Small-Block Chevys (or, to use a more PC term, “corporate blocks”) are known to respond to power with a modicum of modifications. Super Chevy seems to have taken the task to new heights, boosting a 5.3L LS motor to 611 horsepower. Did we mention this motor is carbureted?
The magazine was intent on building a 5.3 on the cheap, so they picked up a $300 junkyard LM7, keeping the factory cam, crank sensors, and coil packs while upgrading the intake, carburetor, and MSD ignition controller. Here’s a list of what was added:
- Electric water pump
- 1-3/4-inch long-tube headers
- Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake
- Fel Pro intake gaskets
- Holley 750 HP carburetor
- Aeromotive fuel system
- MSD ignition controller
Putting this combo on the dyno netted them 335 hp and 366 lb-ft of torque. Adding a CXRacing single turbo system with 10.2 psi of boost, and swapping out the carb with a dedicated blow-through carb from Carb Solutions Unlimited provided 527 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque − that’s an increase of 192 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque.
Next on the agenda was swapping in a mild Crane cam with 0.585 lift, 216/224 duration split and 114 LSA. Hooking it all up to the dyno netted 611 hp and 565 lb-ft at 9.9 psi.
Fresh, easy horsepower for Luddites is just a junkyard and a parts catalog away.
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