Time for a new motor
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
Time for a new motor
The car started smoking yesturday morning so bad I couldn't see out the back window. While sitting at a red light, it looked it was on fire it was smoking so bad. So I had the motor torn down today and two pistons are cracked completely.
Now it's time to decide to either rebuild the motor or throw a new motor in and maxing out the blower and going all out. I was thinking either a 408ci or 427. I found the GM performance LSX 376 and it seemed like a good price for the overall package. I want to reuse my current blower and as much of my parts as I can.
I'm looking for ideas for the new motor and what to go with. I don't want to spend much more than $10,000 on the motor and then I'll some cash left for fueling and drive line parts.
What kind of power can I get from a A&A T-trim? Looks like my ford lightning build is getting pushed back for awhile. I was planning on building the motor but not this soon.
If you can give me a couple of your ideas on where to go with the build. I want to get about 750-800whp if possible. I might upgrade blowers later so I want to build the motor to handle a lot. Thanks
Now it's time to decide to either rebuild the motor or throw a new motor in and maxing out the blower and going all out. I was thinking either a 408ci or 427. I found the GM performance LSX 376 and it seemed like a good price for the overall package. I want to reuse my current blower and as much of my parts as I can.
I'm looking for ideas for the new motor and what to go with. I don't want to spend much more than $10,000 on the motor and then I'll some cash left for fueling and drive line parts.
What kind of power can I get from a A&A T-trim? Looks like my ford lightning build is getting pushed back for awhile. I was planning on building the motor but not this soon.
If you can give me a couple of your ideas on where to go with the build. I want to get about 750-800whp if possible. I might upgrade blowers later so I want to build the motor to handle a lot. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 24,035
Likes: 2,342
From: Gilbert AZ
T trim will do that power. $10k on shortblock? Or with heads? Are your heads useable?
Crank and rods still good? If so just grab a new ls7 block, do some nice pistons and reuse you crank/rods and 800rwhp will be no issue.
Crank and rods still good? If so just grab a new ls7 block, do some nice pistons and reuse you crank/rods and 800rwhp will be no issue.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
I think I've decided on what I'm doing. I'm going with a ERL short block. Here's a list of what I've picked out so far, and let me know what you think of it.
Turbo Race Superdeck 427 with 9.7:1 compression with a Super deck 1 block.
Ported stock LS3 heads
A&A twin pump fuel system
Dallas Performance 4" intake
Not sure on the Injectors yet
Boost a pump
Alky Methanol kit with a dual nozzle upgrade
Monster twin disk clutch
So far that's what I've come up with. I plan on pushing my current blower as far as it can go also. Hoping to get 800whp once it's all said and done.
Turbo Race Superdeck 427 with 9.7:1 compression with a Super deck 1 block.
Ported stock LS3 heads
A&A twin pump fuel system
Dallas Performance 4" intake
Not sure on the Injectors yet
Boost a pump
Alky Methanol kit with a dual nozzle upgrade
Monster twin disk clutch
So far that's what I've come up with. I plan on pushing my current blower as far as it can go also. Hoping to get 800whp once it's all said and done.
Last edited by 03SuperchargedZ; Jan 8, 2014 at 01:16 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,150
Likes: 379
From: Detroit
Don't need a 427 to achieve 800rwhp, better off getting a good set of heads over the ported LS3's, compression is fine and could go as high has 10.2:1 and lastly not many have luck with those clutches. ERL blocks are real nice and I plan on getting one when I do my build with the new Trick Flow 255 heads.
Last edited by Detoxx03; Jan 8, 2014 at 02:11 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
I'm wanting to go with a 427 for the extra Tq. Also I plan on going with a YSI blower later this year when I get the funds. I figured 800 is around the max my current blower can put out.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 24,035
Likes: 2,342
From: Gilbert AZ
Put money into heads? Is your car a Z or not? By the name I assume it is a ls7 car. The reason you don't see people doing ls3 blocks is the ls7 heads won't work under a 4.125 bore, and the ls3 block can't do that bore. So you can do a piston/ls7 block combo that will be fine for 900-1000, or sell heads/intake/etc and go a ls3 combo but need new heads/intake. Either one will make 800-1000 and have no issues taking what a YSI can throw at it.
Local makes 1090rwhp though a piston/rod LS3 setup with PRC heads. Another makes 1020rwhp on a 416 ls3 combo with PRC heads on a novi 2200.
Other issue if you go ls3 block is you will need an aftermarket dry sump crank to keep the dry sump on the ls7, or ditch it and go wet sump. For all those reason I would just do the ls7 block with good pistons/rods because it will drop in, and the ls7 heads will make way more power than the ls3 heads. If not look at a ls3 with good heads and convert car to wet sump.
Or ERL whatever block and it doesn't matter. I would still put decent heads on it.
Local makes 1090rwhp though a piston/rod LS3 setup with PRC heads. Another makes 1020rwhp on a 416 ls3 combo with PRC heads on a novi 2200.
Other issue if you go ls3 block is you will need an aftermarket dry sump crank to keep the dry sump on the ls7, or ditch it and go wet sump. For all those reason I would just do the ls7 block with good pistons/rods because it will drop in, and the ls7 heads will make way more power than the ls3 heads. If not look at a ls3 with good heads and convert car to wet sump.
Or ERL whatever block and it doesn't matter. I would still put decent heads on it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
I sold my old 08 ZO6 and bought a 13 grandsport. I can't decide what I want to do. I'm leaning now after looking at everything is a forged LS3 with a good set of heads.
Last edited by 03SuperchargedZ; Jan 8, 2014 at 10:00 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 1,687
From: Southeast TX
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 24,035
Likes: 2,342
From: Gilbert AZ
Perfect. Nice pistons/rods ls3 and some solid heads (trickflow, PRC, etc) and you will have a nice 1000rwhp motor. Only question is to do a stroker crank for more low end/daily fun or not. I would skip it and keep compression a bit higher. Go for ~10-10.2:1 and let that T trim spin at max.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,987
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix
If you are using E85 you could even bump the compression a little more to say 10.5-10.7 and be fine. If 93, then I would do 10.2 like what Detoxx03 said. I also wouldn't bother with a stroker crank. Good rods and pistons and call it done. If you want a little more support you can dowel pin your mains or use a main girdle. I've got a main girdle for when I build my LS3. It requires that you install it, torque it down, then line hone the mains. If you are keeping it around 800rwhp I wouldn't worry about it. But you did mention YSi, so it would be a good idea.
