Lightest and smallest way to 400 reliable hp.

Here's an idea for a smaller-than LSx 400hp: Cutting an LS3 in half (Chet Wilson V4 style) and adding a turbo might yield a lighter way to get 400hp that should be able to fit in even smaller spaces...Although it would certainly be more expensive and FAR more effort to create such an animal.  Alternatively, I suppose you could just run it on methanol, like in midget racing, and possibly get it there naturally aspirated.

http://www.h1v8.com/page/page/1562069.htm

Would be easier. Than all insane machine work and development you are proposing.

If you are going to cut an LS in half, I'd prefer an inline-4

The H1V8 is neat and all, but is no longer available.

Driven5 said:

The H1V8 is neat and all, but is no longer available.

But the larger displacement with more HP MAXI V8 is, or will be soon.

Isn't the Motus V4 very similar to a 4 cyl LS? Heck, the new 4.3L V6 in GM trucks is a Gen5 Chevy v8 minus 2 cylinders isn't it?

In reply to z31maniac :

I wasn't aware of that...Interesting.

In reply to STM317 :

Motus V4 is like a 3/4 or 7/8 scale V4 LS.  Yes, the new 4.3 is that, and I'm looking forward to them becoming more readily available.  Probably one of the most compact/light 300hp options.

ls4 with cams and head work should get us there, and it is the smallest of all the LS engines dimensionally coming in 1/2 shorter at the crank and much shorter accessories than the normal LSx

FlightService said:

ls4 with cams and head work should get us there, and it is the smallest of all the LS engines dimensionally coming in 1/2 shorter at the crank and much shorter accessories than the normal LSx

Sounds like a winner.  Is there an easy (GRM cheap) conversion to Rear Wheel Drive for these yet? or is the availability of cheap truck engines reducing the demand too much?

Indy-Guy said:

Is there an easy (GRM cheap) conversion to Rear Wheel Drive for these yet?

Yes....It just requires setting the engine 8ft or so further back in the chassis.

In reply to Indy-Guy :

apparently a LS4 is running LS3 prices, but there is a guy who did a LS4 in a corvair to a porsche transaxle and there is a huge community of Fiero people using them.

FlightService said:

ls4 with cams and head work should get us there, and it is the smallest of all the LS engines dimensionally coming in 1/2 shorter at the crank and much shorter accessories than the normal LSx

Once again, we get into the differences between area under the curve and peak power. This is important.

I think if the OP was concerned with area under the curve he would've placed more requirements around powerband shape.  He only said 400hp...

ProDarwin beat Keith Tanner in a conversation about engines!!!!

lol

In reply to z31maniac :

Whoa - that thing is mega cool:

http://www.h1v8.com/maxi-v8---specs.html

It's essentially a Ferrari V8, for the price of - a Ferrari V8!  Seriously, that engine is seriously sexy, and sounds amazing, from the clips I watched.  What's the going rate for a healthy kidney these days?