Chevrolet Performance LSX454R is more than the brand’s most powerful crate engine. It’s also designed for dependability on the track.
Chevrolet Performance engineers didn’t set out to create the most powerful crate engine in the company’s history. It was the fortunate consequence of their development process for the LSX454R drag racing crate engine. They were after durability first and foremost.
“We wanted big power, of course, but more than that, we wanted to give racers a reliable, low-maintenance engine that would go round after round and race after race throughout the season and require little more than oil changes and the occasional valve lash check,” says Rocko Parker, lead engineer. “In fact, this engine should go several seasons without the need for any major refreshing. That was more important to us than the final dyno number.”
For the record, this 13.1:1, naturally aspirated, and single Dominator-fed big-inch LS engine is officially rated at 770 horsepower at a 7,000 rpm and 612 lb-ft of torque at 5,600 rpm. And those figures might be a little conservative. Notably, that’s a 50hp increase over Chevrolet Performance’s own ZZ572/720R drag race crate engine—an old-school big-block that, while it cranks out 70 lb-ft more than the LSX454R, comes up short on horsepower despite being 26 percent larger in displacement. That’s huge.
Meet the DR525 – The Pioneer Drag Racing Spec Engine
Chevrolet Performance’s new DR525 is more than just a crate engine intended for the strip. The 6.2L, naturally aspirated engine (rated at 525 horsepower) was developed expressly for the LS Stock class in the NMCA LSX Showdown Challenge. In fact, it features several tamper-proof bolts to ensure class compliance.
Think about that for a moment: It’s a sealed spec engine for drag racing. That’s a common practice in circle track racing, not drag racing, but Chevrolet Performance’s Jim Campbell says the idea behind the DR525 is similar: maintain costs for racers with a level powertrain playing field in the heads-up class. It’s a bold idea and we’ll know right away in the 2015 season if it was the correct one.
Importantly, the DR525 is also legal in other classes. It is offered in two part numbers: 19329009 (includes Chevrolet Performance’s muscle car oil pan) or 19329008 (includes fourth-generation F-body oil pan). Additional highlights include:
525 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 489 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.
Production-based, aluminum cylinder block.
High-flow, LS3-type rectangular-port cylinder heads with 2.165/1.590 valves and beehive valvesprings.
10.7:1 compression ratio.
Hydraulic roller camshaft with 0.525/0.525-inch lift and 226/236-degree duration.
Production-style composite intake manifold with a 90mm throttle body.
Two tamper-proof bolts incorporated on the intake manifold, as well as a tamper-proof bolt on the front cover and the oil pan.
The assembly includes production-type cast-iron exhaust manifolds, fuel rails, injectors, coil packs, wires, spark plugs, LS3 water pump, and damper.
A tamper-proof E67-type engine control system from Chevy must be used with the engine in the LS Stock class.
Production-based, aluminum cylinder block.
High-flow, LS3-type rectangular-port cylinder heads with 2.165/1.590 valves and beehive valvesprings.
10.7:1 compression ratio.
Hydraulic roller camshaft with 0.525/0.525-inch lift and 226/236-degree duration.
Production-style composite intake manifold with a 90mm throttle body.
Two tamper-proof bolts incorporated on the intake manifold, as well as a tamper-proof bolt on the front cover and the oil pan.
The assembly includes production-type cast-iron exhaust manifolds, fuel rails, injectors, coil packs, wires, spark plugs, LS3 water pump, and damper.
A tamper-proof E67-type engine control system from Chevy must be used with the engine in the LS Stock class.
And the price? Chevy says the DR525 carries a suggested retail price of $9,750 and the control system’s list price is $1,312.50. They also have a front accessory drive system that lists for $812.50. That’s roughly $11,000 for the whole shebang. Not bad for a 525hp racing engine.
