RB26, 2JZ & Barra 6 eat your hearts out!

[LF24Participant Ipswich- \'99 ls1 Holden VS ute - \'02 HSV Maloo R8 View build HERE Member since: March 1, 2015 Posts: 57]

Not sure if anyone has seen it yet.  Quite an amazing article about how much abuse and power a cast iron LS can handle.  I just bring this article up these days whenever anyone starts cracking on about bang for buck or 1000hp stock bottom ends.

 

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/hrdp-1109-stock-gm-ls-engine-big-bang-theory/

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Cant find it right now, but supposedly my block will comfortably handle 1800hp.  There is an article floating around about an LSx block failing but it was a very early one that had suffered core shift.  Said it before I think the LS platform is the modern version of the venerable (and awesome) small block.  Anyone who has had the sump off of one and seen how the big ends etc tie everything together etc can see the strength.

[ImmortalityParticipant 97 HSV Senator 185i 02 VX L67 Calais View build HERE Member since: August 31, 2015 Posts: 534]

I think the big point with that article is the fact that they opened up the top ring gap, I have no doubt that engine would most likely have failed spectacularly if they had left the standard top ring gap as the extra heat from the FI would have had the ring gap close up, grab the bore and rip the top off the piston.  Most guys throwing a turbo kit on a stock LS motor would never bother to do such a modification.

I believe there are also some differences between the LS truck motors and the more common 5.7 litre car engines which have known issues with the bore liners once a certain power level is reached.

The big point to note again is that engine longevity is greatly influenced by the quality of the tune

• This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by  Immortality. Reason: speeling

[cava454Moderator 93 VR BT1 View build HERE Member since: February 20, 2015 Posts: 2 390]

4.8 and 5.3 are different to the 5.7. Biggest change the block material obviously. The ring gap would of made a massive difference

LSX are rated to 2000hp depending on the cubic inch. 454 the walls are getting thinner. Generally the big power boosted vehicles are around 408cube.

 

its one thing to make the power. Another thing to keep it together.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by  cava454.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Yea appreciate the LSx454 is getting to the limit wall size, actually I think its more the gap between bores for head sealing?  I think that’s why the boosted version is 396ci, and also the full race spec 454R is actually a higher stroke & taller block to reduce the bore size.

[cava454Moderator 93 VR BT1 View build HERE Member since: February 20, 2015 Posts: 2 390]

They are known to split down the bores between cyclinders.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

I guess around 2,000hp something might give.  1,000hp all day long would do me

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