Generation IV Internal Engine 2005-2014 LS2 | LS3 | LS7 | L92 | LS9

My VA Speed Engine Build

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 10:19 AM
  #21  
Phantom_LS2's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Waco, Tx
Default

Looking good Joe. But if I were you, what's an extra $400(ish) for a good ATI damper really worth if it extends your new engines life considering the amount you already have in the build? Seems to me like it's cheap insurance especially when you look at the fact that after you put that underdrive pulley on you have broken 2 timing chains.


Just looking out for you man.....
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 10:38 AM
  #22  
WKMCD's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 2
From: Northern VA
Default

Originally Posted by 6.0monsta
Need to pick up your car and let someone else have a turn
Saturday!!!
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 12:03 PM
  #23  
6.0monsta's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Keller, Tx
Default

Originally Posted by Phantom_LS2
Looking good Joe. But if I were you, what's an extra $400(ish) for a good ATI damper really worth if it extends your new engines life considering the amount you already have in the build? Seems to me like it's cheap insurance especially when you look at the fact that after you put that underdrive pulley on you have broken 2 timing chains.


Just looking out for you man.....
I've seen pictures of the ATI damper and they look really nice. $400 isn't cheap though The ASP pulley I have has been on the car for over 2 years and has been pulled off several times with the screws stripped in the threads and fluids spilled all over it....Not sure if that would hurt it though.

Shawn let me know what you think.

Last edited by 6.0monsta; Mar 25, 2010 at 06:43 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 12:51 PM
  #24  
1.8t's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta, Ga
Default

I would agree. This is obviously being built right with a quality shop/parts. Might as well delay installation into the car and go on and finish the build off with a high quality damper like the ATI unit and leave no stone unturned. Either way, the car sounds like it will be one hell of a runner.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 01:26 PM
  #25  
racer7088's Avatar
FormerVendor
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 6
From: Houston, Tx.
Default

Kurt,

Were you running only single rollers on those engines?

Originally Posted by 427
The timing chain failures are not connected to HP, they are a product of a bad harmonic in the engine if you run full load under 4500rpm. Did not matter what chain I used although the better ones lasted longer before failure. Locking your converter at wot may drop you into the zone.
The car I was working with was the Motorola Cup Corvettes in a road race application, they were just under 500hp NA engines with a 7200rpm rev limit. They would run without failure for many races with all parts looking happy on inspection. The problem showed up when they would lose a gear in the trans during the race (normally 3rd) and they would start skip shifting in order to finish the race. The engine would fall back to 3500rpm or so then drive into the bad harmonic zone (3800-4500rpm) causing the links in the chain to bind with failure happening within one hour of race time no matter what chain I tried. We found the problem by putting two trigger wheels on the engine, one under the front cover. This testing along with help from ATI helped us cure the problem. The repair is to run the right engine damper from ATI, it will have a 3 ring weight with a "44" stamped in the steel inertia ring. This damper is not to be used on the LS series of engine if your engine rpm regularly exceeds 8000rpm, for those engines the regular 2 ring or 3 ring damper is best. We did test all the popular dampers then (2001) and the ATI was best followed by the stock one if your rpm was under 7000. I use the "44" damper on my truck which now has 105,000 boosted miles with a 5200rpm shift point and locked converter in 3rd gear. I used the 40 dollar LS2 chain in that engine.

Kurt
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 01:49 PM
  #26  
6.0monsta's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Keller, Tx
Default

I still have my stock pulley. Wonder how much power the ASP pulley is worth if any? May be something interesting to try on the engine dyno is Shawn is willing. If the ASP isn't worth any power I'd much rather get rid of it and go back to stock.

Last edited by 6.0monsta; Mar 25, 2010 at 06:43 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 03:20 PM
  #27  
1.8t's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta, Ga
Default

^ After my TC break, I put the car back together with the stock under drive pulley. I then re-dyno'ed the vehicle to ensure the power was where it should be. The following were my numbers with identical setups with the only variables being the ASP pulley versus my stock pulley and 5 thousandths shaved off my stock heads to ensure a level deck.

