I bought a New Engine for one of my projects! I think this is really a decent deal! [Archive]

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tyoneal

02-17-2009, 01:51 AM

To All:

I know this company is not a sponcer on this site, however, I found them to be very helpful on one of my projects, and I thought I would pass along my experiance in an effort to help the fellow enthusiest on this site. I know there are a number of very competent sponcers on this site, many of which I have done business with, and many others I've been in contact with that I am planning to work with in the future.

I sincerely hope, and it is certainly not ment to be offensive, to any of the quality sponcers on this site. Please keep this in mind as you read this.

I had the opportunity to Visit Mast Motorsports this last weekend (They are not very far from where I live) and meet with the guys that design and build these engines. I was very impressed with the facilities and their knowledge in putting the right parts together and getting them tuned to make big power at a real fair price.

Check out their website (Below) and see what kind of engines they offer. I was able to get a very complete LS3 (427 ci.) that makes 600+ hp for $13,000, and this includes just about everything you need to get it running. They Dyno each Engine and give you the Dyno sheet, and they used really high quality parts.

I just bought a Engine for one of my projects and I am fired up. Here are the specs:
====================================
http://www.mastmotorsports.com/gascrate.php
====================================
LS3, 7.0L (Hot Rod/Muscle Car) 600+ HP/ LIST $12995
With M-90 ECM & Wiring Harness
Displacement 427 Cubic Inches
Compression Ratio 11:1
Bore X Stroke: 4.070 X 4.100
LS3 Aluminum Block
Plateau Honed to 4.070True Surface Deck
Engine Block Debured
Blue Printed Shortblock
Rev. Limit 7000 RPM
Crank: Callies 4.100 Stroked Crankshaft
Rods: Callies Compstar Connecting Rods
Pistons: Custom Mahle Motorsports Pistons
Cam: Mast LS7 Core Custom Hydraulic Cam (SS Cam, Duration @ .050 I/E 236/250, Lift I/E .648"/.648", Lobe Separation 114)
LS3 Hydraulic Roller Lifters
Manley 1 Piece Chrome Molly Pushrods
Heads: LS3/L92 Heads
Intake: GMPP L76/L92 Intake
Valve Springs: PAC 1518 Nitrided Beehive
GM Car Harmonic Damper
ACL Rod and Crank Bearings
ARP Head Bolts
ARP Main Studs
Cometic Head Gaskets
M-90 Calibrated ECM
Main Wiring Harness
Dash Harness
Air Mass Harness
Transmission Harness
EGO Harness
Bosch EGO Sensor
Fuel Pump Harness
Fan Harness
LS3 Intake
GM 90mm DBW Throttle Body
Bosch Deadheaded Fuel Rail
Bosch LS3 Fuel Injectors
Mast 8 Layer Air Filter with IAT Bung
Intake Air Temperature Sensor 560-2218 info
Crankshaft Position Sensor
Camshaft Position Sensor
Oil Pressure Sensor
Oil Temperature Sensor
Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor
Engine Knock Sensors
Manifold Air Pressure Sensor
Ignition Coils
Spark Plugs
Plug Wires
GM Foot Pedal
GM Starter
Car Water Pump
LS3 Oil Pan
GM Oil Filter

Extras: $2400 Total
1st Gen Conversion Kit
Motor Mounts for a F-Body Camaro
Fully Programmable Software Package
F-Body Front Runner Package
Hedders (1 7/8 with 3 Inch Collectors)
AN Fuel System with Inline Pump
===================================
These engine packages come with just about everything you need to really get going.

Shaun and Horace were very helpful and knowledgable about their products. This may or may not be the right fit for your project, but for the one I had in mind these guys were very helpful.

If youhave time and are interested, check out their web site and see what you think.

Good luck.

Ty

Once again, this is for general information purposes only. I had a very good experiance and just wanted to let some of the people here know about it. Please don't let anything I said here keep you from investigating and patronizing the sponcers on this site. My experiances with the fine vendors on this site have ALWAYS been positive and I was very please with the fit for the application andthe quality of the items I purchased.

