Some people like to throw shade at LS engines for being so played out, but when four-digit power figures can be easily had with an OEM block and cylinder heads and relatively low-buck, off-the-shelf internals, it ain’t hard to see why they’re so popular.

First published in the January 2024 issue of Street Machine

This particular example out of ProFlo Performance uses a cast-iron LQ9 block and as-cast LS3 heads with stock valves. It runs a Scat crank and rods and JE pistons to arrive at a cubic capacity of 403ci and a static compression ratio of 10:1.

The camshaft was custom ground to ProFlo’s specs, but it’s still a hydraulic-roller item. GM LS7 lifters, Trend pushrods, factory rockers with a trunnion upgrade, and a set of Manley springs and retainers round out the valvetrain.

The short motor was assembled by ProFlo bossman Paul Sant, but the top end and bolt-on gear fell to his son Charlie Sant and the owner of the engine, fellow ProFlo staffer Brodie Ward.

You’d have to by Blind Freddy to miss the towering, grey-anodised PFP injector hat atop the 8/71 huffer. It’s the norm these days to run a big hat for the balls-out mechanical look but tuck EFI hardware into it to tame things down for a bit of modern driveability. Not so in this case – good old-fashioned mechanically injected alcohol was Brodie’s preference.

The belt guard and idler bracket are billet PFP hardware, while the blower manifold and billet rocker covers are from Shaun’s Custom Alloy.

Keeping methanol up to the thirsty LS is a belt-driven Waterman mechanical pump, while the oil pan is a high-volume Aeroflow jobbie, and there’s a Meziere electric water pump and a Joe Blo crank support riding up front.

While the fuelling side of things is all butterflies and barrel valves, the engine will still run an ECU (a FuelTech 550) to control and drive the eight LS coil packs.

It all adds up to north of 1000hp, which should allow Brodie to torture many a tyre at Powercruise and Summernats events well into the future.

COLOUR ME IMPRESSED

When it comes to colour schemes on modified engines, black is the new black these days. Everything is usually either completely murdered-out or polished to within an inch of its life, but Brodie took the road less travelled with this one.

The mill is destined for his VL Commodore, which still sports the factory grey bumpers and side mouldings, and as such, the engine’s colour scheme was designed to match the VL’s Tupperware. It’s a big departure from the norm and it should look great once it’s in the car.

ProFlo Performance
Campbelltown, NSW