ASP pulley - 483whp/431wtq
Stock pulley - 480whp/442wtq

Identical tune with less than 1% error in the a/f between both dyno's.

Interesting notes post rebuild. The car would usually have ~1, sometimes 2 counts of knock at peak tq(4600~4800rpm) with the ASP pulley. Not always, but it wasn't suprising to see it in my logs. Matter of fact, the car was always more prone to knock around the 3800~4800rpm area, again using the ASP pulley.

After the rebuild with the stock pulley, the car never knocked once. I probably ran 30 logs of WOT and I could not get the damn thing to even get 1 count of knock. The heads were shaved 5 thousandths to ensure the deck was even. So technically, there was a slight bump in compression that "should" have made the car more prone to knock. However, that was not the case and the car ran like a damn top post rebuild.

My theory? The car was experiencing a harmonic in this zone, which was making excessive noise and tripping the overly sensitive knock sensors. This would explain why the knock cleared up when the stock pulley was used and the harmonic was eliminated. This could also explain the increase in tq although I am sure the slight compression enhancement had a larger role in that.

Last edited by 1.8t; Mar 25, 2010 at 03:29 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 06:03 PM
  #28  
6.0monsta's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Keller, Tx
Default

Originally Posted by 1.8t
^ After my TC break, I put the car back together with the stock under drive pulley. I then re-dyno'ed the vehicle to ensure the power was where it should be. The following were my numbers with identical setups with the only variables being the ASP pulley versus my stock pulley and 5 thousandths shaved off my stock heads to ensure a level deck.

ASP pulley - 483whp/431wtq
Stock pulley - 480whp/442wtq

Identical tune with less than 1% error in the a/f between both dyno's.

Interesting notes post rebuild. The car would usually have ~1, sometimes 2 counts of knock at peak tq(4600~4800rpm) with the ASP pulley. Not always, but it wasn't suprising to see it in my logs. Matter of fact, the car was always more prone to knock around the 3800~4800rpm area, again using the ASP pulley.

After the rebuild with the stock pulley, the car never knocked once. I probably ran 30 logs of WOT and I could not get the damn thing to even get 1 count of knock. The heads were shaved 5 thousandths to ensure the deck was even. So technically, there was a slight bump in compression that "should" have made the car more prone to knock. However, that was not the case and the car ran like a damn top post rebuild.

My theory? The car was experiencing a harmonic in this zone, which was making excessive noise and tripping the overly sensitive knock sensors. This would explain why the knock cleared up when the stock pulley was used and the harmonic was eliminated. This could also explain the increase in tq although I am sure the slight compression enhancement had a larger role in that.
Interesting...I always have 1-2 degrees KR around peak torque. I always attributed it to false knock because of the forged internals. I tried taking out timing in those areas and it always still pulled 1 degree or so. Looking like I may send Shawn my stock pulley.

Hopefully Shawn will chime in soon. I would like to see a pull on the dyno of the asp pulley vs the stock pulley to see if there is any power loss.

Last edited by 6.0monsta; Mar 25, 2010 at 06:43 PM.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 06:24 PM
  #29  
WKMCD's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 2
From: Northern VA
Default

Originally Posted by 6.0monsta
Interesting...I always have 1-2 degrees KR around peak torque. I always attributed it to false knock because of the forged internals. I tried taking out timing in those areas and it always still pulled 1 degree or so. Looking like I may send Shawn my stock pulley.

Hopefully Shawn will chime in soon. I would like to see a pull on the dyno of the asp pulley vs the stock pulley to see if there is any power loss.
On the engine dyno, it's not going to have the power steering pump or alternator. I doubt you'll see any difference at all in HP unless it pulls timing.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 07:26 PM
  #30  
6.0monsta's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Keller, Tx
Default

Shawn has been lurking in the thread but no replies
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 08:48 PM
  #31  
Shawn @ VA Speed's Avatar
FormerVendor
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,991
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Beach,Virginia
Default

Actually Shawn has been busting his *** all day building the baddest ls engines on the planet

Joe,yours is ready to dyno,got it on the dyno cart and everything-we had a dyno servo failure again(about the 50th one in 4 years,but Superflow don't have any issues with them.)anyway,i think we'll have some results wednesday at the latest and ready to ship by friday at the latest.

