Supercharger and 180k miles

[cmc76]

A guy has a whipple 2.3 locally. Claims rebuilt. Has paperwork to support that claim.
My ride is an 04. Tune. Vette servo. Air raid. Nothing else.
My question. What coukd really go wrong?
If the motor lets go, replace it.
Trans goes, it's likely on borrowed time.
If I go see it, I'll be looking for the completeness of the kit. Trying to feel bearing slop, if any there.

Thoughts?

 

[iamdub]

If it doesn't have any current issues and has been maintained and not beat on for those 180K miles, then I wouldn't sweat it. If something does pop, 5.3s and 4Ls are plentiful and therefore cheap. Definitely get fuel pressure and air:fuel gauges.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

A guy has a whipple 2.3 locally. Claims rebuilt. Has paperwork to support that claim.
My ride is an 04. Tune. Vette servo. Air raid. Nothing else.
My question. What coukd really go wrong?
If the motor lets go, replace it.
Trans goes, it's likely on borrowed time.
If I go see it, I'll be looking for the completeness of the kit. Trying to feel bearing slop, if any there.

Thoughts?

Doooo eeeet.

 

[Chris2144]

Wasn't there an article on a 4.8 that came from the junk yard and got turboed made like 800 hp and was on all stock internals. Had well over 100k.

 

[SteveB]

If you know the 5.3 is healthy do it. I spray my Camaro with a 100 shot of nitrous pretty regular and it has 230 000km (142915 miles on it). Ls1 engine.

 

[drakon543]

Wasn't there an article on a 4.8 that came from the junk yard and got turboed made like 800 hp and was on all stock internals. Had well over 100k.

i dont remember how much boost they pushed into it but they actually mistook it for a 5.3 originally or something. i remember them being in the 20psi range tho.

 

[cmc76]

The kit he has doesn't appear to have an intercooler? Should that be a factor

 

[drakon543]

you can just add an intercooler later. sc doesn't have quite a heat soak issue as a turbo does. i think alot of sc kits have the intercooler as an option rather than included.

 

[iamdub]

Wasn't there an article on a 4.8 that came from the junk yard and got turboed made like 800 hp and was on all stock internals. Had well over 100k.

I think it was Hot Rod Magazine. They boosted a junkyard "5.3" with unknown mileage to quadruple digits and it survived just fine. Upon tear-down to see how well the internals held up, they found it had flat-top pistons, indicating it was actually a 4.8. Great bedtime story.