New Kid On The Block

Drag Racing Online Takes A Close First Look Into The New LS Race Block From RHS®

What if small block Chevy diehards had a “small” GM block that had all the benefits engineered into it that the best high-tech aftermarket racing blocks have to offer. What if there was a lightweight cast aluminum block that featured cross-bolted four-bolt mains and non-press fit sleeves, a block with enough clearance in the basic design that a crankshaft with enough stroke to build a 500-inch small block can be installed without any machining or grinding required to make room for it, a block with the camshaft galley moved up in the block also for clearance purposes.

This is what the engineering department at Racing Head Service™ (a division of COMP Cams®) has done with a new aluminum GM LS series block that is now in production.

This front view of a production block shows the cam gallery and the timing chain case.

Developing this new block has been a project that has taken just two years from concept to development. COMP Cams® VP of Engineering Brian Reese and his boss Scooter Brothers are the two guys mainly responsible for the new LS block that you are seeing here. We think it is one of the most exciting products we’ve seen for the GM small block racer in a very long time.

The venerable GM Chevy small block has been massaged in many ways over its more than 50-year history. In the pursuit of more performance the cast iron GM blocks have been given four-bolt main bearing caps. Racers have ground on and machined the original to make it lighter and clearanced it to accept a stroker crankshaft. Deck plates have been added to allow more stroke and engines over 450 cubic inches. GM themselves have improved the block over the years developed the SB2 block and cylinder heads. The aftermarket manufacturers have tooled up to make both cast and billet versions of the Chevy small block.

A few years back GM introduced the LS line of aluminum blocks and cylinder heads that are used to build EFI, small blocks, and now GM cars come of the assembly lines with the LS all-aluminum engine, but these blocks didn’t lend themselves to building and racing “big cubic inch” small blocks that make a lot of horsepower and torque. The new Racing Head Service™ LS block is the answer to those applications and problems.

The primary issues for engine builders with the aftermarket aluminum and steel LS blocks available to them is that while they are improved versions of the factory blocks they retain some limitations of the stock design. Those limitations hamper the LS engine builder who wants to build a really big cubic inch small block.

Aware of this dilemma, the research and development team at RHS® went to work designing and testing several different versions of a GM LS engine block until they developed one that offers many benefits and options for performance engine builders and racing enthusiasts of the LS block.

Story courtesy of Drag Racing Online. For the full story, Click Here...