Chevy LV3 V6 gen V race motor break-in

[@AnDrEw122100]

These are impressive little engines , 11 to 1 compression stock and like a 500 lift cam . Pretty sure they make more power than the 4.8 ls .

[@sethh8892]

most things do😂 even the vortec 4200 does.

[@kskip4242]

Build a 4.8 with the same specs and it will make more power. What a dumb comment.

[@nosforever27]

Locost

[@MrThunderCunt]

@@sethh8892because its an inline 6. Its inherently well balanced, and makes good power with boost. Id rather an Atlas with a small turbo over a 4.8 or 5.3

[@sethh8892]

@@MrThunderCunt 90° v8s are also inherently well balanced. The reason I make power is not due to their balance... Its due to their heads. They flow lots of air... Especially when a turbo is forcing the air. But if we're talking turbocharged I would rather have the 5.3L. Placement is the limitation of power, so less displacement means less power potential.

[@shawnkhosravi3130]

Nice motor. Can't wait to see what you put it in

[@bryanhallman8183]

OMG, now I really want that intake... 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

[@trailingrails9953]

Mean little animal! Love these LV3’s!

[@Sdpartscenter]

That just sounds awesome!

[@pablotharpalo5685]

An early 60s Olds or Buick would be pretty mean with this! It would be a hell of a replacement to the old fireball V6

[@MrNeildrake]

Good idea, the early 60s F85 with 215 v8 would be on my candidate list

[@whataboutbob7967]

Mid-engine Manx style kit car. That should do fine bolted to a bus 3 rib transaxle. Just keep the revs below 8000rpm! Or bolt it to a Mendeloa transaxle

[@TaylorMadejdm1975]

How about put it in a Opel GT! It would look like a mini Corvette screamer with those Stacks coming out the hood it look like a vintage Hot Rod👍🍺

[@cumhugs]

Saturn sky/Pontiac solstice over here chief

[@johnathanromano1461]

@@cumhugs he means the opel gt from the late 60s - early 70s

[@machrider2333]

I like how these race engines barely idle. so much CAM!

[@ahirvonea]

It idles like shit due to carb balance being way out not because it has "so much cam"..

[@Cheezeball99999]

That sounds unnecessarily good.

[@timothybayliss6680]

I like the sound of 90° V6 engines. For years its what mercedes used in touring car.

[@cartermackenzie1135]

Did you make the intake yourself ? I want to do this with an LT

[@RKH2OS]

Mid engine Corvair. 1965-1969

[@xcix7168]

Any possible documentation on this build? Looking to almost copy this exact setup! Curious on how you got the distributor to work!

[@MrNeildrake]

Pretty stock bottom end except for dry sump system and cam from American Custom Cams. Stock heads but with LT1 springs swapped in and 7.900" pushrods and LS7 style lifters. To get distributor to work, an LS3 single bolt cam sprocket replaced the VVT phaser. The bolt holding the cam sprocket in has a machined pocket to accept the blade of distributor. I machined a distributor holder to bolt to where the VVT plate on front cover went. I cut down a Chineesebay hei distributor and remachined the blade on the drive end. I can send pics if interested.

[@carlosv393]

@@MrNeildrake do you still run the chain to the balance shaft with that LS3 non vvt cam? Really cool build!

[@MrNeildrake]

@@carlosv393 thanks. I removed the balance shaft and all associated chain, tensioner etc. it runs LS2 single bolt timing sprocket on a reground LV3 cam.

[@carlosv393]

@@MrNeildrakeoh wow you removed it all. That makes sense then how you used the cam and parts. Subbed!

[@Truck-vd8sh]

@@MrNeildrake how do I convince you to make a setup like this for me? I'd love to put a 4 speed behind it and put it in my Datsun Roadster

[@Arrozconchopsticks]

Need this in my GMC Jimmy

[@S10guyy]

Very cool! I want to LV3 turbo swap my syclone!

[@joeandwyattdavis5811]

What are the specs on engine setups like this ? And power output ???

[@eldiabloblanco8787]

Dude do you own the 4.3 race engine stock???? Please make some longer videos of these engines. Working on a little LU3 project for a Blazer myself...turbo with a little nitrous to help get it wound up. Any knowledge shared would be greatly appreciated.

[@Will-ts2fu]

I just got an LV3 and I would really like to know how you set yours up. I really don't want all the sensors and electronics if I don't have to.

