LSX 454 Build Sheet and Opinions

This is a discussion on LSX 454 Build Sheet and Opinions within the Internal Engine forums, part of the LSx Technical Help Section category; Originally Posted by dbs1
You are welcome! I wished I'd asked and received this type of info many thousands of ...

You are welcome! I wished I'd asked and received this type of info many thousands of dollars ago.

I do just have to ask. If your car will already run in the 10's and it sounds like a very nice street car, why in the world don't you just find a beater (kind of) and pick up a cheap LQ4 iron block, forge it and throw the blower on it?
I'm guessing if done a little at a time and keeping an eye out for deals on parts you could build a 9 second track car for that $20K.

My son and I just bought an 02 SS camaro for $6000 that already had a few speed parts on it. With biz being slow we've decided to try and make do with what we have, with the exception of a 75 shot kit to run in the 11's.

I would think that with something like that (this car is a little rough on the outside, but all mechanicals are good with only 37,000 miles) you could drop another $5k for suspension/rear end, use the existing engine to rebuild to lower cr and forged parts, and use that blower at 15 psi for 200 hp. If you strip it down to 3200lbs or so, and end up with close to 550hp at the wheels you'd be in the 9's, track only car to abuse at will, and save that valuable car for the street. You sound like you've been at it awhile and have a pretty good handle on what the costs would be and what you want to do. Good luck with your plans.

ps If you just have to spend $10k right now I could use it for this ss go fast fund. I would send you pics. We could set up some kind of charity for a tax deduction or something???? I think you are a fine individual for having such a noble idea. pm me for mailing instructions. Thx!

LOL to the PS

I dunno, i just wanted the reliability of the LSX knowing i could throw whatever i wanted at it and not have to worry esp if im going to slap the F1 I have on it. I would love a 9s all motor build but that would take extreme amounts of work for merely bragging rights and i would like to have the poweradder so i can adjust how much power i want and so forth.

Ultimetly, i think im going to go with the 454 LSX as my base block, apparently my friend said he can get me a steal of a deal on the 454 with all forged internals for less then 5K and its assembled! So i wanna look into that to make sure the internals aren't crappy or the work isnt half assed.

So, if i can get the motor built with the internals (good ones Luneti, diamond etc.) and it only costs 5K total i think that's worth getting the block then just slowly over the next 2 years say built it up and have it ready for the street. With only 5K on the motor plus heads, cam, intake etc. i think i could do the whole thing (no labor, doing the work myself) for 10K-12K and still have pleanty of money left over for rear, tranny, and suspension.

Dreaming-I think. Does'nt hurt to dream (except your wallet). Maybe have your bud put 2 of those lsx 454 together and I'll take one at that price. Have him finish em off for another 2K and I'm all over it!

Dreaming-I think. Does'nt hurt to dream (except your wallet). Maybe have your bud put 2 of those lsx 454 together and I'll take one at that price. Have him finish em off for another 2K and I'm all over it!

LOL, were both working on them. He knows more about the dynamics of the build then i do but i have a better understanding of the parts from the LS perspective plus i have this forum

Getting the engine at as close to cost as humanly possible from a good friend who owes me a favor and has a tier 1 auto business account hehe

I also spent into the $20,000+ with a BIG name ls1tech sponser that installed a procharger P-1SC tuner kit, 42lb inj, Blower cam, FAST fuel rails, racetronix pump and wiring kit, torque converter and install, autometer nexus gauges: boost, fuel pressure, wideband. I already had hooker longtubes, ORY, Hooker catback ordered from the same company. I spent over $20K and they didn't do any work to the bottom end. As a matter of fact, I still had my stock heads and an LS6 intake. That was on my BSM 1999 WS6 with around 23,xxx miles and I had this work done in 02 and if I would have some of the people that I know today, one of them IMO is one of the best LSX engine mechanics in the whole southeast, I probably would have gone a different route. I didn't anticipate the tranny going out on the dyno during the initial supercharger and cam tune, or having belt slippage problems with the 6 rib pulley. I was only hitting about 4 lbs of boost. I then ordered the 8 rib setup and ATI superdampener and the 9lb pulley(3.2", i think) with gave me almost 7 lbs of boost until my 8 rib setup and accessories came in. Oh well, some far as of now, I'm leaning towards an LS2 402 with a big streetable cam and a double shot of spray on top. I'll only be spraying one stage with a 100 shot. I just want to have that extra hp on tap just in case. I just got my set of Trick Flow Specialties LS2 225cc heads, but may sell them if I can work out a deal with a guy with a lQ4 408 shortblock. I had no Idea what i was getting myself into. One thing I have learned is that the more parts your put on, the more there is to go wrong and more parts to break. But it sounds as though you've been doing your research, so if you've got the funds, go for the 454.

