I have been wondering about what I would do for an engine if I had a second C5 for a 'fun car'.

Cartainly, we'll be looking at more power, so to make the block stiff enough for gobs of power, I would start building the LS1 block with this from DM Performance
www.dmperformance.org......

These guys have been used on LSs1s up to 1500 HP!!!!

Breathing is real important to get HP and Torque, and the single throttle body only goes do far, so why not go for 8 of them. TWM Induction makes 2 styles that are of interest.
www.twminduction.com The Vertical short runner is the style used on the C6R engines, but the Cross Ram long runner might be better for lower end torque, which is good for street driving.






I have seen some pretty heated discussions about who makes the best ported heads for our LS engines, but why even bother with a 2 valve per cylinder head? Look at the breathing area a 4 valve head gives.....

The Arao heads have a reputation for adding a BUNCH of HP and Torque when replacing the best 2 valve heads. They use regular cams, and intake / exhause manifolds, so fitting t them is easy in most applications, . Arao Engineering, 21400 Lassen St. Unit G
Chatsworth, CA. 91311 www.araoengineering.com



These things breath so good they like a 2 inch header pipe, but a 1-3/4 inch is OK, so it will be acceptable to use LG Longtube headers....[ no pix...we all know what they look like!...good stuff.]
All these engine goodies have to be run by some sort of computer system. There are planty of good ones that integrate fuel and ignition. One of them to consider is the offering by 034 Motorsports EFI control systems www.034motorsport.com It has easy programming of integrated fuel and ignition mapping, and plenty of IN- and OUT for sensors and such.


I have yet to figure out where the coil packs will go. but it ought be possible to mount them on the Arao valve covers if an adapter plate were fabricated to mount them onto.

We will forget the 'throttle by wire' concept and run those 8 big throttle bodies direct from the go pedal, so we have instant response wth no lag.

Well, that about covers the visible parts......Now lets not forget how easy it is locate very well engineered stroker cranks and overbore pistons resulting in over 400 Cubic Inch shortblocks, with 427 being a likely goal for my 'idea' engine. Of course, we would also use heavy duty cam drive chains, underdrive pulleys and all that jazz

Using rough estimations from the flow charts for the heads and assorted cam specs it would not be unreasonable to expect something approaching 700 HP and around 600 Ft Lbs Torque from a 10 to 1 compression 427 engine with a moderate cam. The big deal is the 4 valve heads, which offer gains of about 150 to 200 HP over well flowed 2 valve heads. This should be very streetable and docile, as well as fast when needed.

Anyway, some 'eye candy' and 'food for thought' to ponder.

 

Another view of those heads!

WOW

 

OK, seriously. I'm jealous.

 

Hang out in the C5 FI/Nitrous sections for engine combos that are out of this world. And the guys & gals over there don't just bench race - they BUILD them

As you know, the DMP brace will be in my new 402, as will a lot of never seen before goodies (never seen before in a LSx engine, that is). I hint at some of the things to come in my Chronicles threads.

EG

p.s. the Heads and TBs in your pics are for Gen II SBs only. They will not fit a LSx engine. There is a guy in FI/N that built his own TB with his CNC laser - and it works. 8 individual ones. The workmanship is insane

 

I thought I read there is a block now where you can go 481 ci with an LS-based motor.

That would be way cool.

 

Up to 502ci. The World Products Warhawk block

 

I emailed the head people last year sometime, just for giggles. It has been quite a while, but I recall that their reply was that it could be possible to make a set for LS blocks. The intake system IS another story..I have never communicated with them, but it should be possible to modify the manifold to work with the Arao heads......It won't be a bolt-in right out of the box project for sure!!! The whole thing would be a real custom build, so if you start out expecting to involve a lot of adaptation and modification, and including the vendors in the project, it might be feasable. I might just contact the head folks again see waht they say about possibilities this year. Me thinkith that the LS1 market would support them making a standard product.

I need to start hanging out in the engine section! One of these days I would like to buy a project C5 and build it up as a pure 'toy' car. I have freinds that have the injection system above on Ford small blocks, and it works great, and looks even better. There has to be a way we can get something like this on the LS, with or without the 4 valve heads.

 

The next step would be getting it not to break the Trans, Rear end and so forth.
These LS based motors can make so much HP its truely amazing.

 

Posts like these have an impact on poor 'ol Steve (EG)

Well, I guess we can expect a new, multi- page picturegraph from him soon, showing the installation of this bad baby

 

 

Kewl stuff.

The "Girdle" has been around for along time to keep the block from twisting.

 

You didn't specifiy if you would go with a Blackwing or a Vararam...

Seriously, that's a crazy "what-if" idea. I love the look of those 4-valve heads.