a 5.3 and T56, thanks for the help.

the 5.3 with aluminum block?
if not this is aluminum block, already set up for ya buddy.
http://www.dfwss.org/smf/index.php?topic=7754.0

 

[T5MalibuWagon]

It was sold before I ever saw it :cry: