The GM LS Gen IV engine dominates the high-performance V-8 market and is the most popular powerplant for engine swap projects. In stock trim, the Gen IV engines produce class-leading horsepower. The Gen IV's rectangular-port heads flow far more air/fuel than the Gen III cathedral-port heads. However, with the right combination of modification procedures and performance parts, you can unlock the performance potential of the Gen IV engines and reach almost any performance target.
Contents: ● Acknowledgments
Part 1: LS Gen IV ● LS Gen IV Engine Overview LS2 Differences Performance Gains Retrofitting the LS
● Engine Blocks Stock Blocks Modifying the Stock Aluminum Block Disabling Performance-Robbing Displacement on Demand Main Caps Aftermarket Blocks
● Crankshafts and Connecting Rods Crankshaft Reluctor Wheel Crank Snout Length Connecting Rods Rod Bearings Crank Stroke and Rod Length Aftermarket Connecting Rods High-Performance Crankshafts
● LS7, LS3, and LS9 Cylinder Heads LS7 LS3 L92 LS9 Cylinder Head Interchangeability Water Temp Holes Rocker Arm Pedestal Rails Aftermarket Performance Heads Selecting a Cylinder Head
● Pistons Piston Compression Height Bore Size, Dome, and Compression Ratio Skirt-to-Wall Clearance Piston and Rod Orientation Skirts and Major/Minor Thrust Offset Pin Piston Coatings
● Camshafts and Lifters Camshaft Terminology Factory Camshafts Active Fuel Management (AFM) Intake and Exhaust Difference Camshaft Firing Order Hydraulic or Solid Cam Gears Lifters and Lifter Guides
● Rocker Arms Stock LS Rocker Arm Trunnion Upgrades Tool Note Aftermarket Rockers High-Performance Rocker Arms
● Oiling Systems Rear Main Seal High-Pressure/Volume Upgrade Dry Sump Oil Pressure Sensor
● EFI and Intake Manifolds Intake Manifolds Throttle Body Injection Fuel Injector Size Low Impedance versus High Impedance
Part II: Two High-Performance LS Builds ● Dual-Carb LS 408 Block Camshaft Crankshaft Connecting Rods Pistons Timing Set Oil Pump Cylinder Heads Lifters Pushrods Water Pump Crank Damper Intake Manifold Carburetors Ignition Our Dyno Results
● Dart LS Next Build The LS Next Block Machining the LS Next Block Crankshaft Balancing Pistons Connecting Rods Camshaft Timing Set Piston/Rod Assembly Oil Pump Oil Pan Lifters Crank Damper Cylinder Head Installation Rockers Pushrods Intake System Ignition Coils The LS Next Dyno Session
● Assembly Procedures Crankshaft Installation Cylinder Head Installation OEM Lifter Buckets Rear Oil Diverter Rear Main Seal Installation Front Cover Valley Plate Crank Damper/Pulley Installation Timing Chain Damper Connecting Rod Bolts Changing Camshafts Valve Cover Swap Carb Setup on LS Custom Cylinder Head Steam Plumbing Hose Lengths
● Appendix ● Source Guide
Muscle car owners, LS engine builders, and many enthusiasts have migrated to the Gen IV engine platform, so clear, concise, and informative content for transforming these stock engines into top performers for a variety of applications is essential. A massive amount of aftermarket parts is available and this provides guidance and instructions for extracting top-performance from these engines. If you're searching for an authoritative source for the best components and modifications to create the ultimate high-performance packages, then you've found it.
