Project YOLO: The Quest for 100 HP per Liter
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Project YOLO: The Quest for 100 HP per Liter
Ok, so the build thread starts! My car is a C5Z,
and after a head swap and Fast 92 install earlier this year (a Pat G EPS lobed cam was already in it when I purchased it), I realized that the 430 wheel I had wasn't going to cut it, I needed MORE POWA! So, being that it's a Vette, and packaging is not great for turbos, I had 2 options, either centri blower (with an A&A kit or an ECS kit) or go big cubed NA motor build. While considering both options this year, I have had the opportunity to see some of my Vette brethren locally go both big NA build or centri FI build. Witnessing these builds ahead some real guiding light on the path I chose. By around September, it was a no brainer for me. After seeing one of my buds with his recent FI build struggle for 9 months to keep his car running, there was no doubt for me I was going NA all the way, and that meant getting bigger. Substantially bigger.
So, I'm beginning my build thread for my ERL 434. It took me a long time deliberating over my choices to end of with a 434, but being that my goal was 570+ wheel NA, a 402 or 418 wasn't going to cut it. At least, not without a huge cam, that made peaky power.
So, 434 cubic inches is 7.1 liters, and as the title states, I'm looking to get 100 HP per liter NA. This means 710 flywheel, which will mean roughly 600 wheel. For my practicality, I will be attempting to do this with pump gas (93 here in Texas) and not going Donkey D for my cam! My cam won't be small either, but it won't have 50* of overlap or anything.
First things first: yesterday I said bye bye to my old LS6! It'll do the new owner good, it was a strong, reliable, motor for what it was.
and after a head swap and Fast 92 install earlier this year (a Pat G EPS lobed cam was already in it when I purchased it), I realized that the 430 wheel I had wasn't going to cut it, I needed MORE POWA! So, being that it's a Vette, and packaging is not great for turbos, I had 2 options, either centri blower (with an A&A kit or an ECS kit) or go big cubed NA motor build. While considering both options this year, I have had the opportunity to see some of my Vette brethren locally go both big NA build or centri FI build. Witnessing these builds ahead some real guiding light on the path I chose. By around September, it was a no brainer for me. After seeing one of my buds with his recent FI build struggle for 9 months to keep his car running, there was no doubt for me I was going NA all the way, and that meant getting bigger. Substantially bigger.
So, I'm beginning my build thread for my ERL 434. It took me a long time deliberating over my choices to end of with a 434, but being that my goal was 570+ wheel NA, a 402 or 418 wasn't going to cut it. At least, not without a huge cam, that made peaky power.
So, 434 cubic inches is 7.1 liters, and as the title states, I'm looking to get 100 HP per liter NA. This means 710 flywheel, which will mean roughly 600 wheel. For my practicality, I will be attempting to do this with pump gas (93 here in Texas) and not going Donkey D for my cam! My cam won't be small either, but it won't have 50* of overlap or anything.
First things first: yesterday I said bye bye to my old LS6! It'll do the new owner good, it was a strong, reliable, motor for what it was.
Last edited by 427zm; 12-17-2013 at 10:55 PM.
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awesome! cant wait to see this in person. any idea when youll be all finished?
if you ever need a hand wrenching i woudnt mind coming out by you. i learn more hands on
if you ever need a hand wrenching i woudnt mind coming out by you. i learn more hands on
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Fun began a few weeks back, when parts started to arrive:
Found this already painted gloss black LS7 intake. Perfect for top side!
Along with the intake came the already ported TB!
Found some Brand New 52# injectors for a deal I couldn't pass up, so I grabbed them, and the mini time adapters as well.
Can't forget my fuel rail! Here in all its glory with my alternator and TB about to head to powder coating!
Gen IV sprocket, C5R timing chain, and damper.
Cometic 4.160 head gaskets. Obviously, you can't use the factory bore size head gasket with the larger sleeves!