I'll try to pop up some pics over the weekend.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 09:03 PM
  #32  
6.0monsta's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Keller, Tx
Default

Originally Posted by Shawn @ VA Speed
Actually Shawn has been busting his *** all day building the baddest ls engines on the planet

Joe,yours is ready to dyno,got it on the dyno cart and everything-we had a dyno servo failure again(about the 50th one in 4 years,but Superflow don't have any issues with them.)anyway,i think we'll have some results wednesday at the latest and ready to ship by friday at the latest.

I'll try to pop up some pics over the weekend.
Awesome. Can you elaborate on some of the details you did as well such as port matching, etc?

Should I send you my stock pulley?
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2010 | 07:01 PM
  #33  
Shawn @ VA Speed's Avatar
FormerVendor
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,991
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Beach,Virginia
Default

no need for the stock pulley
Reply
Old Mar 28, 2010 | 09:05 AM
  #34  
6.0monsta's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Keller, Tx
Default

Will the motor still use 10w40?
Reply
Old Mar 28, 2010 | 06:54 PM
  #35  
Shawn @ VA Speed's Avatar
FormerVendor
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,991
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Beach,Virginia
Default

Got a couple pics off my old hard drive

The foundation of this engine is our Darton sleeved block-this thing has been a great performer.In the last couple month be have build a couple great engines from this same block-656hp mild mannered l92 headed 427 and a 750hp 275cc catherdral port headed road race 427.The blowby has reduced dramatically using this block over a std ls7 block due to much stronger sleeves that make for alot better ring seal.













Reply
Old Mar 28, 2010 | 08:30 PM
  #36  
Haans249's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

Originally Posted by 6.0monsta
My car has an ASP pulley as well. I had the pulley on during the stock timing chain failure.

Good info but I don't want the thread to focus on timing chains. Shawn is installing a much better chain and he hasn't mentioned any concerns regarding my ASP pulley. I did notice it seemed to "wobble" while the engine was running before I pulled the motor out. I'll be curious if it does the same thing on the engine dyno.
If it looked like the thing was "wobbling" then you probably have a problem haha. I would definitely say replace the thing with the ATI. That way you will know for CERTAIN you have no issues related to that.

I decided to get the ATI, and it is really something else, well worth the money and peace of mind. Sometimes when you pay a pretty penny for a setup like yours, its just worth it to upgrade, and 400 bucks is pocket change compared to your motor. Aside from that, the ATI balancers make your bearings happier as well.
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2010 | 02:05 AM
  #37  
Beaflag VonRathburg's Avatar
OWN3D BY MY PROF!
iTrader: (176)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 9,146
Likes: 3
From: Jax Beach, Florida
Default

That balancer information Kurt posted is one of the more helpful posts I've seen in a long time. I am also interested in what Erik touched on with the double roller.
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2010 | 11:36 AM
  #38  
427's Avatar
427
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,898
Likes: 6
From: Clayton, North Carolina
Default

We tried a few of the early doubles (I think it was Rollmaster) with the same results only showing up when the trans had problems and dropped the engine into the lower rpm bands. The single chains packaged better so once we solved the problem we never looked back.

Kurt
Originally Posted by racer7088
Kurt,

Were you running only single rollers on those engines?
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2010 | 12:05 PM
  #39  
racer7088's Avatar
FormerVendor
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 6
From: Houston, Tx.
Default

It's weird because I have yet to see a chain break ever even in all the rod racing and open track stuff we've done in 10 years? That's with any dampers as well. Never had one go on a drag race deal either?

Were these on deals with stock stroke cranks or with the 4.000 type aftermarket cranks Kurt?
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2010 | 12:27 PM
  #40  
edcmat-l1's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 4
From: Va Beach
Default

The OP's timing chain "break" was the rollers of the chain coming off the pins. Very strange looking failure. Don't know how this type of failure relates to crankshaft harmonics, but I'm not an engineer either. All I know is the rollers looked like they cracked, and ended up falling off their respective pins.

The chain itself never broke. It was still intact, engine running, when we took it apart.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:49 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE