Chevrolet 427 L88 Dyno Pull

This 427 belongs to a 1968 Camaro SS. The car is originally an L78 car, but has had this 427 L88 since the early 70's. The car is true Day 2 car.
This engine has it's original steel crank, dimple rods, 12.5:1 compression, and a factory ZL1 camshaft. It has original GM 842 aluminum cylnider heads that were fitted with 2.30 intake valves (bowl blended for increased size). A GM 163 intake manifold (divider removed).
The only glitch in the dyno session was the ignition. This has a Roto-Faze point type distributor. As you can hear in the dyno pull, the points start to bounce at 6000 rpm.
Our original plan was to spin the engine to 7000 RPM. Obviously, that was not feasible with our ignition woes.
The engine with 40 degrees of timing responded with 575 hp @ 6000 RPM with 529 lb. ft. of torque @ 4700. Average HP from 4100-600 is 499.44 and average torque from the same range is 519.24

[@jasoncraig5921]

Greatest engine ever, just my opinion

[@noahdunaway]

I have a 69 L-88 crate engine short block with a 1973 casting date. I bought a set of 074 aluminum open chamber heads about a year later. I ran it in my 68 Camaro for a few years and replaced it with a LS7 454. The L-88 has been sitting in my build room for about 30 years.

[@gordocarbo]

@@noahdunaway What are your pro/cons on either engine? Which did you prefer and why? Debate doing 427 based on a 4 bolt 454 block....or keeping the stock 454 stroke.

[@noahdunaway]

@@gordocarbo they are basically the exact same engine, but me personally I prefer the 454 stroke because I want the extra torque. Now days most guys want the stroker engines, this week I’m building a 489 for a friend. It’s a standard factory four bolt main block bored .030” over with a 4.25” crank. It’s for his 69 Camaro show car and really doesn’t need the extra cubes, he just wants them so if he decides to smoke the tires on occasion he can do it in style. I built him a 454 .030” over for the same car 20 years ago and he said that he doubts that he has put 2k miles on it. Also with the quality of engine components these days you can rev a 454 just as high as a 427.

[@gordocarbo]

@@noahdunaway oh I know believe me. 496 sounds tempting but I dont want a car that spins if I Mat it. Just ported some afr 290s and a tunnel ram for a friends 454 31 Model A. 14x32 Mickeys dont stand a chance. 11-1 typical rowdy FT cam

[@jimmyjimbo61]

Had an original L88 (minus air cleaner) in the 1980's. Sold it for something like $700.00. LOL SMH

[@gordocarbo]

What Id give to see Chevy selling all their great crate engines, shortblocks, cams and esp FT lifters again. Their "new" Zl1 engine is less than impressive.

[@mikemorris4973]

I have the ZL-1 cam in a 70's 454 LS-7. Similar numbers (539 tq @4900 / 582 hp @ 6100). interesting how the added displacement moves the torque peak down a little. Nice engine !

[@americanormuscle2321]

The added .25in stroke does that for ya. Do like the numbers.

[@hoost3056]

I've always thought the LS7 cam and the L88/ZL1 cam were close in spec.

[@gordocarbo]

Makes it more driveable for sure. ANy vids on your LS7 Car?

[@bengagnon6947]

These are lies it's only 430HP like what the factory specs say lol incredible power!

[@gordocarbo]

Thats pretty strong, more than enough power for me. Would have trouble hooking...too much power you cant even hit the throttle! Wonder what swapping into a set of afr 265s would net?

[@bouldermotorcar]

A modern cylinder head would certainly increase power. the same could be said for the camshaft. In the spirit of the build (as well as the car it was going in) I elected to stay "old school". If you did not see it already, here is a video of the Camaro the L88 went into kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKjcdHhtnrymq5I

[@JerryM-p2v]

My last 427, had 11.25-1 compression with RPM performer heads, a custom hydraulic roller, .585/.585 with .245/.255@.050 Holley Strip dominator and 850 carb with 2" hooker headers, made 550 HP and 513 TQ was done by 6000 rpm.

[@gordocarbo]

Thats about a perfect st engine. Cant use that in most st scenarios

[@Charlie_Prinz]

Very Cool !!!!

[@jimbiddle8646]

L-88 in its time was something really special but now you can buy OTC engines that put in in the shade. We used two have to fabricate everything we wanted, now just look ina catalog.

[@MrJerry455]

great numbers with the point bounce and especially that factory dual plane intake- Nice work!! Any head porting done?

[@bouldermotorcar]

The bowls were worked in order to blend into the 2.30 intake valve. The intake divider was removed to emulate the factory L88 intake. Real basic old school package. Careful machine work and assembly. That's all

[@e-racer4673]

I purchased an L88 427 in 1988 from my mom‘s boyfriend ex-boyfriend actually at the time. he ordered it in 1970 and put it in his racing boat at the same time he ordered and LS6 454. When he sold the boat, he let it go with the 454 in it and sold me the 427. For $1000. it had the ZL1 camshaft in it. I put it in a 70 SS nova Then I put it in a 70 Monte Carlo. And and 1996 sold it for $4000 I kept the factory carburetor the factory intake. now all I have left is the carburetor.

[@tonyscreations7904]

can u tell me the spec of the ZL1 cam is it the same as the L88 2nd design

[@bouldermotorcar]

The ZL1 and 2nd design L88 are the same cam Tony

[@tonyscreations7904]

@@bouldermotorcar thank you, i am in the process of doing a 66 427 and was interested in that cam design , but in in looking up the specs there differences , in my research of the lift i get 595 , some say 630 and then i get 595/618 there abouts some eve show 560 do u have the cam specs

[@tonyscreations7904]

by the way great sounding motor !

[@MrsSunshine75]

@@tonyscreations7904 I’m guessing by now you’ve found out that the L88 & ZL1/LS7 camshafts are totally different, the later having more duration, lift and tighter lobe separation!

[@matrox]

Is she...errr...he...or it stock?🤥

[@brunningwolf]

I had an l88 in my 52 Chevy

[@otisbailey5455]

Pls post numbers do they may be seen.

[@gordocarbo]

Shows it towards the end of the vid and also in teh description below Cant see the numbers on the sheet

[@HioSSilver1999]

Those were nasty engines

[@wannwarriors]

Thought L88's were aluminum blocks?

[@bouldermotorcar]

L88's we're an iron block. The ZL1 was the aluminum version

[@pineyLt]

Correct, L88 had an iron block with aluminum heads and 12:1 compression, ZL1 added the aluminum block. Didn’t add any power over the iron block but it was all about weight savings for drag racing which is why the bulk went into Camaros. I’ll add the L71 had iron heads with a solid lifter cam and 11:1 compression, the L89 was the L71 with aluminum heads added.

[@1000machz]

@@pineyLtand had higher compression and bigger cam

[@gordocarbo]

@@bouldermotorcar Is the customer going to use an updated distributor? I know the vette guys insist on correct stuff but to hear this break up when its got more to go is a shame. What id give to have something like that.

[@scottwest1813]

ZL-1 was aluminum block.

[@rogerdonoho4924]

Couldn't put the resulting numbers up in a way we could read them ?

[@gordocarbo]

Its in the description

[@bengagnon6947]

​@gordocarbo if you pause the video and zoom in on your phone you can read it

[@gordocarbo]

@@bengagnon6947 Did that on my laptop and had a hard time reading them

[@thud9797]

Numbers are in the description and easy to read. 😀

[@dennisschell5543]

Too bad you can't read it... 🙄

[@bouldermotorcar]

Dennis, here a link for the pull @ 38 degrees advance imgur.com/mptXqF2

[@gordocarbo]

Amazed at how many dont pay attention or dont watch, read and ask the same stupid questions. I Call em Askholes