I have an 08 pointiac G8 Gt that im looking at options for an egine upgrade on. One option ive considered is doing an ERL Dry Sleeve system on the stock l76 block and with a 4 inch stroke be right at a 441ci. I think that paired with the stock LS3 heads and a decent cam should make some really good power(hoping 475ish + at the wheels??) and not completly break the bank either. But i hear from some that ERL knows their stuff, and others arent a fan of the big sleeves in the LS blocks so im looking for opinons based on real world knowledge.

 

ERL has an excellent reputation and so I would doubt there would be any issue with using their sleeved block. I would say if you can afford the gasoline, do it.

 

I am building the engine you are describing. Erl has the ls2 block and is machining it now. You could make 475 with a stock cam. I expect to be at least 100 hp more than that. I cannot say yet how it will hold up over time but would not be doing it if I thought it would not.

 

The 441 making 475 at the wheels equats to roughly 600 at the crank, i doubt its gonna do that on the stock ca, lol. I am however wandering if id go that route do i really need much in the way of heads to make the power i want. Stockers might get it done with some good springs ya think?

 

The Darton sleeves are considerably stronger and harder than the stock sleeves. When properly matched rings and pistons are used it's going to last a very long time. They are also longer than the stockers for more piston support at BDC. I run a VA Speed Darton Sleeved LS2 block 427 and I have no blowby at all and make the numbers in the sig with a very small cam mild build.

 

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Yeah if you are going to use stock heads you probably will not make 475 rwhp. You would basically have a large inch truck engine. Why bother with all those cubes if you are going to choke it off. Have your heads ported or get some heads that flow some serious air. BTW 475 rwhp would not equal 600 flywheel unless it was through a th400 or some very heavy drivetrain.

 

Yep, just for comparison purposes i had a 441 thru an A4 and Ford 9 inch making 566 rwhp and on the crank dyno it made 672. You definately will be choking it off with heads like that!

 

while i agree it would make a bigger number with more cylinder head on it i truly dont want to be setting at much over 500hp at the wheels. Dont forget that in the hotrod article their erl 468 made what on stock heads like 675hp considering we are only talking 27 less inches id think 600 on stockers on a 441 is doable. These are ls3 heads remember.

 

If people are making 480-500rwhp on a 346 what do you think they can do on a 441?

For that OP, most people start out with a CAI or exhaust. You jump right in to a dry sleeved 441.

I like it.

 

its got long tubes, a cai and a tune, and i want more lol. I was just gonna cam and head it with a stall converter but thought what the hell lol. I just want to not totally break the bank so if i can stay stock heads that helps keep the budget inline. Realistically what should a 427 or 441 stroker on stock heads make with a decent cam? im thinking right about 600hp. hell even a lowly 416 stroker from an ls3 ought to put id think close to 500 to the wheels with stock heads?

 

I think you will not find a lot of data out there of guys running big cubic inches and stock heads.

The LS3 heads have a lot of potential and could be ported and rebuilt with new springs which you will need anyway. Consider porting your LS3 intake as well - way cheaper than FAST but it will help.

If this is what you want, go for it. Just keep in mind there are other ways to get a LS3 to 475 rwhp for less money.

 

To help you out with comparison purposes this guy did basically the exact thing your after only it was an LSX block and it was 454 C.I. He choked it off with the stock heads and if you search and read his posts you'll see all the results you will need..... https://ls1tech.com/forums/vehicle-c...4550-sold.html

 

Well I've ended up ordering a 434 from erl and deciding on heads. But if u read the hot rod article the 2000 bucks you'll spend on heads nets about 28hp at the crank on a 468. Not exactly choking it to death with the stockers. Thinking about tea or the sdpc heads seem like good bang for the buck

 

I am putting ls3's with a fast 102 on my 440 erl. They will be ported. I deceided to put the money in the block and rotating assembly rather than the heads. I got the heads from dealer for 650.00. I think the ls3's are hard to beat for a large inch budget engine. So you went with 4.155 bore on your block?

 

The 28 hp gained in the HotRod tests were with an intake manifold that wasn't a restriction in the least ( 2pc single plane carb intake). I imagine ported heads would be worth less hp with a stock intake manifold. I can only guess you're going with a 4" stroke because you want to have the option to spray it? Very interested in the results (I had a G8....totaled )! Keep us posted.

 

The MAST heads, while with larger 1.8 rockers, made near 80 more hp than stock heads - this is a significant gain. As mentioned above, all were with a MAST single plane manifold and Dominator carb. Figure loosing 30 hp at peak with FAST set-up.

 

ERL block will be fine for DD and the bigger engine will be better at any street app no matter what the heads. Bigger equals more low end and nicer manners with any head.

Without larger heads and intake though you may not make much more peak hp of course but some people just want more power down low where you use it 90% of the time.

On street NA stuff we've never had people want smaller engines but rather only larger larger larger after really owning and driving the big stuff. If I could do a 600 inch LSx I would.

Obviously you can only go so far before things are getting out of hand in the bottom end but 440 inches is hardly anything too crazy! It's just a bigger bore 427 LS7 combo.

 

yea chuck i went 4.155x4.00. and i went ahead a splurged on a set of TEA Stage 2 heads. Now i gotta get a cam ordered to get it in time Suggestions?