LS Turbo newbie

[malbright]

So as many have and will do I am building a 66 Nova. I am using the new Detroit Speed front and rear clip for the car. I bought an LQ4 motor out of a yukon about 2 months ago for the build. Im not going to be the one building it since Im new to the turbo world but my real question is where can I go to get a really good grasp on the ins and outs of turbos. Not that Im gonna build it I just would like to begin educating myself on the subject.

Also.... if you do a twin set up on an LS engine, and Im talking buying good parts not junk how much horsepower can you typically expect and can you use pump gas? I do know detonation is bad on anything especially turbo setups but can you run pump gas and cruise the street?

[alowerlevel]

my real question is where can I go to get a really good grasp on the ins and outs of turbos. Not that Im gonna build it I just would like to begin educating myself on the subject.

Check out www.theturboforums.com

Also.... if you do a twin set up on an LS engine, and Im talking buying good parts not junk how much horsepower can you typically expect and can you use pump gas? I do know detonation is bad on anything especially turbo setups but can you run pump gas and cruise the street?

Most people see around 500-550rwhp on pump gas on mostly stock engines and a single turbo

[theRG]

The book 'Maximum Boost' by Corky Bell is kind of the turbo bible in most circles and a great resource for all around planning, building, and tuning turbo systems.

On 351 Ford and LS based engines displacing 6+ liters I have seen up to 1,000bhp on 91. But anything over 500rwhp on the street I feel your just giving away money to tire companies. These days you can run twins with a 260*@.050 cam on a 400ci engine and a 950 blow thru, while hanging a/c and p/s on the engine and still make great power and driveable but where in the world are you using 800-1000bhp besides all out competition?

[jake8092]

There is a lot of good stuff over on LS1Tech forums also...Work has been slow so I've sifted through a bunch of it! lol

[SR71]

500 rw is the safe limit on stock pistons. you can get to 600, but it's not going to last long and your tune had better be perfect. with a good set of pistons, rings and decent rods, 600 rw is easy(and safe) with an ls on pump gas. add a relatively inexpensive methanol injection kit to the deal and 750rw is within reach.

an aluminum ls engine tends to start pushing water at around 17-18psi unless measures are taken. keep the boost down to 14-15 psi and reliability is good.

[LSXZ28]

Absolutely recommend a meth injection system on a pump gas turbo car.