What is the actual HP of the LS3/480?

[TnBlkC230WZ]

I've seen on the Power Block that the ERod LS3 makes 490 HP with stock exhaust manifolds, cats and an electric water pump. I'm curious as the the actual HP number for an LS3/480 engine. I'm considering either the ERod or the LS3/480. The car will be 95% daily driver (7500+ miles per year).

[ProdigyCustoms]

The one we have tested with a manual came in right at 410 at the tires, so 480 sounds right. With manual transmission we get 440 at the tires with our L92s.

[Samckitt]

What's the difference in an L92 & an LS3? What did the L92 come in?

Edit: Just did a search on the L92 & it says it is a 6.2L all aluminum engine:
The 2007 Cadillac Escalade has a 6.2 L Vortec 6200 (RPO L92) (≈376 cu in) engine. It is an all-aluminum design which, while still a pushrod engine, boasts variable valve timing, a first in a mass-produced non-overhead cam V8 engine. The system adjusts both intake and exhaust timing between two settings. This engine produces 403 hp (301 kW) and 417 ft·lbf (565 N·m) in the GMC Yukon Denali/XL Denali, Sierra SLT, GMC Sierra Denali, and in the Cadillac Escalade. and makes an additional 2 ft.lb torque in the Silverado and Sierra Vortec Max pickups, and 390 hp and 419 ft·lbf (568 N·m) in the Hummer . It was also available in the Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ, with power ratings of 395 hp (295 kW) and 417 ft·lbf (565 N·m).

Applications:

* 2007+ Cadillac Escalade
* 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe
* 2007+ GMC Yukon Denali/Denali XL
* 2007+ GMC Sierra Denali
* 2008+ Hummer H2
* 2010+ Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Vortec Max
* 2010+ GMC Sierra 1500 Vortec Max


So Frank, what magic did you do to your L92 to get 440 to the rear wheels?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Two differences, The L92 are VVT and also the L92 has a solid valve instead of hollow valvs. We take brand new L92 long blocks, delete the VVT and install a cam and springs package we have choosen. The cam is slightly more agrresive then the GM 480HP motor but still very conservitive. For $6400 you can get the cam card, LOL!

[TnBlkC230WZ]

Thanks Frank. It sounds like the standard LS3 is better than an LS3/480 then.

[WS6]

cam and exhaust only LS3 C6 vettes routinely make 470+hp to the wheels through the manaul trans. They have a good sound too. Add some ported stock heads and you'll be at 500 rwhp or close easily. Fairly good torque curve too. Personally, I'd go LS3 and add a cam and get headers to fit your application. I also have zero issues buying pullouts from the salvage yards. That's me though.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

Frank, is the 440HP L92 with a stock cam or your cam?

[ProdigyCustoms]

We are kicking the doo doo out of the GM 480HP. No, not a stock cam. That 440 is rear wheel horsepower not flywheel. Flywheel horsepower is closer to 540 with those rear wheel numbers. But since we rarely engine dyno we have to work with the RWHP 80% rule.

With a stock cam the L92s and LS3s fall in the 350 RWHP range, low 400s at the crank.

WS6 is correct, high 400 is not uncommon in a Vette but those cams doing that are pretty snotty and not my favorite for driveability especially when you said daily driver

[Samckitt]

So Frank, you selling the parts too to get rid of VVT and the cam that someone could swap into their L92?

Just to clarify: the heads are stock? Wiring harness any different?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Yes, we have a cam and spring package and convert it to a NON VVT 3 bolt cam.

it would be less confusing if I just called it a LS3 but since we run the solid valves, it is L92 heads. That is the only difference.

[Samckitt]

How much Frank?

[ProdigyCustoms]

For what sir? You can get all the stuff for the conversion used for pennies, and we supply the cam and springs.

[Samckitt]

OK for the cam & springs then. Is there any particular engine the VVT delete stuff comes from, or just anyone without it uses the same parts?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Right at $700 to the door cam and springs.

Yes, LS3 compnenets. Did You get a motor?

[Samckitt]

Haven't got a motor yet. Trying to do some planning ahead to see what I can do, what's the best price & so on. Travis (daytonayellaz) lives pretty close to me & he is always dealing with LS motors. He had an L92 that he was cleaning up to ship out soon & we were talking about it & the HP it can make & so on.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

We are kicking the doo doo out of the GM 480HP. No, not a stock cam. That 440 is rear wheel horsepower not flywheel. Flywheel horsepower is closer to 540 with those rear wheel numbers. But since we rarely engine dyno we have to work with the RWHP 80% rule.

