5.7L Third-Gen Engine Build - Balance Of Power :Decision '07

In comparison, the Mahle piston... 

   

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In comparison, the Mahle piston is almost dainty in appearance, as it is not designed for the massive abuse like the Ross unit at left. However, a lighter piston reduces strain, which allows the use of lighter components throughout the engine, thus parasitic drag is reduced, freeing up power. Just remember, everything has its price.

HPP Proposed L98 Buildup
We cannot bring ourselves to cast our vote for the safe, smart easy way of doing things, as we would certainly not be pushing the envelope of info-tainment that our courtship with performance disaster all too frequency brings us. No, our target is to try and beat the power output of the Golen crate engine while building a much stronger bottom end. Unfortunately, Golen has spent its money wisely on Air Flow Research heads and has lost little to no power in the bottom end and thereby saving enough cash to pay for those AFR heads. So we are prepared to be beaten in cost per horsepower, but we have a bottom end that can withstand a dose of giggle gas in case our evil intentions get the better of our already questionable judgement.

In retrospect it would have only cost about another $150 to upgrade to the fully CNC-ported 190 Air Flow Research heads, but we just had to stop somewhere, and that money offset the additional cost of the forged crankshaft over the cast, and upgraded rods, as well.

Any of the other heads would also have been a good choice, but we had decided to go with the taller-port, Vortec-style E-Tec heads after seeing the performance numbers of both iron Vortecs and of the yet-taller-port LS series engines.

The chart below lists the parts and adds up the approximate cost, and it sure added up fast. We just lost our morning trip to Starbucks for the next few years, but we think it'll be worth it. Now we have to start collecting this stuff for a future buildup.

The H-beam rod has a much...        read full caption The H-beam rod has a much smoother transition between the rod arm and the area where the bolt threads in. This design threads a bolt directly into a drilled and tapped portion of the rod body, so the quality of material and heat-treat of the rod body must be of good quality.

Is there power to be had from...        read full caption Is there power to be had from an oil pan? Not nearly as much on a dyno, but when you have a car moving, all the oil is pushed this way and that by the acceleration forces, so anything that can keep the oil away from the spinning crankshaft and rods/pistons will free up the energy that the crank must spend trying to spin in all the oil. Ever try to run under water? This Miloden will also buy the precious room needed to put a bottom-end girdle on this engine to keep all the caps and bearings in register.

Almost all performance and...        read full caption Almost all performance and racing crankshafts have fillets or small radii machined between the bearing surfaces and the crank counterweights. Any component that has sudden changes in shape invites cracks to follow those sharp transitions. Stock cranks tend to have a small depression machined into the edges, then a small fillet that finishes it's arc just at the level of the bearing surface. This allows for a "straight" bearing surface, whereas the true smooth fillets (as pictured) require racing bearings with tapers cut into their ends to fit them.

Remember, engine parts are heavy, so shipping can be expensive. If you buy mail-order, you must include this in your budget as well. Keep in mind a local shop will be paying your shipping for you when they quote you a price, and returns or problems are much easier to deal with.