Noise on LS3 415 Stroker
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Noise on LS3 415 Stroker One of my customers has a LS3 swapped land rover with some nasty piston slap that does not go away at all at operating temp(and yes I know for sure that's what it is). Oil is clean.
Is this to be expected from a 415 stroker? I assume pistons have to be shorter and probably poke out the bottom of the cylinder making them more unstable, but should it still go away or is it just how it is?
Build specs:
415 ci LS3
LS3 block/ heads
Scat forged 4.0 stroke crank
Scat 6.125 forged rods
Mahle forged pistons 4.065 bore 10.8:1 compression
King rod/ main bearings
HV Melling oil pump
1.7:1 rocker arms
Ls3 intake manifold
87mm throttle body
42lb hr LS3/7 injectors
GM LS9 camshaft
Is this to be expected from a 415 stroker? I assume pistons have to be shorter and probably poke out the bottom of the cylinder making them more unstable, but should it still go away or is it just how it is?
Build specs:
415 ci LS3
LS3 block/ heads
Scat forged 4.0 stroke crank
Scat 6.125 forged rods
Mahle forged pistons 4.065 bore 10.8:1 compression
King rod/ main bearings
HV Melling oil pump
1.7:1 rocker arms
Ls3 intake manifold
87mm throttle body
42lb hr LS3/7 injectors
GM LS9 camshaft
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 116
Likes: 59
From: Akron, OH
I cant comment on the noise, but that is an interesting combination. I ran an LS9 cam in my LS6 and it has zero bottom end. All the power is up top. That seems the opposite of what you want for a big cube, heavy rover.
I agree. Unless this build is boosted, the LS9 camshaft is a terrible choice for a heavy street vehicle.
One of my customers has a LS3 swapped land rover with some nasty piston slap that does not go away at all at operating temp(and yes I know for sure that's what it is). Oil is clean.
Is this to be expected from a 415 stroker? I assume pistons have to be shorter and probably poke out the bottom of the cylinder making them more unstable, but should it still go away or is it just how it is?
Build specs:
415 ci LS3
LS3 block/ heads
Scat forged 4.0 stroke crank
Scat 6.125 forged rods
Mahle forged pistons 4.065 bore 10.8:1 compression
King rod/ main bearings
HV Melling oil pump
1.7:1 rocker arms
Ls3 intake manifold
87mm throttle body
42lb hr LS3/7 injectors
GM LS9 camshaft
Is this to be expected from a 415 stroker? I assume pistons have to be shorter and probably poke out the bottom of the cylinder making them more unstable, but should it still go away or is it just how it is?
Build specs:
415 ci LS3
LS3 block/ heads
Scat forged 4.0 stroke crank
Scat 6.125 forged rods
Mahle forged pistons 4.065 bore 10.8:1 compression
King rod/ main bearings
HV Melling oil pump
1.7:1 rocker arms
Ls3 intake manifold
87mm throttle body
42lb hr LS3/7 injectors
GM LS9 camshaft
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
How much time is on the build? What were piston to wall specs set at? Quality machine work, or just another cheap shop over in town? Cylinder finish matters. Stroker builds can be noisy if the wrong piston taper was used. I like Mahle stuff, but I’m not sure how keen they are on build a “stroker specific” piston, or was this just a shelf piston? Sorry for all the questions but all this matters, to get it started in the right direction. Obviously reliability isn’t high on the list with that much stroke in the short LS3 cylinder, but most stroker builds aren’t designed around 100k miles…only torque. Reliability and oil useage isn’t typically considered.
And yeah the ls9 cam is a terrible pick for this application especially considering THEY MADE IT CHOP AT IDLE WITH THE TUNE!
Just trying to figure out whether to tell him to let it ride or take it back. It has 1300 miles on it.
If you bought a ls3 stroker and it sounded like perry the platypus at operating temp would you send it back or run it?
Also Dawsonville GA? We're neighbors basically.
I had my tuner add chop with the tune to my BTR stage 2 cam. Sounds wicked when it's cold. I've gotten a few compliments from people.
My LS1 has pretty bad piston slap. It's also got 115,000 miles on it but it runs great. I don't know that piston slap is the end of the world.
My LS1 has pretty bad piston slap. It's also got 115,000 miles on it but it runs great. I don't know that piston slap is the end of the world.
Trending Topics
I would definitely return it if he is able to. That's a hack shop at best. Best thing he could do is try to find a leftover GM LS3 crate motor maybe. If he has to build from scratch, I would do an iron 6.2 build.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?
Pouria Savadkouei
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Mahle makes excellent pistons. Some shops like Diamond, and even though my LS7 has Diamond pistons, I personally think Mahle is somewhat superior. Thomson Automotive chose the brand of piston. I learned after the fact that if you have certain preferences, you better specify them to the builder BEFORE the build. I've had no problems with the Diamonds, but they weren't my first choice. Oh well. I've also heard good things about JE pistons, FWIW...
These are good questions that I have some answers too. It was built by TurnKey Engines. I do not know much about them or there quality of work but they seem to be decently sized. As far as the specific internals, I do not know what they are or any of the details on clearances and whatnot. I did find this link that looks similar to the engine, but specs seem a little different. https://www.turnkeyenginesupply.com/...ct/ls3-415-600 I imagine I could stick a borescope down the hole and see if there's a p/n on the piston if I have to.
And yeah the ls9 cam is a terrible pick for this application especially considering THEY MADE IT CHOP AT IDLE WITH THE TUNE!
Just trying to figure out whether to tell him to let it ride or take it back. It has 1300 miles on it.
If you bought a ls3 stroker and it sounded like perry the platypus at operating temp would you send it back or run it?
Also Dawsonville GA? We're neighbors basically.
And yeah the ls9 cam is a terrible pick for this application especially considering THEY MADE IT CHOP AT IDLE WITH THE TUNE!
Just trying to figure out whether to tell him to let it ride or take it back. It has 1300 miles on it.
If you bought a ls3 stroker and it sounded like perry the platypus at operating temp would you send it back or run it?
Also Dawsonville GA? We're neighbors basically.
Isn't modifying a pristine car destroying it's value? If people are getting offended at exhaust noise, isn't that a bit silly? I want a car that sounds a bit rowdy but drives well on the street.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,306
Likes: 3,621
From: Central Cal.
I'd rather a smoother idle via a cam like the Ghost cam that delivers good power with a smoother idle. A sleeper.
It all started when I put baseball cards in the spokes of the wheel on my bike as a kid. That one deviant act was my downfall. The first car I tried to get my dad to buy for me was a 66 Mustang with a big cam and after driving it he said no. Guess that kind of noise possesses some people.