4.8 LS need more low end grunt.

chaplinfj60

chaplinfj60

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marshalltown iowa
good afternoon all,

so this is what i am using in the buggy, beside throw it in the yard and just get 6.0 or even 5.3 what are my options to get more low end grunt. i have done the web searching and saw intake from ss trailblazer and truck norris cam. stage one i believe.

and i am ok with not making 5.3 or 6.0 power. but would like a bit more down low.

thanks
 
I don't like the tune/cam in mine for bumping. It feels delayed.

6.0 or 6.2 and be done if you want more grunt.
 
jesus if your 5.3 does not have enough, . fudge my 5.3 is more than plenty for my current setup.

and them axles your talking about is what i am trying to avoid. in my mind that was one reason i went with 4.8, less power... and they are cheap because everyone wants the 5.3
 
It will bump things, but after wheeling with so many different rigs, You learn the more displacement the more grunt they are gonna have.
4.8/5.3 is a fine engine though.
Finish the build with what you have, then swap it over later. :flipoff2:
 
SMI17 said:
Put the 4.8 in the current buggy and use its 5.3. Or buy my spare 8.1 and never complain about a lack of low end grunt.
Click to expand...
omg 8.1 your killing me.....

and you know that is not a half bad idea. swap engines. it runs. i know it. all the dumb **** i spent days figuring out , like power steering brackets, and belts and weird little **** just use it. now thats a good idea. TY :smokin: :beer:
 
Do you know you need it yet? Sounds like you haven’t finished the build, why not get it running and see if you’re off by a little bit and can modify the 4.8 to meet what you want, or you’re off by a lot and modifying the 4.8 now would be wasted money when you need something bigger to meet your expectations
 
I got nuthin,
But when I read the ***le, I thought...
"Don't We All"!
 
Last edited:
You are correct. I have not even tried it yet. The problem I'm having is when you f****** read everybody or every f****** site says the 4.8 doesn't have enough low end torque and I'm just trying to get ahead of that if that makes sense.
 
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I think most people just drink the forum/youtube LS coolade and think they all need a nuclear tuned turbo 6.0. I would get it in the buggy and see what you are willing to change about it. if anything some kind of mild truck cam, valve springs and a good converter along with a good tune will likely be pretty a pretty solid and reliable setup. remember, a 4.8 scoots around a full body van just fine.
 
There are very few things that improve low end grunts.

5.3l crank with your 4.8l flat tops would be a good combo for low end. Increased stroke and compression would be the two biggest.

Most cams, even “torque” cams are going to move the power curve up in the rom range.
 
SMI17 said:
Or buy my spare 8.1 and never complain about a lack of low end grunt.
Click to expand...
price shipped? :flipoff2:

wvracer821 said:
I think most people just drink the forum/youtube LS coolade and think they all need a nuclear tuned turbo 6.0. I would get it in the buggy and see what you are willing to change about it. if anything some kind of mild truck cam, valve springs and a good converter along with a good tune will likely be pretty a pretty solid and reliable setup. remember, a 4.8 scoots around a full body van just fine.
Click to expand...
Yeah, because the vans have a slightly looser converter, deeper gears, and are normally wound tight at 70 mph. My crawler has all of that and it’s lacking from the brake/bump area for 2 seconds of wot.
 
wvracer821 said:
I think most people just drink the forum/youtube LS coolade and think they all need a nuclear tuned turbo 6.0. I would get it in the buggy and see what you are willing to change about it. if anything some kind of mild truck cam, valve springs and a good converter along with a good tune will likely be pretty a pretty solid and reliable setup. remember, a 4.8 scoots around a full body van just fine.
Click to expand...
You're not wrong about the YouTube thing but I can say horsepower difference is real. Been maybe 3 times in 5 years my mild build 6.0 wasn't enough.

On the converter note for Chappy, everybody has a different opinion but spend the money on something high end and not something pre built on a shelf. Something like a yank converter will make more difference than more money put into making the motor better.
 
bad zuki said:
price shipped? :flipoff2:


Yeah, because the vans have a slightly looser converter, deeper gears, and are normally wound tight at 70 mph. My crawler has all of that and it’s lacking from the brake/bump area for 2 seconds of wot.
Click to expand...
Its in a 02 Avy with 131k on the miles, knocked it on its head due to rusted rear frame and busted drivers window that sat for a few years.

I also have a 02 XL with 245k I stopped driving due to rear frame rust but that motor will get rebuilt using Raylar stage 2 stuff for my 67 BelAir after the 8.1 in it is proven to be not enough then that motor will get built the same to go in my 04 Silverado then its 8.1 will get built for my 29 REO Flying Cloud long travel AWD build.

Might have another 8.1 floating around but not sure.
 
Wfoyota said:
You're not wrong about the YouTube thing but I can say horsepower difference is real. Been maybe 3 times in 5 years my mild build 6.0 wasn't enough.

On the converter note for Chappy, everybody has a different opinion but spend the money on something high end and not something pre built on a shelf. Something like a yank converter will make more difference than more money put into making the motor better.
Click to expand...
i have always been a stock conver type of guy but more and more i am feeling like that is a failed thought process and should be up in the 2500 rpm roughly. so i will look into the converter more and more for sure.
 
5.3 crank and rods in your engine.
They are basically free and it's the only way to do anything about low end grunt on this engine.
 
so looking into this a bit more after hearing its mentioned twice in this thread. with a truck norris cam it has the potential to be as good or better than the 6.0 in low end grunt.
it bumps compression up from 9.5 to 10 or 10.1 and holy crap this is serious gains i think. wow. i was reading balancing maybe needed. not even sure i have a shop who could do that or if that is even a issue
 
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