Thanks,

Ty

tones2SS

02-17-2009, 03:26 PM

WOW!!!
Good deal. Sounds like a nice power plant.:thumbsup:
What project is this bad boy going into?

JamesJ

02-17-2009, 03:55 PM

I hope everyone post up all their good deallings with every one even if they are not sponsor.

WSSix

02-18-2009, 01:15 PM

Weldon0405

02-18-2009, 02:03 PM

The feedback is much appreciated by those of us who haven't yet reached this portion of our projects. Do you have a build thread we could follow the transplant on?

tyoneal

02-19-2009, 12:28 AM

WOW!!!
Good deal. Sounds like a nice power plant.:thumbsup:
What project is this bad boy going into?
=========================

I know this sounds stupid to a point, but I've got a somewhat secret project I'm working on hopefully I'll have it in a showable condition real soon. I'd like for it to look good on this board.

I do like the engine. I heard one running and even with the most radical cam they offer, it would still idle at 700 rpm with not a problem.

Good Stuff.

Ty

tyoneal

02-19-2009, 12:31 AM

I hope everyone post up all their good deallings with every one even if they are not sponsor.

==============================

I appreciate and agree with your thoughts. At the very least it would help people find out about bad experiances they have had, and in turn it would help someone on this board avoid the same problems.

Ty

tyoneal

02-19-2009, 12:45 AM

+1. I'm not ok at all with a website censuring nonsponsor info/dealings/experiences/etc. I'm glad you've had a good experience with them. They sponsor a number of other boards such as LS1tech and Pro-touring.com so they are easily found.

Trey:

Thanks! I did want to acknowledge to the sponsors that I know that:

1) Many if not all of the sponsors on this site are at least from my experiance excellent to do business with.

2) The Sponsors pay to be here and have their products and Name known and available for us to have easy access to their website.

3) Most of all the products I have bought, have been from people on this site, and I tried to make that clear at the begining and end of my post.

I hope that discussions about the aftermarket are kept open, and also that respect is given to the people who help make this site what it is.

I am currently visiting with several vendors on this sight regarding products for the Camaro I have.

Thanks,

Ty

tyoneal

02-19-2009, 01:03 AM

The feedback is much appreciated by those of us who haven't yet reached this portion of our projects. Do you have a build thread we could follow the transplant on?
===============================

The Build thread is a good idea. I haven't ever done one, however I'll see what I can put together in the near future.

I've got some seasonal responsibilities I'm currently busy with, (I'm getting my fruit and nut orchard upgraded/exspanded/part of it replaced.) It should be finished before to long, but it's time to get the work for it taken care of.

I'll give this a go in the near future.

Ty

tones2SS

02-19-2009, 04:08 AM

=========================

I know this sounds stupid to a point, but I've got a somewhat secret project I'm working on hopefully I'll have it in a showable condition real soon. I'd like for it to look good on this board.

I do like the engine. I heard one running and even with the most radical cam they offer, it would still idle at 700 rpm with not a problem.

Good Stuff.

Ty

That's cool. I guess we'll just have to wait. The engine sounds like a beast from the specs.
Good luck!!!:thumbsup: :cheers:

byndbad914

02-19-2009, 12:47 PM

tyoneal

02-23-2009, 01:04 AM

sounds cool... specs didn't list the rod but it must be pretty short like 6"? Assuming a deck to 9.235" that would leave a 1.185" CH in the piston...

I am not a big fan of really low rod to stroke ratios and a 6" rod on a 4.100" stroke is a 1.46 rod/stroke ratio, which is rather low but nothing completely out of the ordinary (454 BBC are low like that as well). Keep in mind a 347 Ford stroker is typically 1.59 R/S for example.

