Someone Has Built An LS7 V8 That Revs Beyond 11,000rpm

EFI University's 'Project Spinal Tap' LS7 V8 has hit its 11,000rpm goal following three years of hard work

Volume UP!OPERATION SPINAL TAP IS DONE!11,230 RPM LS7 engineAfter nearly 3 years my life’s professional work all boils down to this moment...I could not have possibly come this far without support from so many...starting with my wife Suzanne!Thanks to COMP Cams for their unwavering support and belief in me and this project. Billy Godbold vouched for me and they got behind us 1,000%Thanks to RHS Racing HeadsJesel Valvetrain InnovationGibtec PistonsTotal Seal Piston RingsLiberty RacecraftEmtron Engine Management ElectronicsHolley EFIWinberg CrankshaftsAnd so many more!Come visit me in our Competition Engine Development course and gets first hand look at what’s inside! www.efi101.com/CED

Posted by EFI University on Monday, November 18, 2019

11,000rpm is a figure that’ll probably seem fairly familiar to you right now. We’ve been talking a lot recently about the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar, which has a 6.5-litre, naturally-aspirated V12 that tops out at a ridiculous 11,100rpm. Not bad for a road car, right?

The trouble is, the Aston costs at least £2 million, and only 150 will ever be made. Which is why we like this V8 - it’s an 11,000rpm-capable engine that’s a little more of the people.

Someone Has Built An LS7 V8 That Revs Beyond 11,000rpm

That’s not to say creating this high-revving monster - dubbed ‘Project Spinal Tap’ - was easy. The V8 - which started life as a regular LS7 - has been a three-year labour of love for EFI University founder Ben Strader. The bulk of the work involved creating a valvetrain that wouldn’t shake itself into oblivion when pushed way beyond the stock redline of 7000rpm. In the dyno test you see here, it hit 11,230rpm.

A partnership with COMP Cams help deliver the goods, and here we are. Strader told Engine Labs that the LS7 hit 921hp (908bhp) at 9300rpm, while peak torque of 545lb ft arrived at 8000rpm.

More importantly, though, what do you think about the way this thing sounds?

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Comments

Tomislav Celić

I swear to God some idiot will comment “But will it fit in my Honda” on this thread thinking he is funny

11/29/2019 - 17:47 |
2 | 22

But…. will it fit in my Honda???

11/29/2019 - 18:47 |
24 | 0
REAL_sluggo

at the end of the day, (and night), it’s still a pushrod engine. What silliness. Buy an AMG, made by OCD-infused Gerry’s who have grown up around go-fast roads; Not the 55 MPH rubbish that IS the American highway system which gave rise to leaf-sprung Cadillacs and Chrysler Land Yachts…
There’s a bloody good reason why an Aston costs what it does lads!

11/29/2019 - 17:51 |
12 | 34

The corvette has pushrods and leaf springs and is one of the best drivers cars around. It’s not for everyone but you don’t have to go on a smug rant.

11/29/2019 - 21:04 |
8 | 4

ok boomer

11/29/2019 - 23:06 |
16 | 2

Lmao go watch 1320Video on YouTube. Just cuz road laws are there, doesn’t mean Muricans (Texans in particular) are gonna follow them 😂. Not hating on Euro cars, I love them but even the average mustang on that YT channel will put your $300k Astons to shame lol

11/30/2019 - 02:50 |
8 | 0
Dat Incredible Chadkake

I’m really impressed. Pushrod engines aren’t really known for high revs

11/29/2019 - 19:05 |
38 | 0
Ali Mahfooz

I’m genuinely surprised that an LS engine can rev that high. Probably required a lot of changes made to cam profiles, pistons, con rods, valves and valve springs.

11/29/2019 - 19:17 |
26 | 0
Elliot.J99

Holy crap

11/29/2019 - 19:30 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

Epic project name, turn it up to eleven!😁

11/29/2019 - 19:35 |
0 | 0
Robert Gracie

11,000rpm on a Pushrod engine, holy sweet mother of god! this is my reaction…..

11/29/2019 - 20:42 |
10 | 0
DG65425

Put the same money in a DOHC V8 and it’s gonna rev even higher

11/29/2019 - 20:44 |
12 | 0

happy Coyote noises

11/30/2019 - 20:53 |
6 | 0

Doubtful. I bet the limitation here was dealing with piston speed and crankshaft harmonics rather than valve train stability.

12/01/2019 - 05:24 |
0 | 10
Freddie Skeates

Never thought I’d see the day where a pushrod engine sounded like a superbike.

Also I love how the reason this project started was essentially ‘because science’. That’s how the best projects start.

11/29/2019 - 22:54 |
8 | 0
Nishant Dash

valve float, who dat?
Really impressive engineering

11/30/2019 - 02:58 |
26 | 2