Speaking of large-inch, high-power crate engines, there is a new sheriff in town, his badge is in the shape of a bow tie. Yes, Chevrolet Performance just released a 632 cubic inch (more than 10 liters for the metric crowd) massive monster that emits more than 1,000 hp ticking and up to 876 lb-ft of distortion. But as the person said in the TV commercial, "Wait, there is more." You see, this is a street engine that is powered by pumping air without any power adder.
"This is the biggest and worst crate engine we have ever built," said Russ O'Blenes, director of the performance and racing propulsion team. "As the king of performance, the ZZ632 is at the top of our unparalleled crate engine series. It provides incredible power, and it relies on pumping air."
Although the ZZ632 produces peak power at 6,600 rpm, it can easily accelerate to the recommended maximum of 7,000 rpm. The fuel is provided by an eight-port injector through a high-flow CNC machined aluminum cylinder head with symmetrical ports to provide a large block of breathing. Traditionally, large cylinders have been designed with different cylinder port shapes. But in this case, all eight air inlets of ZZ632 have the same length, volume and layout. Similarly, all exhaust ports of ZZ632 are the same. This symmetry ensures that each cylinder produces similar power.
These RS-X symmetrical port cylinder heads are named after powertrain engineer Ron Sperry, who designed them as one of his final achievements after working on General Motors performance and racing engines for more than 50 years. Sperry also introduced symmetrical ports for Chevrolet's iconic Small Block V-8, which was equipped with the Gen III LS1 engine that debuted in the Chevrolet Corvette in 1997. We all know how successful this design is!
The iron block of ZZ632 shares a mold with Chevrolet Performance's ZZ572 crate engine, but the casting is processed to fit the huge displacement of 632 cubic inches. Compared with the 572 cubic inch V-8, the bore is increased by 0.040 inches, and most of the displacement gain comes from the 0.375 inch long stroke! To provide clearance for long strokes, engineers modified the slider and connecting rod. Forged rotating components and four-bolt main cap ensure strength and durability. During the development process, a single ZZ632 engine has carried out more than 200 simulations of traction belt transmission on the dyno! ZZ632 will make its debut at the SEMA show in Las Vegas in 2021.
In addition to the discontinued 755-horsepower supercharged LT5, the largest factory provided by Chevrolet Performance is the naturally aspirated ZZ572 large cylinder. This large-caliber beast fed by Dominator can output 727 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque. The four-bolt header and forged internal components give it strength. A pair of high-flow 310cc heads combined with solid roller cams help to roll in a good time. ZZ632 adds 60 cubic inches to the party and adds 277 horsepower; better yet, it uses 93 octane pump air!
Other high-power crate engines offered by Chevrolet Performance are the LSX-454 and the hard-to-find LSX-454R. If you can find an LSX-454R, it is expected to cost about 20 horsepower, but for this you will get a rolling mill prepared for a solid roller race car with a speed of 7,100 and an output of more than 700 horsepower. With about 15 horsepower, you can get a gentler, more street-friendly LSX-454 mill, which can still produce an impressive 627 horsepower. Either way, you will get a large amount of power and displacement in a compact package, which is perfect for your hot rod project.
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