For a street rod no big deal, just for a guy like me that will maintain them in the 5K-7K rpm band for extended periods on road courses, it is a bit rough on bearings and low compression height pistons to run such a low R/S IMHO. I prefer 1.6 minimum for sustained rpm with V8s of 5K-8K, so if you are considering sustained rpm with your project (don't know cuz it is "secret" and I appreciate that, my next project is secret as well) I would take that into account.

edit - and I state this fully aware of the LS7 having a short tho' higher 1.5 R/S and similar CH... I am just not a fan personally as I have seen engines with those low R/S values knock pistons out of them in race applications and show aggressive bearing wear.
================================
Byndbad914:

Thanks for the response and information.

I have some information regarding the above numbers for accuracy.

I asked some specific questions and I was sent this:
=================
The connecting rod length is 6.125" which creates a R/S ratio of 1.5. We do not have any concerns of bearing wear at extended RPM's for your application.

Also, We have implemented new piston technologies including ring packages and piston coatings that improve ring seal and wear.
====================
As you have mentioned the LS7 also has a 1.5 R/S Ratio, this engine appears to be inline with that. I'm not sure what the average Ratio is for the LS Engine platforms, but this one is limited @ 7000 rpm, and they have done research with this particular package running for extended periods of time at high rpms.

I wanted something that would be strong enough to have a lot of fun with, and take it to the track as often as possible, and be able to run the Power Tour easily. Based on the parts that come in the engine, and their attention to detail, this looked like a nice package. Plus, for everything that comes with it a good bang for the buck.

I'm wondering if there is a substantive difference in the acceptable R/S Ratio between the Gen IV and the SBC's?

I am currently running a 400 SBC with 550 hp in my Camaro, and this LS3 427 running with the SS (Hotter) Cam rather than the regular HO Cam, will put out a good 50+ hp more than my SBC, but it idles with a nice lope at 650-700 rpm and 13+ pounds of Vaccuum, whereas my SBC Idles at 1100 rpm with 8-9 Pounds of Vaccuum.

I realize that there are 27 more cubes in the Gen IV Engine, but the manners are so very much different and the mileage one can expect with the LS3 is 3X's that of the 7 mpg of the SBC 400. The LSA in the 400 SBC is 108 degrees vs. 114 degrees in the LS3 427.

I think DSE just picked up one of their, "Race Prepped", LS3 416's. I'm sure they will be seeing a lot more events than I will, however the LS3 427 with a (Callies and Mahle) forged bottom end and ARP fasteners throughout, I'd be shocked if it wouldn't handle quite a bit of Thrashing and a nice kick in the seat to boot.

I am certainly open and interested in your knowledge of engines, and I hope you will give some more particulars of the SBC your running, and of course if you have some specific knowledge of what the big and small differences between the SBC and the GM Gen IV engines are, please educate me.

I look forward to your answers. (Hopefully)

Best Regards,

Ty O'Neal

tyoneal

02-24-2009, 03:28 AM

It is possible that one of DSE customers bought one of their engines, but DSE usually buys their engines from Wegner Motorsports. The Callies crank that Mast Motorsports uses is Callies Compstar crank and is manufactured overseas (?) and ground in the US. Callies Dragonslayer is made in the US and ground in the US. Personally, I perfer to have US steel crank and ground in the US. Another problem is that Mast Motorsports uses the 4.1" crank. Which means that you can't use NOS or boost on the engine. The reason being that the pin is moved up higher into the piston to the point where the crown is getting too thin to comfortably handle the extra pressure. Has it been done? Yes. But the longevity/durability of that setup is definitely decreased! Even Mast Motorsports doesn't recommend boost be run on the LS3 Based 427 based off the 4.1" crankshaft. When I contact Mast Motorsports last year about building a custom engine for a supercharger, they was only willing to sell the engines that they build. They do not build custom engines. Otherwise the engine is good choice, the cost is very comparable to other engine builders.

Jeff

http://www.kodakgallery.com/67rscamaro
==============================
Hi Jeff:

Thanks for the message. Your right this particular engine is NOT made for boost. Along with the compression being 11:1, I didn't want to get into the extra expenses with this Engine that boosted or NOS applications would require. I believe the 416 Race Prepped is what they would recommend for those types of applications.

