This Modified 821hp Chevy Performance Lt4 Crate Engine Sold For More Than A New Suv

Although nan mean transaction value for a caller car precocious collapsed nan $50,000 barrier, $40,250 tin still get you a adjacent magnitude of vehicle. For example, that benignant of fund could conscionable astir get retired nan doorway successful a 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition — moreover pinch nan Weather Pack's heated leather steering instrumentality and seats. That configuration is presently priced astatine $38,445, which includes a $36,070 suggested price, $925 for nan action package, and $1,450 successful destination fees. (Pricing for the 2026 RAV4, which adds a PHEV GR Sport Version, has yet to beryllium announced.)

Alternatively, you could person spent nan costs of that RAV4, and more, connected a azygous engine. And it's nary mean motor. We're talking astir a supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 that primitively came arsenic a crate motor from Chevrolet Performance. The mill already packed superior punch caller from nan factory, showcasing up to 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, but that was conscionable a starting constituent for Aaron Kurt and nan squad astatine Late Model Engines. After they worked their magic connected this unthinkable centrifugal — finishing nan occupation successful November of 2024 — output was dialed up to 821 horses and 797 lb-ft. 

To beryllium clear, that's arsenic tested connected a dynamometer. The motor still had not yet been installed successful a conveyance astatine nan clip it was precocious sold connected Bring a Trailer— for that tidy sum of $40,250.

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The banal LT4 made a beardown instauration for nan build, though Late Model Engines did precision-bore nan cylinders to 4.07 inches — up somewhat from nan original 4.065 inches — to location nan Diamond 2K forged pistons. Those, successful turn, person been updated pinch Total Seal piston rings and I-beam connecting rods from Texas Speed, and what they link to is simply a forged crankshaft from Callies. Other high-performance hardware successful nan operation includes a Cam Motion camshaft positive a Holley accessory drive.

The unit did much than conscionable bolt connected different people's products. Details for illustration nan billet timing chain, timing cover, and titanium valve retainers each travel from Late Model Engines, and squad members were responsible for porting some nan cylinder heads and supercharger. Remember, that's erstwhile you polish and soft an engine's exhaust and intake ports for easier airflow. There are pros and cons to porting your cylinder heads, of course.

What's peculiarly interesting, however, is that Late Model Engines seems to person dumped nan LT4's modular direct-injection strategy astatine nan aforesaid clip arsenic it was porting nan heads. The reasoning down this isn't mentioned, but immoderate self-proclaimed capacity experts look to judge larboard injection produces much powerfulness than nonstop injection. That seems to person been beautiful good disproved a fewer years ago, but possibly nan institution hadn't received nan connection erstwhile it made this build.

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A fewer years earlier building that supercharged LT4 crate engine, Late Model Engines developed a caller centrifugal for Accelerated Racing Solutions, a California shop that wanted to instal it successful a Chevrolet Camaro. The apical privilege was axenic power, though location was a catch: nan institution couldn't usage forced induction. With that successful mind, it turned to 1 of General Motors' LT1 V8s arsenic nan rock-solid guidelines centrifugal for its effort. Which, notably, included raising nan compression ratio from nan engine's modular 11.5:1 to 14:1. That summation is bully for capacity because erstwhile an motor operates astatine a higher compression ratio, it burns substance much efficiently to nutrient much power.

Late Model Engines accrued nan engine's maximum velocity arsenic well. While nan modular LT1 is meant to max retired astatine 6,600 rpm, nan upgraded portion could rotation astatine 8,500. Sure, nan uprated compression ratio and raised redline put other accent connected nan mill, but — arsenic reported by EngineLabs — "This motor is truthful good engineered that nan unit astatine LME knew that they could spell to 14:1 compression and rotation to 8,500 rpm without fear." As a result, nan civilization LT1 could move retired 822 horsepower and 635 lb-ft.

Does your existent thrust request that benignant of bosom transplant? GM has a agelong database of crate engines available, and we tin thief you benignant done immoderate of nan celebrated ones by looking astatine what sets GM's LS and LT engines apart.