Generation IV Internal Engine 2005-2014 LS2 | LS3 | LS7 | L92 | LS9

408 not making power

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 19, 2007 | 11:00 PM
  #1  
VDiddy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Default 408 not making power

Need some ideas ya'll.... I recently installed an iron 408 in my CTS-V with L92 heads, L76 intake and 236/238 cam with ~.600 lift and 114 LSA. It's not perfectly tuned but is right at 13.0:1 AFR at WOT according to Wideband and is running about 28 degrees Total advance. It's putting 435HP and 405 lbs./ft. of torque to the wheels. This seems WAY low to me according to what else I've seen out there. The motor makes pretty good oil pressure (around 30 lbs. at idle and 52 lbs. at 5000 rpm). It seems to run fine, nothing that would indicate compression or leak down issues... just not what I expected. Any ideas why it could be so off on power?

It does consume about a quart of oil every 1000 miles or so, but with no visible oil smoke out of the exhaust except at WOT high rpm...even then very little.
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2007 | 11:12 PM
  #2  
cherryelky305's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
Default

Its the torque numbers that bother me in that situation. Not what I'm used to seeing. I have absolutly no experience however. I know someone will chime in.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 08:59 AM
  #3  
VDiddy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Default

Anyone?
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:14 AM
  #4  
408z28's Avatar
Launching!
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (44)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro, North Carolina
Default

Your cam is tiny. I would look at getting a cam in the 244 to 248 duration at .050 range.
Is this an auto or 6sp. ??
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:18 AM
  #5  
VDiddy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Default

It's a 6 speed. I wondered about the cam too but a lot of folks seem to be making 500 rwhp with cams similar to this.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:28 AM
  #6  
WKMCD's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 2
From: Northern VA
Default

I'm not wild about the cam choice. I think you;ve pushed the intake duration too far out. Back that up to 230 and I think it will come up a bunch.

My $.02
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:30 AM
  #7  
408z28's Avatar
Launching!
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (44)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro, North Carolina
Default

Are your l92 heads out of the box or have they been milled?
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:30 AM
  #8  
edcmat-l1's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 4
From: Va Beach
Default

Originally Posted by 408z28
Your cam is tiny. I would look at getting a cam in the 244 to 248 duration at .050 range.
Is this an auto or 6sp. ??
Cam is fine for a L92 head car. I've done a few of them.
To the OP, can you post your tune, or send it to me via email?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-3

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-7

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:31 AM
  #9  
edcmat-l1's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 4
From: Va Beach
Default

Originally Posted by WKMCD
I'm not wild about the cam choice. I think you;ve pushed the intake duration too far out. Back that up to 230 and I think it will come up a bunch.

My $.02
Its not as bad as some of the others. You know what I mean
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:32 AM
  #10  
edcmat-l1's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 4
From: Va Beach
Default

Optimal no, but not too bad. 230/242 would be pretty close to optimal.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:36 AM
  #11  
edcmat-l1's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 4
From: Va Beach
Default

Hey Kevin, does the thread title sound eerily familiar?
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:48 AM
  #12  
408z28's Avatar
Launching!
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (44)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro, North Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by edcmat-l1
Its not as bad as some of the others. You know what I mean
My bad.....Ill leave this one to the "Experts".....???
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:51 AM
  #13  
edcmat-l1's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 4
From: Va Beach
Default

Originally Posted by 408z28
My bad.....Ill leave this one to the "Experts".....???
No worries. They (L92s) just like a different profile. They def dont like or need a bunch of intake duration, or alot of overlap. They are a heavily intake biased head.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:59 AM
  #14  
VDiddy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Default

The heads have not been milled. They are stage II ported by port pros. Harold does great work...don't think the heads are an issue. I use HP Tuners...do you want me to post the .htp file?
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 09:59 AM
  #15  
slow trap's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 0
From: tennessee
Default

the l92/76 combos seem very picky about cam profiles. even with that cam (which probably needs 8-10 more * of duration on exhaust side) the power seems way low,especially on the tq side. what does your exhaust setup consist of ?
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 10:13 AM
  #16  
408z28's Avatar
Launching!
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (44)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro, North Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by VDiddy
The heads have not been milled. They are stage II ported by port pros. Harold does great work...don't think the heads are an issue. I use HP Tuners...do you want me to post the .htp file?
I was asking in reference to your cc on the chambers, not your port work.
l92's came with 70cc chambers, I was getting an idea of your compession.
With a flat top piston and a l92 head you could only be @ +/- 10.0 to 1.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 10:18 AM
  #17  
VDiddy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Default

exhaust is 1 3/4 kooks full lengths and cats with cords cat-back. The chambers are stock size and piston has a small dish but my math puts this near to 11:1 compression with a 408.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 10:19 AM
  #18  
VDiddy's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Default

sorry, meant corsa cat back.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 11:01 AM
  #19  
TurboLark's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Alta Loma, CA
Default

Originally Posted by VDiddy
exhaust is 1 3/4 kooks full lengths and cats with cords cat-back. The chambers are stock size and piston has a small dish but my math puts this near to 11:1 compression with a 408.
So that people can calculate compression -
What are the numbers for ;
gasket thickness, piston dish, and deck height
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 11:16 AM
  #20  
Andrew1989's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: East Coast
Default

It wouldn't hurt to go through and check all the little stuff out; spark plugs, wires, vacuum lines, etc.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:45 PM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE