LS Engine Durability
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
LS Engine Durability
You can check the September Hot Rod Magazine for this article.
In their inimitable manner, HRM paid $500 for a junkyard LS truck engine, thinking it was a 5.3L.
They dissassembele the short block and check it, but reassemble it with the original bearings AND rings, with one mod- the top ring gap is increased from about 0.015 to 0.028. The have the stock heads ported, add a Comp cam and kit, hi capacity intake.
After adding two turbos, the engine is run through over 60 dino pulls, the MAJORITY at 1,000 HP or more the last few at 1,200 HP, 1,000 Ft Lb.
Then they discover the LS is a 4.8, not a 5.3.
Some of the keys to this power level and staying together were strict attention to tune, absolute avoidance of detonation, 118 octane race gas.
In their inimitable manner, HRM paid $500 for a junkyard LS truck engine, thinking it was a 5.3L.
They dissassembele the short block and check it, but reassemble it with the original bearings AND rings, with one mod- the top ring gap is increased from about 0.015 to 0.028. The have the stock heads ported, add a Comp cam and kit, hi capacity intake.
After adding two turbos, the engine is run through over 60 dino pulls, the MAJORITY at 1,000 HP or more the last few at 1,200 HP, 1,000 Ft Lb.
Then they discover the LS is a 4.8, not a 5.3.
Some of the keys to this power level and staying together were strict attention to tune, absolute avoidance of detonation, 118 octane race gas.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
Isn't that incredible!
I've read a lot on the hows and why GM designed the LS1 and the absolute killer power these engines can make. How sturdy they are, and the goal of producing it to live 250,000 miles or more.
I've read a lot on the hows and why GM designed the LS1 and the absolute killer power these engines can make. How sturdy they are, and the goal of producing it to live 250,000 miles or more.
Last edited by sfc rick; Jul 19, 2011 at 01:30 PM.