With a stock cam the L92s and LS3s fall in the 350 RWHP range, low 400s at the crank.

WS6 is correct, high 400 is not uncommon in a Vette but those cams doing that are pretty snotty and not my favorite for driveability especially when you said daily driver

350 at the wheels, the Power Block engine dyno must have been extremely optimistic to get 490 at the flywheel on an erod engine. I know they can tweek the system to get higher numbers, but that is a lot of tweeking.

I've got 326 at the wheels with a slightly modified ZZ4 and it is sufficent. I'm thinking 400 at the wheels will be more than sufficient and I want to do it with a quiet exhaust (stock manifolds). Maybe a small cam and springs in the LS3 is all that is needed. Would that require retuning the GMPP computer? I've all ready have a T-56 Magnum in the car so the parasitic loss should only be 15 - 17 percent.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Ok, we are mis communicating. The stock 430HP Corvette LS3 puts right at 350 to the tires. The E Rod motors have pulled close to 500HP at the flywheel which would ne 420ish at the tires.

With a manual transmission there is no reason not to get more aggresive with the camshaft. The shaft we use is more aggressive but stll sounds forcefull but runs very smooth. We run a slightly smaller cam in our automatics simply to avoid getting into a bigger converter.

Yes, the motors we do runs on the GMPP tuning

[ProdigyCustoms]

Haven't got a motor yet. Trying to do some planning ahead to see what I can do, what's the best price & so on. Travis (daytonayellaz) lives pretty close to me & he is always dealing with LS motors. He had an L92 that he was cleaning up to ship out soon & we were talking about it & the HP it can make & so on.

Got ya, soon as ou nail a engine let me know and I can help you with parts or tell you where to get them.

[Samckitt]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks Frank.

[icemanrd19]

Old thread but for those that want to know.
Ls3 480
T56 magnum
67 camaro
Ford 9"
Stainless works headers
420 rwhp 391 tq

[another69]

What controller are you using? The GM one or something different? Also what chassis dyno?

[badazz81z28]

Old thread but for those that want to know.
Ls3 480
T56 magnum
67 camaro
Ford 9"
Stainless works headers
420 rwhp 391 tq

That's a little more realistic. I have seen many dyno test on TV and the inter webs. Most of them run with no accessories, headers no mufflers or cats and sometimes with an electric water pump. These engines will pump out a lot of horsepower in this combination. A stock LS1 will dyno over 400hp this way. I have also seen many LS3s dyno in stock form and they are usually in the high 300s to the tires and LS7s about 460. All dependent on dyno's and weather factors and altitude. A stock L92 is not making 440 to the tires, but with headers, no cats, exhaust, etc I can see it being 420ish to the tires. Add a cam to a LS3, some mods and you'll get really close to 500 to the tires. However the exception is people can go crazy and stick a max effort cam and produce an impressive peak HP number but the car drives like crap. My LS7 has a small cam in it and that combination dynos at 650hp with no exhaust and no accessories. I would bet after said and done, I would be surprised to see more then 525 at the tires.

[icemanrd19]

What controller are you using? The GM one or something different? Also what chassis dyno?

Dynojet
Gmpp controller with supplied tune

[icemanrd19]

I'm sure with a tune we can pick up alot of up. The car absolutely hauls a$$ but starts up right away, I could daily drive it if need be, and it's reliable. I thought the community would like to hear real world numbers. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10101354806114966&id=48502792

[badazz81z28]

I'm sure with a tune we can pick up alot of up. The car absolutely hauls a$$ but starts up right away, I could daily drive it if need be, and it's reliable. I thought the community would like to hear real world numbers. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10101354806114966&id=48502792

Yeah, there's such thing as too much power too. I drove me LS7 around and its ridiculous. I need tires that either are way below 200 TW to get traction or not really enjoy it. Its fast, first gear you do not want to gun it....the car will not go...but the tires do.

[andrewb70]

Old thread but for those that want to know.
Ls3 480
T56 magnum
67 camaro
Ford 9"
Stainless works headers
420 rwhp 391 tq

This sounds right on the money. My GTO made that with essentially a LS3 and a LS7 cam.

Andrew

[icemanrd19]

Trying to think what my next engine mod will be. Plan on staying na. Sheet metal intake or what else to gain some hp

[mert.celet]

Hi icemanrd19,

If You're planning on staying NA, Your best bet might be on a sleeved block. I have the ERL Superdeck1 and I love it. Sadly ERL has closed it's doors but as far as i know RED does the same process with Your own block. You can go for 4.185 bore all day and stay aluminium light.

