1987 Olds 5.3L LS turbo swap

[GBodyscuffle]

So I see you mentioned the Denmah kit, meaning i'm guessing you read up on Sloppy Mechanics. I just started poking around his wiki, and watching the first set of videos. Where exactly did you see a parts list of what you need? I need to spend some more time on there, but just poking around I didn't see something all inclusive. I'm also an idiot, so I probably missed it!

You are using the factory PCM, meaning you didn't go with MegaSquirt. Will you need to switch to MegaSquirt once you slap the turbo on? Or can you make the factory PCM work with that?

I'd love to build just a seriously low buck LS turbo engine. I'm not even looking for anything more than 400 hp. I just want to try!

Yeah I plan to use his kit thats available on vsracing.net. Diyautotune.com has alot of info on the megasquirt systems too and I beleive they are the main company that makes and sells them. They have tech installs and stuff like that on there. On sloppy's wiki page he has a commonly bought parts list that he put together from some of his own builds and it shows the parts needed. Tons of info on his site. And yes I'm going to use my stock pcm for now. It can easily be used for boost either running it with Maf/closed loop or wideband/open loop. Mine is in a open loop tune right now because I havent installed the bungs into my headers for my o2 sensors lol. But once I do that it will operate in a closed loop and run off of what the MAF is telling the pcm to do. Its alot of different variables. I want to use the megasquirt system because the tuning is alot more hands on and it doesnt cost money to keep making tunes like it does with hptuners or something similar to it. My buddy put a basic tune on it for me with hptuners and it runs decent for now. Once I put the turbo on I will get him to change a few things and that should hold me over until i can afford my own tuning suite. Im glad to know there are as many people as there is following my build. Makes me feel proud lol. Thanks guys

 

[GBodyscuffle]

i searched for a bit for mine. i wanted a chevelle/nova/tri five but theyre way out of my budget for what i wanted lol. I always liked the g-body and trying to find one that hasnt been messed with or molested is really hard to find lol. I found mine that a guy bought form an old lady and it only has 21k miles on it. so theyre out there just hard to find one that isnt chopped or in rough shape

I saw my car on craigslist and I just couldnt pass it up man. I fell in love at first site haha. I brought it home 3 days later lol. Probably could have held out and found a decent malibu but I doubt I would have gotten one in as good of shape as my cutlass was. The engine bay sucked but that motor wasnt staying long anyway lol. The rest of the car is about 99% rust free, minor rust where the rear speakers mount to, so no big deal for a race car haha. I saw a few cutlass's today that should have been saved a few years ago but they sat and rusted. Brought a tear to my eye lol. I always love seeing malibu's man, maybe that will be my next gbody 😉

 

[GBodyscuffle]

Put my shifter in a few days ago and havent had a chance to post about it until tonight. B&M mega shifter, got it used for 50 bucks from a buddy of mine. He upgraded and cut me a deal. But it fits and it works pretty good. Wasnt crazy about the rachet mechanism in theory but after trying it, I now wont have to worry about going from 3rd to neutral at 5000 rpm and destroying my trans lol. The chrome and shiny bits still need to be polished but its in and I think it looks pretty neat.
Also excuse the mess in my floor boards lol. Weeks of wiring being done to this car and I havent made an effort to clean the interior out yet. And I also installed my electric fan one night last week. Used a single 14.5 diameter blade fan from a early 2000s cavalier and ran it to my switch panel thru a relay. Should push all the air I'll need it to for now. Ill get some pics up of it when I see the car next.

 

[Judge Mills]

Ahh, hptuners! I hadn't heard of that one yet. That must be what the guys on Ebay are using that say they will tune your pcm for $100. I did finally find the parts list on his wiki. I still have a lot more studying to do, but this helps. Good luck on your project!

 

[GBodyscuffle]

Ahh, hptuners! I hadn't heard of that one yet. That must be what the guys on Ebay are using that say they will tune your pcm for $100. I did finally find the parts list on his wiki. I still have a lot more studying to do, but this helps. Good luck on your project!

Yeah I'm not sure how they can use hptuner software to tune pcm's. It cost me 100 for credits and another 100 to pay my tuner for doing the work. I'm not sure what system they are using but hptuner is a pretty good one. Efilive isn't bad but expensive. And yes make sure you take the time to research everything lol. Thanks dude

 

[rayfrausto]

Nice thread. It's all looking good ima stay tuned. I have a swapped 5.3/4l80e in my 81 cutlass I just finished. Not tuned yet just a base tune and it's still a lot of fun. I cammed it and did bolt on a with ls6 heads for now. But I have plans for a turbo too. Keep up the good work.
Have you seen the cx racing kit for the g body? I'm thinking of getting there hotside and running twins.

 

[GBodyscuffle]

I took a look at it a few weeks ago when someone one gbodyforum asked about it, so I took a look. To me it looks like a decent kit for being bolt in. I like it but I want a big single lol. If they offered one I might would get it. So far im planning to build my own hotside lol. Ordering a new tig welder next week.

 

[GBodyscuffle]

Finally made a little time today to wrench on the G. Got my passenger side inner fender well back in, and its starting to look like an actual car again haha. Did find out I'll probably have to do some trimming to it to make my exhaust pass by it without melting it lol. Exhaust will be wrapped but aint taking no chances. Not quite sure if I will cut and shorten the passenger side header collector so it doesnt interfere with anything. Will be a tricky section of pipe but I would like to keep from shortening it if I can help it. Snapped a few pics for you guys. Haven't been doing much work to the car until today because there is not much I can do without spending money lol. Im saving for a tig welder. Should be able to get it in the next week or 2 if I continue to save my money responsibly lol.

Notice how close the header is to the inner fender. Also the outlet is pretty close to the battery. I want to wait and relocate the battery to the trunk at a later time when Its completely necesarry for me to spend the money.

 

[GBodyscuffle]

Had a bit of time this morning to put my temp gauge and oil psi gauge in. Came out looking pretty good I think.

 

[Injectedcutty]

Nice thread. It's all looking good ima stay tuned. I have a swapped 5.3/4l80e in my 81 cutlass I just finished. Not tuned yet just a base tune and it's still a lot of fun. I cammed it and did bolt on a with ls6 heads for now. But I have plans for a turbo too. Keep up the good work.
Have you seen the cx racing kit for the g body? I'm thinking of getting there hotside and running twins.

I apologize for the thread hack....but cx racing sells some nice quality stuff! I have one of there dual 3" to single 4" y's and a universal intercooler piping kit that i custom made my cold air setup out of. Quality pieces and half the cost of having a custom intake built to spec....and i can say I MADE IT which for all of us guys i feel is a self pride thing!!!