Wow 20K for all that. That's a lot of dough man! I hope you got some good power out of it tho then it would make the fun to cost ratio rise

I figured since me and my 2 friends (one who is a master mechanic and builder of engines for years) work on the car that would save loads in labor. I've been doing research for literally months before i even posted the build sheet on here. Comparing numbers, testaments, reviews, flow, power, reliability etc and these list of parts is ultimately what i came up with. Hopefully, like you said, everything works and i don't have problems or failures. One reason why i went all out on some parts when obviously less superior ones would work just fine, is for reliability issues. I dont wanna cut corners and want to do everything right the first time and build as bulletproof a motor as possible.

We will see how it goes, im still compiling the list, im adding suspension and driveterrain then electronics will b last. Thanks for your input pal, the 402 will b really nice and im sure you'll have a blast with it when you get it and have it completed

And I thought I had some $ into an engine. I spent $14k on a 454 bbc for my 67 that put it into the high 10's on engine and 9's with a 150 shot. My shop recently quoted me $12k for a 550hp ls1 they built that was not paid for, which the price included install and tune. Still more than I want to spend right now.

For me it seems that finding a used maggie would put me into the 11's and could be done for less than $4k if the right deal is found.

I thought of a 454lsx at 750hp for the street and another 250 shot for the track for this 02, but I'd have to get a rear end put in first and then some trans/clutch work, then a cage, then...basically another $20,000 I just don't have to spend right now.

And I thought I had some $ into an engine. I spent $14k on a 454 bbc for my 67 that put it into the high 10's on engine and 9's with a 150 shot. My shop recently quoted me $12k for a 550hp ls1 they built that was not paid for, which the price included install and tune. Still more than I want to spend right now.

For me it seems that finding a used maggie would put me into the 11's and could be done for less than $4k if the right deal is found.

I thought of a 454lsx at 750hp for the street and another 250 shot for the track for this 02, but I'd have to get a rear end put in first and then some trans/clutch work, then a cage, then...basically another $20,000 I just don't have to spend right now.

Yup the money builds up quick... Before you know it you get to the shop to pick your baby up and you say "Can you say that again...! I thought you said i owed you $20K?!"

I love the guys at the shop that does my work, but when I decided to take my 01 C3 truck from sc to turbo, I was promised $10,000 and 3 months. Six months later and north of $20,000 I got the truck back. It lowered the track times by over a second, but in hindsight-lots of wasted $!!!!

I will say this. If there is something I have learned over the last 10 years and $100,000-Do it right the first time so it lives a long, healthy, safe and very fast life! Get the very best you can afford and don't get in a hurry and you'll save $ over the long haul!

I love the guys at the shop that does my work, but when I decided to take my 01 C3 truck from sc to turbo, I was promised $10,000 and 3 months. Six months later and north of $20,000 I got the truck back. It lowered the track times by over a second, but in hindsight-lots of wasted $!!!!

I will say this. If there is something I have learned over the last 10 years and $100,000-Do it right the first time so it lives a long, healthy, safe and very fast life! Get the very best you can afford and don't get in a hurry and you'll save $ over the long haul!

Well said! And that's just what i plan to do! I've been down that road before but not for your cost but close and the slow intelligent way is always the best. or else youll find yourself with your pockets turned out and nothing much to show for it