5.7 Vortec Upgrade Options

Supercharged111 said:

The PD blower delivers full, or near full boost, at pretty much any RPM. The centrifugal continues building more and more boost until you lift and the point where it begins being useful is generally around 3000 RPMs. On the other hand, you can typically make more peak boost with them than a PD blower. Some people will pulley a centrifugal way down to get it to build boost sooner, then install a restrictor in front it to limit peak boost so the motor doesn't grenade.

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Conveniently, the 5.7 makes peak torque at 2800 rpm stock. That's awesome, 3000 rpm is about where I feel the most power in my truck.

b454rat said:

OK call me stupid, but how does a centrifugal start at 3K? I was under the impression they are instant, why many believe they are better than a turbo? (reading the pro's and con's between blowers and turbo's). I had a car that had a turbo on it, and was like a light switch, either on or off.

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The turbo size comes into play here too.

The last SC truck I tuned was a procharger on a 370 LS and it was a smooth power curve similar to a turbo. But like mentioned they don't make much low end, takes a second to get rpms up for it to make boost.


Also run a good intercooler if your plannin on staying in boost for extended periods of time.
I use to tow with my last turbo truck and used a Water / air Intercooler but I always had plenty of air flow to help keep it cool..

Going slow and staying in boost is going to build up some heat in the intake. So be mindful of that.

Sent from my HiDiNg PlAcE

Trigger_guard said:

Ok. So I'ma try and explain this as simple as possible.

Vortec heads are iron
Iron heads run hot

Positive intake pressure(boost) = high effective compression

L31 vortecs have a high static compression

High static compression + high effective compression + hot heads = detonation

Detonation = wrecked bottom end

Doesn't matter if it's stock, forged, or a ******* top fuel dragster, the integrity of your short block is irrelevant.

Detonation will kill it




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just some useful info, gm already runs about 6lbs of boost on a forged bottom end with cast heads, SC grand Prix, regal,park ave, bonnville etc.