Stock 500 hp engine ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 982
Likes: 151
Stock 500 hp engine ?
Someone I know bought a 1969 Corvette. It has a big block with an oil leak. Restoration builders recommend a LS engine. My question is what aluminum block engine has 500 hp stock if any. I don’t think one exist. Another question, how do you get over 500 HP without a super charger, pro charger ?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,189
Likes: 1,065
From: South Florida
The cheapest way which is reliably daily drivable that I know of to have 500rwhp is using 2002-2006 Truck engines 4.8/5.3/6.0L and a turbocharger
WIth pump 93 and 15-18psi of boost any of those engines with untouched crank/rods/pistons and 150-300k miles will easily produce 500-600rwhp
If you up the ante and use E85 + more boost, some of the 5.3/6.0L versions (e.g. L33 and LQ4) Will support around 1000rwhp using original internals.
here is my favorite example:
Thats an OEM 6.0L engine with a cam/spring upgrade on E85, 25-30psi of boost iirc and 1000rwhp
WIth pump 93 and 15-18psi of boost any of those engines with untouched crank/rods/pistons and 150-300k miles will easily produce 500-600rwhp
If you up the ante and use E85 + more boost, some of the 5.3/6.0L versions (e.g. L33 and LQ4) Will support around 1000rwhp using original internals.
here is my favorite example:
Thats an OEM 6.0L engine with a cam/spring upgrade on E85, 25-30psi of boost iirc and 1000rwhp
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Joe Kucinski
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Someone I know bought a 1969 Corvette. It has a big block with an oil leak. Restoration builders recommend a LS engine. My question is what aluminum block engine has 500 hp stock if any. I don’t think one exist. Another question, how do you get over 500 HP without a super charger, pro charger ?
If you are talking about an aluminum block LS engine the LS7 put out 505 Net HP right out of the factory. GM put 28,000+ in C6 Z06s from mid 2005 through mid 2013.
Bill
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,898
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From: Bonneville Salt Flats
If you already have an LT1, for instance, the very, VERY cheapest way to get near 500hp without any issues whatsoever is to use the GM aftermarket engine hp formula instead of the one they use with production engines. Car magazines like Car Craft have published the "correction" and for a 460hp engine with simply the use of a calculator the horse-power becomes... VIOLA... 478! Now, I know it's still not quite 500, but still... look what it DIDN'T cost ya! 
(and, you just can't beat it for a "sleeper" mod--no one will know!)
(and, you just can't beat it for a "sleeper" mod--no one will know!)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 982
Likes: 151
Car restorer said the big block has clearance issues and it has a oil leak. Recommends LS motor. My boss owns the Corvette. I’m not certain of the year yet but it is a C2. Thanks for the help. I’ll post an update.