[another69]

Icemanrd19,

I have the same engine with a Holley controller, but have had a hard time getting the timing table right. Do you know what kind of timing your GM controller uses?

[SSLOW6.0]

For reference, my Fiancee's bone stock 15 Camaro SS 1LE with 5000 miles made 376 at the rear wheels on a Dynojet at Power Tour.

[icemanrd19]

Ran the car again today on the dyno jet with some fuel concentrate to increase the octane alittle. Car made 447 rwhp and 413 tq. End goal is 500rwhp. Intake and tune will be next. Any suggestions?

Also a nice lsx 427 with the edlebrock super charger with 10psi put down 695. Pretty impressive

[slimjim]

What intake are you looking at?


Ran the car again today on the dyno jet with some fuel concentrate to increase the octane alittle. Car made 447 rwhp and 413 tq. End goal is 500rwhp. Intake and tune will be next. Any suggestions?

Also a nice lsx 427 with the edlebrock super charger with 10psi put down 695. Pretty impressive

[dhutton]

You might give up low end torque with an intake selected to gain peak horsepower. There is usually no free lunch in my experience...

Don

[badazz81z28]

Ran the car again today on the dyno jet with some fuel concentrate to increase the octane alittle. Car made 447 rwhp and 413 tq. End goal is 500rwhp. Intake and tune will be next. Any suggestions?

Also a nice lsx 427 with the edlebrock super charger with 10psi put down 695. Pretty impressive


You're about maxed out without doing head and cam upgrades. The intake will yield you very little as they are more to complement bigger heads and cam. The Tune maybe a few Hp.

[icemanrd19]

Unsure on the intake but I like the look of a sheet metal intake.

Maybe heads or head work might be next. What does it intake to wrap one of these engines to continue to pull up to 7000 rpms? Buddy is running Brodix heads with his 427 maggy setup which he pulls up to 7k. Maybe I'll turn mine into a 416

[dhutton]

http://www.lsxmag.com/tech-stories/engine/dyno-testing-four-popular-ls3-bolt-on-intake-manifolds/

[slimjim]

http://www.lsxmag.com/tech-stories/engine/dyno-testing-four-popular-ls3-bolt-on-intake-manifolds/

That's a good article, I was going to attach it also, It is near on impossible to find reviews on sheetmetal intakes HP gains, if any, The FAST units seem impressive but they're quite unattractive and very expensive.

I'm also looking at the 480 motor but starting to lean towards a 430 and send it straight to the shop for a better cam and headwork. From what I understand the hot cam is perfect for stock LS3 but near on hitting it's limits.correct me if 'm wrong.

[badazz81z28]

That's a good article, I was going to attach it also, It is near on impossible to find reviews on sheetmetal intakes HP gains, if any, The FAST units seem impressive but they're quite unattractive and very expensive.

I'm also looking at the 480 motor but starting to lean towards a 430 and send it straight to the shop for a better cam and headwork. From what I understand the hot cam is perfect for stock LS3 but near on hitting it's limits.correct me if 'm wrong.


Unattractive??? Lol. I think the sheet metal and high rise aluminum LS intakes are hideous. I agree FAST intakes are stupid expensive and should cost half of what they do. I think they would sell more of them if they did. I would anyways. IMO any GM upgrade cam is not worth the time and expense. Cam only swaps can add incredible power over stock. Look to people like Texas Speed.

[icemanrd19]

Pointless. Build it from scratch 0r go straight to the 480 version. You will love it. 447 rwhp from a gm only engine is damn impressive if you ask me.

[SSLOW6.0]

Unattractive??? Lol. I think the sheet metal and high rise aluminum LS intakes are hideous. I agree FAST intakes are stupid expensive and should cost half of what they do. I think they would sell more of them if they did. I would anyways. IMO any GM upgrade cam is not worth the time and expense. Cam only swaps can add incredible power over stock. Look to people like Texas Speed.

FAST intakes are obscenely over priced, especially when a ported truck intake will make more power and torque. The Gen IV cathedral port/TBSS intake is the best intake for dollar, and the L92 intake with some porting will out perform all but the most ridiculous FAST intakes in AVERAGE power 3500-7000 rpm. Sure peak numbers are great to brag about, but until someone builds a CVT that can handle an LS motor, peak numbers are only a small part of a big story.