[@farcere]

His looks like a few grand into it

[@MrNeildrake]

Mine was mostly my labor to retrofit carb and ignition. This one was a $400 core motor that a put new gm crank into it, reground cam, new valve springs….probably $1200 in long block. I’m working with Performance Electronics to make one of their stand alone ignition boxes work with stock 58x reluctor. Next motor will have that ignition and a 4bbl Holley. I’ll post a vid of that one in about a month

[@andyharman3022]

IDA carbs may be a bit small for the LV3. But they look cool.

[@MrNeildrake]

Yep, I was kinda going for that old Ferrari look with carb horns shooting out of the hood. I am working on another sheet metal intake that I’ll put a 650 or 750 Holley carb or throttle body on. Much bigger plenum volume to hopefully have the power peak out at higher RPM. With IDAs, powered peaked at 5300RPM

[@Selmerpilot]

@@MrNeildrake The low peak is due to the cam. Run something with at least 255-260 dur @ .050 with the Weber intake for it to work as intended. V6 engines with lots of compression like hot cams and can be tame. My 2.8L twin plug 911 engine running some 10.5:1 compression uses a 264 dur @ .050 and it's a street engine. Peak power is at about 8k rpm.

[@MrNeildrake]

@@Selmerpilot most recent cam was able to be ground to about 235 at 0.050” and .610” lift. I’m looking forward to testing it with a single plane and 750 Holley vs the webers. Without access to unfinished cam cores, this is about as big as I’ll be able to make for now

[@FABRIC8TIONUNLIMITE1]

Alright Grumpy Jenkins!!!!

[@MrNeildrake]

I will take that as a huge compliment, thank you!

[@zacharyrehkopf2120]

I want to build a LV1 or LV3 for offroad racing. Can you give me more info on the do's and don'ts on these motors

[@MrNeildrake]

It’s my opinion that if you stay under 400hp NA and under 7000RPM, the bottom end looks capable. Remove the DOD and replace with good quality “LS7” style lifter. Do a valve spring upgrade to match cam of your choice. Unless you have a knowledgeable tuner, lock out VVT. I’m not a believer in direct injection; they’re just so carbon’d up inside but additional budget dictates fueling and ecu.

[@georgebobblehead9602]

Love to had that in my mustang

[@cheekkeith74]

I'm thinking about stuffing one of these in my 4x4 Safari van. Looking into it....

[@MrNeildrake]

That would wake that unit up. Let me know if I can help with any info

[@mauricecooper176]

Funny I watch a video that Richard holdner put up with one of these engines Then your video pops up

[@FutureOfHalo]

Same

[@baby-sharkgto4902]

Same. They’re watching us 👀 👀 👀

[@AnDrEw122100]

This is super cool .

[@ProudMurican_PVT-GR137]

Coooool

[@nwarr979]

What are the details on this dry sump setup? I want to build a lv3 to put in a 240z for autocross and road racing.

[@MrNeildrake]

Pump is Peterson 3 stage for Sbc. The pan is stock LV3 with 2” removed from depth. Stock pickup is used and a custom fitting is installed at front of pan where normally there is a large pressed-in plug. The two scavenge ports are attached to this fitting. An ICT Billet -10an adapter is screwed into plug on side of block for pressure feed after a remote oil filter. The internal oil cooler crossover manifold was removed and ports plugged. To drive the pump, the stock balancer was cut off and what remained was machined to use just the skinny serpentine belt to drive a small 40 amp alternator. A small gilmer pulley is pinned to it for oil pump belt. Pictures tell the whole story if you want me to send some. I had considered putting this in a 240 as well. The engine bay looked like it was well suited for the V6.

[@aaronmcconnell9369]

Awesome

[@stellingbanjodude]

You wouldn’t happen to know the stock compression height on the factory pistons would you? I’ve got a project I’m about to start and was curious about it

[@MrNeildrake]

The interwebs believe it is 1.292", but I'll measure one on the weekend. Neil

[@stellingbanjodude]

@@MrNeildrake thanks. I’m possibly either doing something brilliant or foolish. I’m taking an old 250 L6 and making a cross flow head for it using 2 gen v 4.3 heads, and installing a 292 crankshaft. I’m debating on whether or not to try and incorporate direct injection

[@MrNeildrake]

@@stellingbanjodude That is awesome. Let me know how I can help. I'd suggest not DI simply because you wont have a trilobe on cam to drive the high pressure pump. I do have some DI parts if you want to try to make it work.

