Ls3 Engine builder?

[6t9 camaro]

Hello there I'm in the market for a FI Ls3 stroker but I'm stuck with who to chose to buy a engine from? I would like to buy a long block. I already have all turbos/pipes everything ready to go I just need the engine. Now I feel my top 3 options are
#1 livernois motorsports
#2 mast motorsports
#3 golen engines
Now I want this thing to put out about 800 to 1000hp and I will put whatever amount of boost to it to get there. I just need to find a builder that can provide the quality build I'm looking for! I don't want some massed produced stroker junk! I search on line for reviews but I can find pros and cons to all of them so I'm stumped!!! I know there are quite a few people on this forum that have probably used products from these places and I value your opinions.
Thanks

[kennyd]

i used don hardy , he did a 418 for us that made 642hp NA . for 9k total complete !
give him a call
806 790 3003

[Sparks67]

If you plan is to build a turbo engine, then I would select a custom engine builder that specializes in LS turbo engines. Billy Briggs at Motor City Speed. Billy used to work at W2W with Kurt, but owns his shop now. http://www.motorcityspeedonline.com
Kurt Urban might be out of your price range, but you might contact him as well.

Your cost for the engine is depending on the components that you chose, so your budget cost is depending on the quality of the parts that use in your engine. Quality parts meaning US made parts, not the overseas parts.

Jeff

[Che70velle]

Turbo LS engine? Nelson Racing Engines. I used to work in a shop that built cup engines, here in Ga. I've seen a few race engines in my day. If you want turbo LS knowledge, call Nelson. It's what they do. :thumbsup:

[carbuff]

#1 livernois motorsports
#2 mast motorsports
#3 golen engines


I have no direct experience with #1 or #2, but I do with #3. And I would avoid that option...

Additionally, I'm not sure that any of these 3 are known for Turbo setups. Perhaps Livernois is, but I'm not as familiar with them. Nelson doesn't seem to have a very good customer service reputation based on a few recent threads which I've seen.

I would suggest spending some time researching on LS1TECH.com if you haven't already. It can be a bit overwhelming in terms of the number of threads there, but I bet you can find some good recommendations there for different engine builders.

Good luck!

[6D9 Matt]

About to order a stroked LS3 from Billy Briggs myself. Have been discussing options with him over email for months, and he is a super nice guy.

I would highly suggest at least calling and talking to Billy Briggs. :thumbsup:

[Stuart Adams]

Kurt Urban.

[johnnymac46]

Check out Virginia Speed

[broken1234]

Urban does not have anything for you. I have already talked to him; nice guy, though. Don't waste your time with Va Speed...

[6t9 camaro]

Thanks for the info guys! I'm going to try and get ahold of Billy Briggs (motor city speed) this week and see if he has anything for me? I have called my builder options 1,2,3 and they all seem to be pretty comparable in price except mast! I've called mast probably a dozen times and e-mailed but no answers so if that's any indication of there customer service I might just stay away from that option! If anyone else has some reviews of the mentioned builders feel free to give a review!
Thanks

[Jgpclone]

Thanks for the info guys! I'm going to try and get ahold of Billy Briggs (motor city speed) this week and see if he has anything for me? I have called my builder options 1,2,3 and they all seem to be pretty comparable in price except mast! I've called mast probably a dozen times and e-mailed but no answers so if that's any indication of there customer service I might just stay away from that option! If anyone else has some reviews of the mentioned builders feel free to give a review!
Thanks

try calling cbm in racho cucamanga ca he builds crazy ls sandrails im having them build my 427 lsx the guy to talk to is chris
http://www.cbmmotorsports.com/

[John510]

Have you tried Casey Wegner? Wegner Motorsports?


Or Texas Speed has some. They are a sponsor on the left <-------

[youthpastor]

Have you tried Casey Wegner? Wegner Motorsports?


Or Texas Speed has some. They are a sponsor on the left <-------

second vote for Wegner

[canrc]

second vote for Wegner

Third vote here :thumbsup:

[Ketzer]

Nobody mentioned Thompson? Doesn't he do the Stielow engines?


Jeff-

[canrc]

Nobody mentioned Thompson? Doesn't he do the Stielow engines?


Jeff-

Yes -- he builders killer stuff and has some of the best customer service in the industry or in any industry for that matter but his stuff may be out of that price range but he is definitely worth contacting.

[broken1234]

Who is Thompson?

[camcojb]

It's actually Thomson. :thumbsup:

http://www.thomsonautomotive.com/

[tellyv]

Wegner no contest!!!!!

[Sparks67]

Wegner no contest!!!!!

Wegner, Thomson and Nelson will be over cost. The OP wants a quality 10K LS long block for a turbo motor. I think Billy Briggs former Chief Builder from W2W would be the best choice. http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/hardcore/0511phr_engls1/viewall.html

[clill]

My 1st choice would be Thomson cause he does great work and is a great guy and I have have been doing my most recent engine stuff with him. Urban also.
Wegner and Billy are also good.

I think those are all guys you get real straight talk from and not exaggerated dyno #'s from.

[ccracin]

Another vote for Wegner. I wouldn't count them out on the budget either. We own one and I bet they will be competitive! :thumbsup:

[GregWeld]

My 1st choice would be Thomson cause he does great work and is a great guy and I have have been doing my most recent engine stuff with him. Urban also.
Wegner and Billy are also good.

I think those are all guys you get real straight talk from and not exaggerated dyno #'s from.




If it's good enough for Charlie - it's good enough for me.... :peepwall:

[6t9 camaro]

Well there's no doubt you guys have named some of the industry's best! Thanks for making my decision even harder! I have contacted most of the builders mentioned and there are a few who will not come within my budget (wegner, Nelson) but were not talking by much if I scaled back somewhere on the build they could do it. Erl builds a really nice dry sleeved short block but won't do a long block? Very tempted to go the sleeved ls3 427 shortblock route and finish it myself. I do have a question though regarding the block. Some of the mentioned builders prefer to use a seasoned block due to core shift issues and others say the will never use anything but a new block for a 800hp build? Just wondering if that's even a issue?