Want to build LSX 454 from Jegs
 

Ntnt

Your normal engine stuff...water pump, accessories and drive, oil pan, oil pump, headers, etc. Other than the stuff you've listed, that pretty much sums it up. Oh, botls and fasteners, etc. But, that's pretty much it.

454 LS engines have a pretty long stroke/rod ratio. With that always comes questions of reliability under abuse. Still, I think that engine should hold together for quite a while considering your plans for the car.

I think a lot of the difference in cost has to do with whether or not you're comparing aluminum block 454 LS engines to iron block ones. Also, the cost of an intake, throttle body, balancer, and oil pan all add up. Some also come with an ecu as well.

The truth is that if you are racing these engines, eventually they will fail, or need to be freshened up with new rings, and bearings, etc. That is just the nature of the beast. When you push things really hard very frequently and for extended amounts of time, the odds of breaking something go up. However, there is a difference between racing, and driving a car hard on the street and taking it to the occasional Good Guys Autocross. I don't think even the most reliable factory LS3 would be able to hold up to 100K miles of what I would do to it.

I'm not saying that the engine you're looking at is unreliable. In fact, I have an aluminum block 454 LS7 based engine in my Camaro, and I probably did 30+ track events with it last year. I had a cam go bad at the end of last year, but other than that, no issues. It burns oil, but I think almost all LS engines do.

If you plan to attend an autocross once or twice a year with the rest of your driving being on the street, I don't think there is anything wrong with the GM 454 LSX crate engine. seems like a good price considering the parts.

Did you look through the Blueprint thread near yours yet?

Here you go. :slingshot: https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=40586

Pimlico, I would suggest that you sit down and do some figuring. Your budget, You must also remember. The engine isn't the only thing. The clutch,trans,driveshaft, rearend, Fuel system possibly, could be as simple as pump but that horsepower will probably be Ricks tank with Vaporworx system and fittings that could be up to $2500.00. I rode in my buddys 68 Camaro with a ls3 I think 485 horse. The car runs great and super reliable. I think they are between 6g to 6500. You are at the right website for answers. I learn from the guys on here all the time they are all pretty cool. good luck

Hey Travis, not to hijack the thread but was your buddy's ls3 the 480 version? Just wondering about the idle if so.
I also ride in a 5th gen with the factory ls3 and was shocked how quick it was.

Matt, if the engine has the right hone finish, the right ring package, and is vented correctly it won't use oil. I'm sure I use mine just as hard as you do and mine uses no oil to speak of. A lot of engine builders use low tension rings to squeeze out every last bit of power which is fine for drag racing but not good for what we do, GM uses them for fuel economy.

I spoke to Hector today about my fuel tank with Vaporworx and got my feelings hurt. :buttkick: LOL!! Over $2k for sure.