new ls376/525 crate engine...
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
I know somebody else with one who did similar numbers. Another guy made 540 with his, but he has a fully ported heads, so it's not really fair to compare.
Gm definately does not under-rate these engines, they over-rate them.
Mine has a nice lope to it and sounds nice, but the drivability of the cam is **** poor (I have a heavily cammed 408w (351w stroker) that drives like a honda civic compared to this cam).
All in all, given the problems with GM crate engines (pinched o-rings, improperly torqued head bolts, leaking RMS, etc..) I am not impressed and will not be buying another GM crate engine again.
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Just to bump this because i was looking for information, the ls376/525 defiantly DOES NOT make 550-560hp. I have one - headers, intake, tune - it barely makes 500hp on the dyno (flywheel, not rear wheel). Tune is solid (timing good, a/f good, 91 octane, etc..).
I know somebody else with one who did similar numbers. Another guy made 540 with his, but he has a fully ported heads, so it's not really fair to compare.
Gm definately does not under-rate these engines, they over-rate them.
Mine has a nice lope to it and sounds nice, but the drivability of the cam is **** poor (I have a heavily cammed 408w (351w stroker) that drives like a honda civic compared to this cam).
All in all, given the problems with GM crate engines (pinched o-rings, improperly torqued head bolts, leaking RMS, etc..) I am not impressed and will not be buying another GM crate engine again.
I know somebody else with one who did similar numbers. Another guy made 540 with his, but he has a fully ported heads, so it's not really fair to compare.
Gm definately does not under-rate these engines, they over-rate them.
Mine has a nice lope to it and sounds nice, but the drivability of the cam is **** poor (I have a heavily cammed 408w (351w stroker) that drives like a honda civic compared to this cam).
All in all, given the problems with GM crate engines (pinched o-rings, improperly torqued head bolts, leaking RMS, etc..) I am not impressed and will not be buying another GM crate engine again.
I am really considering this motor for a HPDE car ... I do hope that your experience is the exception not the rule. I would think that a company like GM would not have pervasive quality control issues with the assembly of the motors ... (Heads not torqued / O-rings smashed) and they are advertising / showing dyno sheets with the motor showing 525 flywheel power it seems like if it was 40-50 off (since you are just getting 500 with headers and intake ) they would have all kinds of people up their tail ... Thanks for the post I will have to see if others chime in or dig deeper into GM claims and quality control.
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Sorry to reopen. Looking at the GM crate LS3 480 and 525 for a 33 hot rod. Want something that idles with a bit more of a lope than a stock LS3. But will get regular use. Has anyone bought either recently? How's the ls3/525 at low rpm, more than happy to go with the 480 but these days the price difference isn't much of a stretch to the 525.
My advice would be to buy a standard LS3 crate and get a cam ground for your intended use. I advise this because, well, that's exactly what I did and am very happy with my choice.
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Just to bump this because i was looking for information, the ls376/525 defiantly DOES NOT make 550-560hp. I have one - headers, intake, tune - it barely makes 500hp on the dyno (flywheel, not rear wheel). Tune is solid (timing good, a/f good, 91 octane, etc..).
I know somebody else with one who did similar numbers. Another guy made 540 with his, but he has a fully ported heads, so it's not really fair to compare.
Gm definately does not under-rate these engines, they over-rate them.
Mine has a nice lope to it and sounds nice, but the drivability of the cam is **** poor (I have a heavily cammed 408w (351w stroker) that drives like a honda civic compared to this cam).
All in all, given the problems with GM crate engines (pinched o-rings, improperly torqued head bolts, leaking RMS, etc..) I am not impressed and will not be buying another GM crate engine again.
I know somebody else with one who did similar numbers. Another guy made 540 with his, but he has a fully ported heads, so it's not really fair to compare.
Gm definately does not under-rate these engines, they over-rate them.
Mine has a nice lope to it and sounds nice, but the drivability of the cam is **** poor (I have a heavily cammed 408w (351w stroker) that drives like a honda civic compared to this cam).
All in all, given the problems with GM crate engines (pinched o-rings, improperly torqued head bolts, leaking RMS, etc..) I am not impressed and will not be buying another GM crate engine again.
The FI 525 runs real nice and makes good power also but has deto control. We carb guys have to run Av gas to make sure we don't get some det the guy running the FI525 just runs 91 octane pump
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Tried to get pricing from my local GM shop but they do not have the details yet. Looks like Pace has them listed on their site. Might have to consider this for my GTO project, was looking at going with the ls3/480 but things may have changed!!!
Still need to look into other LS3 builders like Mass, Turn Key, and Katech. Just curious if anyone has done comparisons $ for $, hp to hp and warranty to warranty with these builders and GMPP. If so I would be interested in your findings.
Thanks in advance, Chris
Still need to look into other LS3 builders like Mass, Turn Key, and Katech. Just curious if anyone has done comparisons $ for $, hp to hp and warranty to warranty with these builders and GMPP. If so I would be interested in your findings.
Thanks in advance, Chris
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Teching In
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I have this engine. With kooks longtubes(1 3/4), lingenfelter CAI, xpipe and bullets and ran 448/433 on a synergy tune. If anyone knows Rick at synergy, he tunes for the entire power band, not just peak numbers. Could have easily squeezed another 15-20 hp on a cutthroat tune and a dynojet. So 448/.85=527. Not bad for 4.10 gears on a dynopak.
Last edited by YTryJr; Apr 28, 2015 at 02:51 AM.