[@stellingbanjodude]

@@MrNeildrake I’m going to have to have a custom cam made anyway to correct for the symmetrical port layout versus the stock layout, I’m thinking the direct injection may just be to complex to engineer.

[@stellingbanjodude]

@@MrNeildrake I’ve got the heads machined and ready for welding, I’d like to send you some pics if you’d like to see them.

[@7891ph]

ME LIKELY!!!!

[@projectLSaudiA4]

Exhaust sounds better with these manifolds than the long tube headers...

[@hectorramirez-pm5in]

1st gen s10 with a 5 speed and posi trac out back with some cal tracks and SEND IT

[@wesco123]

Absolutely AWESOME 👌

[@TexasSpeedManiac]

Has that top fuel idle to it 🤘😂

[@Entertainment_Enterprise]

I fuckin love IDF Carbs

[@dennisyoung4631]

I think those are IDA carbs. IDFs tend to be a bit smaller and more squared off-looking, as well as easier to find…

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

Put it in my 77 Chevy Monza 2+2. 🚗

[@MrNeildrake]

Funny u mention that. Vega is one of my top choices

[@brucethomas3100]

@@MrNeildrake Yessir, I had a Vega with a 350, turbo 350. Had a narrowed 10 bolt, posi trac with Strange axles. Lots of fun.

[@2kbaby924]

badass

[@jtmartin8445]

I’m going to do something close to this with a 4.2l ford v6 and it’ll have a supercharger on it

[@GimmeDaBacon]

Miata swap?

[@76629online]

Solar-powered flashlight.

[@puunersjabski6487]

Best place to find one? I've asked around on fbook w/o luck.

[@MrNeildrake]

Scope out wrecking yards that do late model trucks and vans. I’ve bought a couple core motors at around 500 a piece and rebuilt them. Good motors seem to cost $2500 and up

[@vizion68]

hi, how light is your engine ?

[@MrNeildrake]

It weighed about 320 fully loaded…but keep in mind, I removed stock oil pump, vvt, balance shaft, DI ststem

[@dano3723]

What is it like to have no balance shaft?

[@MrNeildrake]

It’s in a loud car with a big cam so I can’t tell.

[@i_am_wi11_]

Where did you buy the stacks

[@MrNeildrake]

The stacks themselves come with the IDA Weber type carbs. You can find them on ebay or Amazon a.co/d/5lUFAH5. I built the manifold using flanges for IDA available on ebay.

[@titanbots]

MGB GT

[@privatedata665]

Fiero

[@rickeyscroggins1607]

Is this engine still around ?

[@MrNeildrake]

Yes, but I am using intake/carbs on LV1 El Camino

[@rickarcher300]

What did those engines come in ?

[@MrNeildrake]

These came in 2014 and up Silverado and Sierra trucks, and 2018 and up full size gm vans

[@Prototheria]

@@MrNeildrake And to piggy back on this, the van engines are the LV1, which aren't AFM/DOD.

[@332ARA]

Why the HEI instead of coils?

[@MrNeildrake]

Hi Al, I bought the motor as a core. It had no sensors or coils etc. I wanted to dumb the motor down, and the HEI was an easy and cheap conversion. One of my goals was to learn how a modern engine runs without the modern electronics. The HEI is not practical for everyone because you can't run the stock water pump, balancer, or front drive system. The LV1 V6 that I built after, used stock coils driven by a small PE3-IG2 computer from Performance Electronics pe-ltd.com/ . That motor uses stock front drive and wet sump etc and was installed in a 1965 El Camino. I did put the Weber Carbs on it 'cus it looked neat.

[@332ARA]

@@MrNeildrake Cool. I was wondering when folks would start playing with these. Especially in smaller cars

[@MrNeildrake]

@@332ARA Exactly. A Vega swap was what I originally wanted to build.

[@johncarson9691]

S10 swb pickup 83-85 model

[@MrNeildrake]

If I didn’t live in California, S10 would be great swap.

[@thatsonebadhatharry8610]

Thirdgen Camaro, MGBGT or a Fiero GT

[@MrNeildrake]

I’d love to do mgb gt. I might have to move dry sump pump to clear steering shaft.

[@ericwright6672]

That's crazy wild, now what's with the distributor that shouldn't be there,how does that work????

[@MrNeildrake]

Distributor is a shortened HEI. It has a custom mount that is bolted on to where the VVT actuator would normally be. This lines the distributor up directly on the front of the cam. It's a single bolt cam and that bolt head has a slot machined it it to accept the blade of the distributor. It's actually very simple when you look at it, just some custom machining to make it work. Thanks for the inquiry, Neil

[@ericwright6672]

Really cool & peppy also,that should really scream,what you gonna drop that into?