Melling 10296 High Pressure, High Volume Oil Pump.
All together now! From Katech valve covers, to a new starter, the new motor is getting a bunch of new stuff!
Found this already painted gloss black LS7 intake. Perfect for top side!
Along with the intake came the already ported TB!
Found some Brand New 52# injectors for a deal I couldn't pass up, so I grabbed them, and the mini time adapters as well.
Can't forget my fuel rail! Here in all its glory with my alternator and TB about to head to powder coating!
Gen IV sprocket, C5R timing chain, and damper.
Cometic 4.160 head gaskets. Obviously, you can't use the factory bore size head gasket with the larger sleeves!
Melling 10296 High Pressure, High Volume Oil Pump.
All together now! From Katech valve covers, to a new starter, the new motor is getting a bunch of new stuff!
Last edited by 427zm; 12-17-2013 at 10:58 PM.
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For heads, I'm going with stock LS7's that are currently being ported by Frankenstein Racing Heads. QMS, whose doing the install, uses mainly WCCH for port work, but has also used FRH, and has seen FRH ported heads gain 20hp over WCCH ported LS7's. Due to the increased bore, and running flat tops with valve reliefs, I'm keeping the chamber size at the stock 70cc. Bore in my case here is adding compression, and it's going to be right on the verge of pump gas DCR, with a static CR around 11.8:1. I need cam overlap to bleed off compression. My rockers are factory 1.8's with the comp trunnion upgrade.
On the Vette forum there are a few people running the Katech K501, which spec wise is identical to the cam I'm going with currently, it's just cut on a 113 straight, no advance. The results from this cam on the few LS7's on the Vette forum have been good when paired ported WCCH's heads. They have ranged from 580-600 wheel. So I should be able to obtain my goal with the couple of added cubes.
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Just FYI, overlap does not bleed off compression. You're thinking of IVC.
600whp shouldn't be too difficult with 434ci and LS7 heads. The RHS heads look to be an awesome value and could probably be put together for less money than OEM LS7's. They use raised intake and exhaust ports, but you can still utilize the OEM style manifolds (stock, LS7, etc). Plus you don't have to worry about the exhaust valve/guide issues with the OEM heads.
600whp shouldn't be too difficult with 434ci and LS7 heads. The RHS heads look to be an awesome value and could probably be put together for less money than OEM LS7's. They use raised intake and exhaust ports, but you can still utilize the OEM style manifolds (stock, LS7, etc). Plus you don't have to worry about the exhaust valve/guide issues with the OEM heads.
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Just FYI, overlap does not bleed off compression. You're thinking of IVC.
600whp shouldn't be too difficult with 434ci and LS7 heads. The RHS heads look to be an awesome value and could probably be put together for less money than OEM LS7's. They use raised intake and exhaust ports, but you can still utilize the OEM style manifolds (stock, LS7, etc). Plus you don't have to worry about the exhaust valve/guide issues with the OEM heads.
600whp shouldn't be too difficult with 434ci and LS7 heads. The RHS heads look to be an awesome value and could probably be put together for less money than OEM LS7's. They use raised intake and exhaust ports, but you can still utilize the OEM style manifolds (stock, LS7, etc). Plus you don't have to worry about the exhaust valve/guide issues with the OEM heads.
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Yep, I'm looking forward to getting the heads back from Chris. He's not inexpensive, but from the results QMS has shown with his port work, it should be worth the extra cash. I'll get flow data with them and put it up here for sure. As for the rockers, they are factory, but they have the comp trunnion upgrade kit in them. They'll be no worry of them puking GM needle bearings all over the motor!
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I hope so. I haven't heard many people on the street running Chris's porting, but that's a good thing to me. "Group think" is really prevalent on forums, and at times it drives business to select guys/shops/tuners just because someone else did such and such. It's not always bad, but at times it can be. I can assure you, it isn't inexpensive work, so I sure hope its a producer.
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