LSX 454-R Crate Engine from GM Performance Parts

The Big Three have jumped into the grassroots performance scene in a lot of different ways, while others are dabbling in class-specific racing, the gang at GM Performance Parts (GMPP) tapped their area of expertise of crate engine production for their grassroots efforts. The GMPP catalog has staked its claim as being the leader in crate engine offerings from entry-level small-blocks and four-cylinder power plants to robust 572-ci street monsters. The company even offers a spec-engine for various circle track racing sanctions. Amongst the small and large crate engines sits its highly acclaimed LS lineup that includes green offerings (E-Rod emission-compliant packages), production-style engines, short-blocks and a stout 454-ci LSX pump gas engine. But the LS story doesn’t end with its monster LSX 454; GMPP is releasing its most powerful crate engine to date, and it’s targeting the grassroots drag racing segment. Please give a warm welcome to the GMPP LSX 454-R crate engine and all of its 720 hp.

GMPP rolled out its LSX program in 2007, and the major marketing force was on the drag strip where the company got involved with the NMCA LSX Shootout and backed several other drag racing efforts. The LSX block was an instant hit and is now a cornerstone in the world of big horsepower on the street and strip. Its popularity is no surprise since the factory speed shop worked with NHRA Pro Stock legend Warren Johnson to design a block capable of supporting 2,000-plus-hp while remaining applicable to street-only engine builds. The new LSX 454-R crate engine is merely building on the high-performance platform that was rolled out almost four years ago.

The LSX 454-R engine is not just a poked and stroked bullet that was bolted together and rushed to market. There were several LSX racers who contributed data and feedback on various combinations as well as a full-bore engineering effort inside of GM to produce the 720 hp. The highlights of the engine include the brand-new LSX DR head and intake components, but it all starts with the LSX block foundation. The six-bolt main, cast-iron block has its bores enlarged to 4.185 inches each in diameter, while the stroke checks in to the party at 4.125 inches. The forged pistons are connected to the stroker crankshaft via 6-inch-long 4340 I-beam connecting rods.

Moving topside, the main ingredients include the brand-new LSX DR cylinder heads and intake manifold. The LSX-DR heads come standard on this engine and feature CNC-porting, 11-degree valve angle and six-bolts per cylinder that are designed to be used with the LSX block. The heads are capable of serious flow numbers, and the CNC-ported intake runners push 435 cfm at .800-inch lift, while using a 2.25-inch stainless steel valve, 4.185-inch bore and 28 inches of water on the test stand. Moving to the exhaust ports shows GMPP’s handiwork on the CNC mill nets a port flow of 252-cfm at .800-inch lift, 1.625-inch stainless steel valves and the same flow-bench criteria as the intake test. For those interested in the intake port volume, GMPP lists it as 316cc and the combustion chamber is 50cc.

The in-block camshaft bumps the valves a maximum of 0.738-inch, both intake and exhaust. The rest of the cam specs include 250 degrees of duration on the intake side and 270 degrees for the exhaust (measured at 0.050-inch lift), with a lobe separation angle of 108 degrees. Mechanical roller tie-bar lifters are installed to transfer the lift to the pushrods and ultimately to a set of shaft-mounted 1.9:1 ratio roller rocker arms. Topping the induction system is the LSX-DR intake manifold designed to work on top of the heads bearing the same moniker. It accepts a 4500-style carburetor and has extra material for professional porting. GMPP tops the engine with a Holley 4500 carburetor, otherwise known as a Dominator, and it flows 1,150 cfm.

All told, the 454ci powerhouse cranks out 720 hp at 6,800 rpm, while torque peaks at 630 lb-ft. GMPP suggests 110-octane as the minimum and max rpm is 7,100. Based on quarter-mile calculations, that type of power should push a 3,200-pound vehicle into the low 10s/high nines with speeds over 135 mph. The engine is available at any one of the 4,500 GM dealers (140 are authorized GMPP sales centers), and it’s only a few clicks away online at the division’s website.

Source
GM Performance Parts
Gmperformanceparts.com

DR-1103-CRATE-LEAD

GMPP teamed up with several grassroots racers when developing the LSX line of parts. One of them was Robin Lawrence and his ‘70 Chevy Nova that competes in NMCA Nostalgia Pro Street. It’s through testing and racing efforts like this one that the LSX 454-R engine was designed and produced.

The foundation for power and reliability is the LSX engine block, which was unleashed nearly four years ago. It features cast-iron construction, six-bolt mains, Siamese bores, thick webbing, up to six head bolts per cylinder and comes in two deck heights: 9.26 inches and 9.70 inches. GMPP used the 9.26-inch version for the LSX 454-R engine.

GMPP turned to a 4340 steel crank with a 4.125-inch stroke, 2.56-inch main journals, 2.10-inch rod journal and 8-bolt flywheel/flexplate attachment. It can be purchased separately from GMPP under P/N 19244018.

The eight connected rods are forged 4340 steel I-beam pieces with a 6.000-inch center-to-center length, 2.10-inch big end and 0.866-inch wrist pin. It is listed in the GMPP catalog as P/N 19166964.

The 13.1:1 compression ratio comes courtesy of a forged aluminum piston, and it’s a flat-top version of the one pictured.

The long-awaited arrival of the LSX-DR cylinder heads (P/N 19166979 for CNC version) is upon us. The highly anticipated cylinder heads feature a rectangular port configuration that is significantly larger than the LS7 port size, six bolts per cylinder, raised intake and exhaust ports, 11-degree valve angle, big flow numbers and require shaft-mounted rocker arms. The heads are designed for engines with a bore size minimum of 4.125 inches. The heads require the use of the GMPP LSX-DR intake manifold or one that is custom-fabricated.

The LSX-DR intake manifold was designed specifically to be used with the LSX-DR cylinder heads. GMPP offers it for both the short-deck (P/N 19257851) and tall-deck (P/N 19257852) engine blocks. It was designed to flow serious airflow to complement the LSX-DR heads, but there is extra material for even further modification. Two injector bosses are cast into each runner for fuel injectors and/or nitrous oxide nozzles. It’s a single-plane-style intake manifold and fits a 4500-style carburetor.

Source: Drag Racer