368...should I, could I, would I

[Hib Halverson]

Originally Posted by Pete

Ok,now i have a few questions.
Has JVD,Graham tested/R&D'd or done anything other then 20 year old stuff?

Good point. My guess is the last new development Lingenfelter's or Automasters have done on LT5 performance enhancements came in the late 90s/early-00s.

And, yes, I get the implication in your question, but, to me, it seems, maybe, a little bit arrogant. I suggest that it's unlikely you'd be where you are now had those folks not done their "20 year old stuff."

Ya think your attitude might sour potential customers who are outside of your flock of admirers here on the Registry forum? Much less get someone connected with media interested in your product?

On the better oil control how does the closed deck effect this?

Good question which I can't answer. I stated earlier that I based my belief on what Haibeck said to me in an email. I have not personally tested a closed deck LT5 for oil control but, I do put some faith in what Marc tells me. I've known him for a long time.

Most stock LT5's have oil control issues.

Thankfully, mine does not...at least, not with the way I drive it most of the time. I suppose, if I was tracking the car and running laps such that the engine spent lot of time above 5000 rpm, I probably would. Currently my oil consumption is about a quart every 8000-miles. In the "old" days, when the car was a magazine project, we put about 100 dyno passes, maybe a dozen or so drag strip passes and several track days on the car, but nowadays, it just gets run hard on the street.

We have 3 done with no issues of any kind,they drive to BG every year, race and drive back home.

Three trips from DesPlaines to BG and back cruising on the highway along with, say, fifteen or so, 11-sec. drag strip passes. I take it, I'm to accept that as demonstrative of good durability and oil control superior to that of "20-year old stuff"? That in mind...I'm curious. Have you run any GM durability test schedules on the engines you build?

Why do you wanna do a 368?
Is stock motor blown/broke?

Nope. There's nothing really wrong with it other than 60,000 or so miles and 15 years in service. Ok. I admit that, of late, my oil use has gone from about a quart every 10,000-miles to a qt in 8000-mi, so maybe I need stem seals. Mainly, I just was thinking of updating the engine but, admittedly, I want to do it on (as someone else aptly stated) a "beer budget."

Technology moves on,if you don't move with it you'll be left behind.

I submit: if you truly believed that, you'd be doing LS7s.