I’m building a 1980 Z28 Camaro and its engine selection time. I’m going with an LS. I already have full aftermarket suspension, built 4l80e rated to 750hp and 9inch rear. This is going to be a mostly street driven pro-touring car. I don’t know much about LS engines so that’s why I’m asking this here. I’m no stranger to engines though as I’ve built several performance sbc’s over the years.

My budget for the engine, accessory drive and electronics is no more than $23k for everything minus starter and headers which I already have.

The Goal?
700hp on 92 pump gas and be RELIABLE. This will be a mostly street driven car.

Can it be done? If so layout some tried a true recipes/blueprints for an engine build using all new parts. I figured a good start would be to buy an assembled long block and throw some type of forced induction on it but those costs can add up quick or maybe not. Like I said I’m new to the LS world. Help me out guys 🙂

 

Not 700, but 662 with no real special parts. It did pick up some with a vacuum pump. I think slightly more cam(RPM) and an intake swap and it'll be close to your goals. This was built for a HEAVY Trailblazer SS so it is dialed back a smidge.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...s-build-2.html

 

Here is my combo - Naturally Aspirated. 757 hp and 660 tq. Basically 455 CID, Brodix BR7 heads (Advanced Induction), 12 to 1 compression, cam 246 / 258 on a 114 and 650 lift, 1 7/8 headers (these were headers that would fit in a car - not that perfect world dyno headers where there are no fenders or frame to consider), OEM rockers with trunnion upgrade, Mamo MSD intake 102 throttle body. With roller rockers and 2 inch headers 770 hp was possible. You can go down to 427 or 434, move cam down a little, maybe 11+ to 1 comp ratio and still be above 700. On your 1980 Camaro you might go with tarantula style intake and pick up some hp but loose a little tq.

 

That is one badass 454

 

I ordered an LS3-ish 454 from Golen that did 693 on their engine dyno, and the package started at $18k if I remember right. Mine was closer to $25k, mostly due to a dry sump. I got the smaller of the two cams that Golen recommends (I wanted a broader powerband) so I assume the other one would do well over 700. It should be doing track days by May if not sooner.

Probably could have had more power at the same or lower cost if I went with forced induction, but keeping Corvettes cool on a road course is hard. Pointy nose means not much space or airflow for radiator and oil cooler, and an intercooler compounds those problems.

There are two 454 builds on Golen's website now, to give you an idea of what the options and prices are.
$18k - https://golenengineservice.com/produ...mplete-engine/
$13.7k - https://golenengineservice.com/lsx-c...hp-long-block/

Those are just places to start the discussion though. On second thought, my build might have started with the $13k recipe, but turned into a complete engine, plus some valvetrain upgrades. What I mean to say is, they're flexible.

 

Chad is great to work with. They built my engine I posted above as well. Mine started out as just them doing the short block then I decided to just let them finish it and do the break in etc.

 

Shafiroff has this 427 but I want it fuel injected. Would a fast intake LS type injection be better than say a Sniper system? Shafiroff wants $5900 extra for
Terminator X Max, LSXR Intake, Big Mouth Throttle Body, Injectors, Sensors, installed, a cam more suited for a streetcar powerband, F body oil pan and extra Dyno set up time. https://www.shafiroff.com/chevy-ls-p...ext-engine.php

Then Borowski has this 408 turnkey setup tuned for 92 octane with terminator Xmax and Fast LSXR intake and for 24k. Just seems like this one would have pretty high compression and a pretty big cam to get that power out of it. https://borowskirace.com/collections...45584078045396

 

Shafiroff is usually on the optimistic side power-wise. I would rather bang a known questionable hooker and not tip than buy a Borowski motor. Check out HPR, Chev70elle, Golen, BES and many more who deliver what they promise. It seems like the more a shop advertises, the less motor you actually get.

 

I’ve never heard any bad about Borowski but I have heard a ton of bad about Golen but that was from 15yrs ago.

 

If you want some input, 700hp easy and reliable is much simpler with a bigger 4.125+ bore. All of sudden , you need a Dart, LSX or a sleeved alum block. The investment is better, you can grow off it later. If you want super reliable, easy power, copy my build. I'm doing a 392(4.155x3.622) with some cheap AFR 230 heads I picked up. A Brodix BR1 would be better or go LS7 architecture even more better. LS3 stuff has made 700+HP, but I can count on 1 hand how many builds got there successfully. Some will argue, but a stock 3.622 stock is key to making it live. You see 300k stock LS's out there, you really don't see strokers doing that. The power is in the bore(heads), not so much the stroke. JMO
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Moving this to Gen4 Internal…

 

Scott (Che70velle) knows his stuff. If you want it done right, I'd PM him. That motor he built, with Tony Mamos heads, then had Darth tune...... Is awesome!! A huge part is the skill set that Scott and Darths tuning bring to the table. But another huge part is Tony's heads. I started in the motorcycle world, where you basically start with engines putting out 2hp/cubic inch. So you need to be mighty careful, cuz you cant put metal back!!! Start hogging ports any old way on those and you'll lose power, quickly. I admire what Tony has done. It's damn near magical when you reduce the cross section of the port area, but pick up flow and power!!! Trust your stuff with these 3 guys, and you'll be one happy dude, I am sure.....

 

.....Bang a questionable hooker.....Dave, I just LMAO when I read that!! LOVE it!!!

 

…I didn’t know tipping hookers was even a thing? I met a friend of mine to pick up a block 6 weeks ago or so, that I was buying. We met at a gas station in a shady part of Atlanta. My buddy beat me there and was telling me that when he pulled up, there was a hooker in the parking lot that came up to him and wanted $26…she was pretty high end.

 

Where do you want that 700HP? At the flywheel, on the dyno, or at the rear wheels.

 

Flywheel.

 

https://ls1tech.com/forums/market/1978793

Here, buy this and done. @helicoil is also a top builder on here, I should have mentioned him in my previous post. This is his personal motor and it's one of the top LS3 architecture builds I have ever seen. It's a gift for what he's asking.

 

Tim is a skilled guy and a great dude. I’ve bought smalls from him in the past and he delivers on time. Having said that, the drag race engine he’s selling here is a far cry from a street engine for a pro-touring car. You are correct about the pricing though…it’s an easy $25k build…prolly more.

 

A few guys on my Camaro forum are recommending Golen engines. I have heard negative things about them from this forum but that was many years ago? Has their quality and workmanship improved. They only offer a 1yr warranty.

https://golenengineservice.com/lsx-c...mplete-engine/

Also, what’s better, steel rings or plasma moly?

 

I think the most reliable 700hp will be some kind of forced induction, probably centrifugal supercharger.

Unreliability comes from aggressive cams, high RPM, losing control of oil, or overheating.