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Thoughts on this LS3

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Old Oct 2, 2025 | 12:32 PM
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Default Thoughts on this LS3

I will be starting on my 1980 z28 Camaro Pro-touring build this winter and am window shopping for engines right now. I was looking at their 427 package.

How good are Golen heads?

https://golenengineservice.com/produ...rvette-camaro/

The car will be most street driven with occasional track day here and there.

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Old Oct 2, 2025 | 03:41 PM
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Can't speak to the Golen engine parts but I had RED (Race Engine Development) out of CA sleeve a alum 6.0 LS2 so I could stroke it to 427 cubes. I used a Manley forged rotating assembly. Stock L92 heads. LS3 intake. Assembled by a somewhat local engine builder. Cam was 225I/230E. I know it seems a bit low duration wise but per the tuner said it was a dream to tune. 495 RWHP on the chassis dyno with a built 4L60E/3200 stall converter with 3.73 gears.
I could hand the keys to almost anyone and it drove like a stocker until you floored it.
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Old Oct 3, 2025 | 02:34 PM
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I guess I should have titled this LSx instead of LS3 lol
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Old Oct 4, 2025 | 10:51 PM
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I’m basically looking for a 650-700hp n/a LS build that is street friendly. My budget is 20k for a turnkey minus accessory drive.
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Old Oct 5, 2025 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Sinister81Z28
I’m basically looking for a 650-700hp n/a LS build that is street friendly. My budget is 20k for a turnkey minus accessory drive.
$20k will be hard to do these days for a QUALITY piece. You can cheap out and go with a TSP shortblock or similiar, but the quality isn’t there and parts are sub-par….there’s a reason the pricing is low. I can get you 750hp, but you’ll be around $25kish. Tariffs took pricing up a good bit unfortunately for parts. I have an RED sleeved block on the shelf and custom pistons in stock. PM me. I’ll give you my cell number. Zero pressure here. My experience and reputation speaks for itself. Oddly enough, my most recent build was an RED sleeved build that I shipped to Washington State for Grubinski here on Tech.
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Old Oct 5, 2025 | 09:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Che70velle
$20k will be hard to do these days for a QUALITY piece. You can cheap out and go with a TSP shortblock or similiar, but the quality isn’t there and parts are sub-par….there’s a reason the pricing is low. I can get you 750hp, but you’ll be around $25kish. Tariffs took pricing up a good bit unfortunately for parts. I have an RED sleeved block on the shelf and custom pistons in stock. PM me. I’ll give you my cell number. Zero pressure here. My experience and reputation speaks for itself. Oddly enough, my most recent build was an RED sleeved build that I shipped to Washington State for Grubinski here on Tech.

I won’t be ready for an engine until probably way next year, I’m just trying to get ideas right now. I will keep you in mind though. I would be happy with 650-675hp. What cubic inch are those RED sleeved blocks?
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Old Oct 6, 2025 | 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Sinister81Z28
I won’t be ready for an engine until probably way next year, I’m just trying to get ideas right now. I will keep you in mind though. I would be happy with 650-675hp. What cubic inch are those RED sleeved blocks?
This Darton sleeved block…there are other sleeve manufacturers out there, so buyer beware…is rough bored to 4.148”. It will final hone nicely at 4.155”, and with a 4” crank would give 434 cubic inches. This block will safely go out to 4.190” in N/A form and would give you 441 cubic inches. You can go bigger or smaller, depending on crank stroke, bore, etc.
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Old Oct 6, 2025 | 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by LS1 TJ
Can't speak to the Golen engine parts but I had RED (Race Engine Development) out of CA sleeve a alum 6.0 LS2 so I could stroke it to 427 cubes. I used a Manley forged rotating assembly. Stock L92 heads. LS3 intake. Assembled by a somewhat local engine builder. Cam was 225I/230E. I know it seems a bit low duration wise but per the tuner said it was a dream to tune. 495 RWHP on the chassis dyno with a built 4L60E/3200 stall converter with 3.73 gears.
I could hand the keys to almost anyone and it drove like a stocker until you floored it.
I'll bet that car was a real torque monster. When I built my 427 Darton motor in 2005, there were no rec port heads out yet-all cathedrals. So I bought an early set of CNC'd AFR 225s, which were the best flowing LS heads on the planet at that time. Had a Futral/Cam Motion cam with .598"/.603" lift, 112° LSA, 232°/236° duration. Man, talk about oiled tires. Just touch the throttle, smoke and black stripes matter.....
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