How to Build Big-Inch GM LS-Series Engines

By: Stephen Kim .

Description

Complete Guide to Rotating Assebmly, Heads & Blocks. Build up to 510 Cubic Inches.

GM LS engines are dominating the V-8 high-performance marketplace, and increasing cylinder volume or stroking is one of the best methods for extracting maximum performance. By adding more cubic inches from bore and stroke, these engines produce exceptional horsepower and torque for road and track. These compact, efficient engines are the mainstay in GM high-performance and many passenger cars, and have become the powerplant of choice for many classic muscle cars, hot rods, sports cars, kit cars, and even luxury cars.

Inside these pages you're shown how to select the ideal LS engine for your particular budget, application, and horsepower goal. You're guided you through each crucial step of building a stroker or big-inch LS engine. Author Stephen Kim delves into the benefits and drawbacks of stroking the range of stock LS iron and aluminum engine blocks. He also examines the aftermarket blocks from World Products, Dart, GM Performance Parts, and others. The various stroker options and rotating assembly packages are explored as well as the best cranks, rods, and pistons from various aftermarket suppliers. The crank is the foundation of a stroker package, and the vast range of stock and aftermarket stroker cranks are revealed. The option of buying a complete stroker kit (including pistons, crank, and rods) or piecing these parts individually is explored. In addition, expert advice is provided for selecting cast, forged, and billet connecting rods as well as I- and H-beam designs to meet your performance goals. Piston selection is another important aspect of a stroker build, and hence you're shown how to select the correct design, dimensions, and materials (cast, hypereutectic, or forged) for an engine package. Choosing the ideal stock or aftermarket head for a particular application along with a compatible valvetrain are other crucial aspects for optomizing performance, and this is discussed in detail as well. As a result, any aspiring LS engine builder will then be able to select a combination of components and put it all together. If you've been looking for an authoritative book to guide you through a complete GM LS stroker build up, you've found it.

About The Author

Stephen Kim is a former Hot Rod magazine staffer and has been a long-time contributing writer and photographer to Hot Rod, Popular Hot Rodding, Chevy High Performance, Camaro Performers, GM High-Tech Perfbrinance and scores of other magazines. He lives with his wife and child near Austin, Texas.

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