They sell Hand made engines when you get to the All Forged versions. They are engineering and building Packages that are repeatable in the Crate Engine Market. They can do custom stuff for an extra expense, because of the R&D associated with it (That is what I was told), they are very thorough with their R&D so when they sell an engine they know it will be put together correctly and perform as specified in their information.

One of the Main things I liked about their products were all the things that are included with the engines they sell. When at Mast, all of the crate engines I was looking at didn't require me to buy anything to make the engines run and be in tune when installed. All the Harnesses, programing etc. is part of what you buy with their crate engines.

Many of the Crate Engine packages sold other places require the buyer to buy a Butt load of extra stuff to make it run.

As Far as Boosted applications, they are testing and engineering their Boosted series as I write this. I was in their shop a couple of weeks ago and saw one of them. It was beautiful (Maybe Someday). I'm looking forward to reading the results of it.

From what I saw crate Engines are their main business as of this writing. They offer Packages that are made for the person what wants an Engine to put in their car and drive without any fuss.

I want the parts that will make the engine perform at a specific level. Callies and Scat that are two of the brands they use, and as far as I can tell are good solid manufacturers.

When I can walk in to a business, be taken completely through their manufacturing area, Dyno Room, Inventory area, and have all my questions answered. Spend $13,000 and walk out with a dyno proven 600 hp package that I don't have to do any with, that suites me just fine.

For a Customer like yourself, they may not be the right choice for you, you know, "Different Strokes", but I haven't found anywhere the bang for the buck that they offered. If you know of some, even though it's after the fact, I would like to see their web site and the products they sell. I am always open to learning new stuff.

600 hp is a nice amount of power for just about any car we play with on this site, especially if you want to run on a track with it when you can, and have something that will have decent street manners. I'm sure the boosted engine package they are putting together will have gobs more power then this engine, but for the money this for me was a modest amount for an engine that will be a bitch to really use the power it already puts out on a road course.

For drag racing yes NOS is a great idea. I am wanting to really learn how to drive on a road course using the proper skills. I think I am after finesse more than just Brut Power, and for that, 600 ponies is plenty.

Please write back with your thoughts. I think our desires and final applications are just different. Also, please list the other places that have equal to or better complete packages for the money. I would like to bookmark them for the future.

Take care, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Ty

byndbad914

02-25-2009, 12:06 AM

Thanks for the response and information.

I have some information regarding the above numbers for accuracy.

I asked some specific questions and I was sent this:
=================
The connecting rod length is 6.125" which creates a R/S ratio of 1.5. We do not have any concerns of bearing wear at extended RPM's for your application.

Also, We have implemented new piston technologies including ring packages and piston coatings that improve ring seal and wear.
====================
As you have mentioned the LS7 also has a 1.5 R/S Ratio, this engine appears to be inline with that. I'm not sure what the average Ratio is for the LS Engine platforms, but this one is limited @ 7000 rpm, and they have done research with this particular package running for extended periods of time at high rpms.

an LS2 is 6.098" rod with 3.622" stroke IIRC, so 1.68 R/S. That engine is IMHO a SBF like a 302 or 351W in overall design concept, but the refinements that Ford should have done v. the mod motor mess they have now. Funny how Ford dropped that engine design and GM picked it right up. The head gasket from a 302/351W and an LS2 damn near lay over each other perfectly - it is crazy. The reason I mention this is 302/351W/460s all had a 1.7 R/S (and probably some other Fords I am not recalling at this minute) and Chevy damn near copied that perfectly as well. The deck height is just a bit taller than a 351 Cleveland and IMHO they should have gotten closer to the Windsor but so be it.

All that said, 1.5 will be fine, I am just not a big fan of such short compression heights in the pistons but they are becoming quite common even in factory engines. Your combo must be right down at 1.060" CH and a typical 347 Ford stroker is around 1.100" for comparison.

I wanted something that would be strong enough to have a lot of fun with, and take it to the track as often as possible, and be able to run the Power Tour easily. Based on the parts that come in the engine, and their attention to detail, this looked like a nice package. Plus, for everything that comes with it a good bang for the buck.