[@MrNeildrake]

@@ericwright6672 The intake was used on another LV3/LV1 V6 that went into my 65 El Camino. This engine will eventually get installed in a Porsche 914. I have a couple of short videos showing those other cars.

[@332ARA]

what is the yellow car?

[@MrNeildrake]

1969 Marcos. There’s a couple short vids here on it

[@foch3]

Reminds me of motus.

[@Crysmatic]

stand those runners up and see

[@kaleb8518]

What cam is in it?

[@MrNeildrake]

224deg @ 0.050” and .550” symmetrical cam. At the time engine was built there were no aftermarket cams available so it was a reground cam from American Custom Cam

[@kaleb8518]

@@MrNeildrake does it still have the balance shaft in it?

[@MrNeildrake]

Balance shaft was removed as well as the VVT phaser. It has a single bolt LS3 cam sprocket

[@andyharman3022]

@@MrNeildrake Brian Tooley Racing is working on a couple of cams for the LV3 that retain the VVT.

[@MrNeildrake]

@@andyharman3022 you are correct. I think they limit the phaser to +/-5 degrees. I want to try one. I’ve emailed BTR and they couldn’t tell me when they’d be available. I didn’t want VVT on my build because I was intending a retro-look and no electronics plus the cam grinder I used recommended locking out the cam. It was easy to install LS3 single bolt cam sprocket to delete the phaser altogether.

[@langfordcon]

I don’t understand the v6 4.3 phenomenon.. LS motors are everywhere.. parts are cheap and available… I guess trying to be different but I think it’s kinda impractical…

[@MrNeildrake]

Some swaps are just more suited to a smaller, lighter motor. No swaps are practical. Toyota will sell you a Corolla if you want practicality

[@Olufunt]

Put it in a miata

[@Julio-cf9gm]

😂

[@turbodowner5198]

Put it in a corvair

[@Robertvmoreno]

Spied the Marcos gt in the garage....

[@MrNeildrake]

Good eye! You know your cars. I have a couple vids on too.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGOpeIeZo9h1gtE kzbin.infocV-Q1NaQOZk

[@tylermccreary1217]

s10 blazer

[@alfgotl]

put it in an AMC Spirit

[@jimmyweber8793]

Corvair with power glide tranny.

[@MrNeildrake]

Mid or rear motor?

[@jimmyweber8793]

@@MrNeildrake rear, the automatic model came with the power glide from the factory. Some mods need to be done I am sure. Take out the flat six, install the new 6. Lots of room

[@thatsonebadhatharry8610]

@@MrNeildrake mid would be the best set up. The distributor would have to be relocated and the engine would need to be converted to reverse rotation. Weight distribution is also much better in a mid engine setup.

[@MrNeildrake]

linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.motortrend.com%2fhow-to%2f262-lv3-v-6-chevy-dyno-test-westech%2f&c=E,1,t0Uou-619D4w3P6qaGEK3CorBxAv7gWSg_inEGuaFLNBIjyM40GMflz9hGDTuzc_FYqJ9_yxFqhHKs6vokkHkYNvKCEGNgy4mlFJvqTlFLc,&typo=1

[@MrNeildrake]

This was an article that Motortrend published on this motor

[@thatsonebadhatharry8610]

Looks like you need more cam. That thing ought to make power into the mid 6K's you would think. In a light car you don't need a lot of low end torque. Of course with a six speed gearbox and the right gears the top end would be a lot of fun.🙃

[@MrNeildrake]

@@thatsonebadhatharry8610 yep, I agree. I was surprised that Power peaked at only about 5300. Brûlée theorized that there was too little plenum volume because the cam should have pulled longer. Also cam timing was locked pretty far advanced in my mind at 115deg intake CL

[@thatsonebadhatharry8610]

@@MrNeildrake Did you mean lobe separation instead of advanced. The bigger the separation the flatter the torque curve. More overlap or shorter duration would bring the power in later (higher in the RPM range). The cam was also a single pattern cam wasn't it? 230/230 exh/in. That shouldn't effect power as long as the intake and exhaust ports are well matched. That same cam with a 108 to 110 lsa would probably made a little more power in the upper RPM range. Anyway that is a killer engine and I hope you find a good home for it.

[@oldschoolmotorsickle]

Looks mean; sounds meaner.