Ls3 480 HP crate

[jazz]

I'm thinking of buying the hot cam gm ls3 480 crate engine. What HP do you think the motor would have with a good intake and headers,or would it still be 480 HP. Thanks Nate .

[jazz]

My goal for the motor has always been 500hp and It would always bother me if I didn't hit the mark. When I say intake I mean k&n type set-up

[srh3trinity]

If your goal is 500 hp I would go with a different cam. I would imagine the quoted numbers are from a dyno with headers and unrestrictive intakes.

[cactuss4]

Do some more research, seen many posts about staying away from the hot cam. Just research, I have no personal experience, just what I've read in passing.

[jazz]

I didn't know their was problems,thats why I was going for a gm motor, thought they were runners.

[XLexusTech]

unless I am wrong the issue is with the 515 HP CAM not the 480.... the 515 ..is MORE of a high rpm design.

[srh3trinity]

The hot cam isn't a bad choice, but you defined a clear goal of 500 hp and I am not sure you can get there with a hot cam and headers. Comp probably makes 25 different lsx cams and you would have to match up your goals to one of those. Are you talking flywheel or rear wheel hp?

[jazz]

Flywheel HP. I'll need to look into this problem, because I was also looking at the 525. Just need to be sure it's only the 515. The 515 is with the carb circle track motor isn't it.

[XLexusTech]

Any thought about buying a stock ls3 and doing a cam swap?

I spoke to a well known Ls engine builder about one of thier crate engines... Here is what I pulled out of him...
They basically take the oem ls3 crate or replacement part (looking for that part number if anyone knows it)
They pull the heads run them through a CNC
port job ... Reassemble and recam 550 HP very street able HP is the claim ..

[CFster]

My regular LS3 was rated at 430hp. It dynoed 400hp at the rear wheels so it must be making well over 450 at the crank. They were underrated - I wonder if the LS3 480 HP are as well.

[jazz]

I dont mind putting a cam in a stock ls3, but my hole reasoning was tuning. if I put a cam in a stock ls3 then I would have to get the gm control package re programed maybe more than once. I live about 3hrs from the nearest tuner, so I was looking at pre programed package motors. And about problems with the 480 and 525, Only thing I can find is they fall off after 6k RPM. thats fine with me. It will be shifting below that 99% of the time anyway.

[srh3trinity]

That being said, why get wrapped up in that 500 hp number. I would argue that the extra 20 hp would never matter or be missed.

[Rwolf15241]

Use a laptop, and a few hours of tweaking!! you will be well over 500 HP

[68sixspeed]

ProBell has that motor in his car now, maybe he will chime in, I can't remember what it chassis dynod at...

[newschool72]

I did the LS3 crate with a cam swap deal in my 72 Camaro. I didn't want to deal with tuning ,so I went another route that gives me best of both worlds, carb and EFI. I bought a brand new LS3 GM crate, sold the intake and injectors, oil pan, exhaust manifolds. I bought a GMPP dual plane carb intake and a Fast EZ EFI setup. I then had Bullet Racing custom grind a cam for my setup and needs. I wanted a cam that would pull hard down low and give me max mid range punch. We used a formula that a guy from the Engine Masters Challenge used for LS3 heads to build low end torque and great average power. The cam is speced at 220-230 at .050 on a 108+4 LSA and .629 lift on both sides. The LS3 heads and GMPP dual plane love a tight lobe center!
So now I have a EFI engine that I don't have to tune, the cooling effect of a carb on the intake charge, and the old school look that fits the cars style. I use the MSD 6012 box to control the spark and it gives me full control of the advance curve, right down to putting a nice dip in the curve at peak torque, to tapering the advance higher the farther it gets away from the torque peak. It also allows for a MAP advance too, so part throttle is efficient .
It is the easiest engine Ive ever owned and is more than capable of 500+HP at the crank. It runs like a rapped ape and is civil enough to put up and down hills at 2000rpms and idle in traffic at 800rpms with the AC running, never getting over 180*.
Its not for everybody, but for me it is about as ideal as you can get in a car that's built for the street with AC, PS, PB, but will lay down an 11 sec pass with suspension more suited for the twisties and knock down 20+MPG.

[Rwolf15241]

Tuning can be done remote, 24x7. Just need to locate the proper person. If they have done one, the next should be pretty easy. I will also be ordering the LS 480 HP for my Elky

[icemanrd19]

Anymore feedback on this? Im either buying the ls3 t56 kit or buying every other piece that i need for my car.

[FirebirdSteve]

Get the LS3 525 and don't look back!!!

[icemanrd19]

I'm already over budget. whats a another $1000 more. Thought about just getting the 430hp and upgrading on my own

[FirebirdSteve]

95 more ponies for $1000.00, sounds like a good deal to me!!!

[xavier296]

I was dead set on the 480 hp motor, but the deal was so much better for the 430 (>1k less). You can buy the cam swap and much better valve springs and trunnions for that extra 1k, even including the new cam sprocket and the tool to change the springs yourself, so I will do that when I am ready. Other than the labor, more can be had for less by doing your own cam swap and you can tailor the cam to your needs.

Mine has been running for 48 hrs now, and I only have 30 miles on it, but it is a blast so far!

[another69]

I am curious why the LS3 525 is so much more expensive than the base 430. The 430 is about $6200, the 480 is reasonable at $6600, but the 525 is about $7500. If the 480 and 525 are just a cam and spring swap why such a high cost? Is it to cover warranty? I would think that any competent person could just buy the 430, then an ASA cam &springs for well under $7500.

[68sixspeed]

Another69, the 480hp I believe is just a cam swap, the lift is low. The 525 hp is a cam and spring swap. And they figure they can get away with it. In fairness, that means the 430&480 motors use off the shelf ls3 heads, while the 525hp are specials and they buy a lot less of those springs.

[icemanrd19]

i have the 480hp version. Should have the car completed by the end of the year.

Bad thing is we just fired up my buddies stage 1 lsa 69 camaro and holy **** that was fast

[dirty rick]

A little spray will put it over the 500 mark

[icemanrd19]

Anyone dyne their "stock" ls3 480hp engine? Wondering what they are putting down to the ground.

I would love to get the engine over the 500 whp mark.

[markaaron80]

interesting results here.

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/engines-drivetrain/1404-three-cam-tests-on-an-ls3-engine-bumpstick-boomerang/

http://www.hotrod.com/features/1507-20-ls1-intake-manifolds-tested/


over 500 RWHP from a cam only swap.
http://www.briantooleyracing.com/naturally-aspirated-ls3-stage-iv-camshaft.html

[icemanrd19]

Anyone with the crate motor package get good results out of getting it retuned? My ls3 480hp version seems like it could be tuned better. Seems to be running rich

[Jk918]

Anyone with the crate motor package get good results out of getting it retuned? My ls3 480hp version seems like it could be tuned better. Seems to be running rich

If u can find a good tuner u should be able to get a little out of it, get it dyno tuned