I'm wondering if there is a substantive difference in the acceptable R/S Ratio between the Gen IV and the SBC's?

not necessarily... SBCs were all over the place with R/S ratios v. the Fords being so specific to 1.7-ish or higher such as the 289 (1.84 IIRC) and the Boss 302 had the 289 rod but the 3" stroke so a bit over 1.7.

the dynamics of the engines start to define what R/S is best - a big volume head will work better with a low R/S than a small volume head and the new LS engines have nice heads in general. A 302 Ford for a (sadly) great example of low volume will work better with a longer rod. Generally most of your 7K max rpm engines will work about the same power between 1.5-1.7 R/S... I just prefer the longer rod to get side loads out of the pistons.

Being 11:1 tho', the short rod moves the piston away quickly and makes the combo less prone to detonation which is a good thing... I was seeing slight detonation right at max HP rpm (7300) on the dyno with my 1.85 R/S and 10.6:1 CR on crappy CA pump gas. A shorter rod probably not, but I doubt I would have made the peak power I did with a shorter rod the way my combo is set up.

keep in mind that R/S starts getting more interesting up above 7000rpm so you will be fine for what you are after. It is just a "taste" thing with me so I built my de-stroked 400 to a 1.85 R/S. Early "mountain motors" big blocks (800cube range) used to be down around 1.2 R/S (!!!) but they started increasing the deck heights up to 12" now for many of them, increased the bore space to get the cubes with huge bores (4.7" range!) to get the stroke back down enough to get a decent rod in there.

I am currently running a 400 SBC with 550 hp in my Camaro, and this LS3 427 running with the SS (Hotter) Cam rather than the regular HO Cam, will put out a good 50+ hp more than my SBC, but it idles with a nice lope at 650-700 rpm and 13+ pounds of Vaccuum, whereas my SBC Idles at 1100 rpm with 8-9 Pounds of Vaccuum.

I realize that there are 27 more cubes in the Gen IV Engine, but the manners are so very much different and the mileage one can expect with the LS3 is 3X's that of the 7 mpg of the SBC 400. The LSA in the 400 SBC is 108 degrees vs. 114 degrees in the LS3 427.

the new LS stuff is so nice you won't miss the old 400 :cool: and talk about low R/S, the 400 was the worst small block for that.

I think DSE just picked up one of their, "Race Prepped", LS3 416's. I'm sure they will be seeing a lot more events than I will, however the LS3 427 with a (Callies and Mahle) forged bottom end and ARP fasteners throughout, I'd be shocked if it wouldn't handle quite a bit of Thrashing and a nice kick in the seat to boot.

I am certainly open and interested in your knowledge of engines, and I hope you will give some more particulars of the SBC your running, and of course if you have some specific knowledge of what the big and small differences between the SBC and the GM Gen IV engines are, please educate me.

I look forward to your answers. (Hopefully)

hopefully I covered what you were after. My combo to be specific is a stock 400 2-bolt block converted to splay main 4-bolt 2-3-4, 4.155" bore (+.030"), factory forged large journal 327 crank with aggressive light-weighting, etc, 6" rods and 1.375" CH SRP flattops. When I was in CA the 525HP it made on the dyno (before I went dry sump) would over power my 2500lb mid engine road race car and I figured insomuch and why I chose the 327 crank. Had I to do it over again I would have used a 350 crank with the 6" rod and a 1.250" CH flattop (well it would really be an LS engine or SBF) because I moved to CO and lost around 100HP with the altitude :mad: but didn't know that when I built the engine :lol:

tyoneal

03-15-2009, 02:41 PM

TOM NELSON

03-17-2009, 04:53 PM

Mast looks like they really have a nice set up going and have some neat packages but you should beware that the problem does not lie in a short rod ratio it is.It is in how far the piston comes out of the bottom of the sleeve ls motors are all including the lsx gm and warhawk world with the exception of the ls7 short sleeved motors around 5.5 inchs in length.When you put a 4.100 crank in that and have a compression height of 1.065 roughly you end up with problems because the pin for one where the compression height is measured will be higher than the oil ring so virtually all the skirt comes out of the bore within a few hundred thousands of an inch from the oil ring.The piston will go past gauge point and rock quite a bit when it goes to make the change to going up the bore and this will wear the skirts out super fast and wear the rings funny most likely start using oil in the near future because of this we learned this the hard way especially when making power you will shear the skirt right off the piston not fun especially when the crank is spinning inside the engine.Chevy figured this out with the ls7 and added over .300 to the bottom of the sleeves the fix this but the l92 ive seen are much to short.I would be concerned about this a ton of people are building these right now.But it is not the answer when you want reliabilty.When we build a 427 or larger We either resleeve it correctly or build it with the taller deck height blocks.or we won't sell it to the customer Many people will tell you its fine it is not.This is something everyone considering a stroker ls should consider because its exspensive to fix.

tyoneal

03-19-2009, 01:33 AM

Tom:

Thanks for the response you are certainly correct about stroking the Short Deck LS Blocks. When I was speaking with their Engineers, we spent quite a bit of time discussing what the engine would be used for, and what I was expecting from it. These Engines evidently have been very popular with their clientele and for what they were intended to do apparently, they seem to be performing ok. These are listed in the "Hot Rod/ Muscle Car", part of their offerings, whereas, the 416 c.i. Engine that DSE just put into their 1969 Camaro, due to it's configuration and components is classified as a, "Race Prepped" Engine from the get go.

For me in this Project, I wanted to get something that would put out a lot of hp and use the super efficient LS Technology. Practically all of the higher horsepower Engines I have ever owned were used almost exclusively on the weekends IF the weather was nice. Probably like many people on this site I have also accumulated several cars to spend my weekends in.

I also drive a 1965 Riviera 425 Nailhead with 2X4's. It's also a blast to take cruising around. I picked up an older Porsche a Number of years back that is also a delight to run in. For this Camaro, if I could get some fun cruising in, and then be able to spend time at the tracks from time to time in the area to take some driving lessons, that would suite me just fine. As I had mentioned in a earlier post, I currently have another project right on the tail of this one, that I would like to get started on sometime later this year, plus I want to have some time enjoying this Camaro. It has the LD 3-Link, and I have just about everything sold by ATS for the Front End. With only a few upgrades to the front end this car handles wonderfully.

I know your engines, are practically legendary pieces of Art, with very much the highest quality parts money can buy in them, in addition to putting out Hoards of power, I'm sure they will last as well as anything that can be made putting out that kind of power. I'm not really sure how many miles the average person puts on their, "HotRod/Pro Touring", Car over it's lifetime, with one of the higher end Nelson Engines, but I would bet they are not usually DD's. If nothing else, at least for me, staying on my toes to be able to drive one safely around town would be something that would demand the upmost respect. I definitely wouldn't want to wrap myself around a tree.

With very few circumstances when have I ever owned engines that made 500+ hp (That weren't just huge in size and N/A) I have never expected to get 50,000 miles out of one without spending a lot more $$ upfront and sometimes up to 2-4 times what this one cost to either buy up front, or to have to replacing things that break or will wear out sometime in the future. The 1969 Camaro I decided to put this in currently has a 400 sbc in it. It's a nice sbc and puts out about 550 hp, but that said, as many high performance engines go, it isn't always as street friendly as one would prefer from time to time. It sounds great and really Hauls the mail when you put your foot into it. The one I just picked up, even with the larger cam they offer idles nicely at 750 rpm and is like a puppy dog compared to the 400. The sbc is much more of a Pure racing engine, while this LS3 is easily street friendly and also really responsive with you hit the "Loud Pedal".

Once again, I appreciate you taking the time to add to the conversation and who knows one of these days when I quit messing around with so many of these, I might very well give you a call and see what you have that would fit my need (or wants);-)

Take care and Thanks again,

Best Regards,

Ty O'Neal