lsx 454 crate motor BLOWS UP. any suggestions? lsx454 BOOM

[fastfaster]

ANY SUGGESTIONS?
Recently I was influenced to purchase a Chevrolet LSX-454 engine for my 2010 camaro based on information in print and in person from Dr. Jamie Meyer, the Product Integration Manager for GM Performance Parts.
Here is what influenced me (with web address’s as proof):

ONE: Dr Jamie Meyer of "GM" states in print that if you put a “power adder” on the lsx-454 you’d quickly create a 1300 hp street car.

MaxChevy Magazine Volume*III,*Issue*3,*Page*52 Dr Jamie Meyer Interview “LSX 454... With a power adder on that, you’d be able to quickly create a 1,200 or 1,300 horsepower street car.” http://www.maxchevy.com/features/int...3-meyer-3.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TWO: Dr Jamie Meyer states “In Person” to Jannetty Racing Enterprises Inc (the shop I used for my automotive work) that its ok to put a “power adder” on the lsx-454 to make our 1150 horsepower goals.

Jannetty Racing Enterprises October 6-9 2010. LSX Shootout-O'Reilly Raceway Park - Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dr Jamie Meyer was personally asked by the owner of Jannetty Racing Enterprises Dr Meyer’s thoughts of using A LSX-454 with a “supercharger/power adder” to make only 1150 horsepower in my 2010 camaro.
Here is the quote from the owner of Jannetty Racing Enterprises: Last October at the LSX Shootout My Booth was directly across from the GMperformancparts Display where I had the Pleasure of Meeting and talking with all of the guys over there one of them being Dr. Jamie Meyer, whom I ran this Idea past, ( I have to respect the man and his Position in the Industry) While we stood over the LSX454 Crate engine on display we discussed our Idea, He was All for it, and stated it would make a Great 12-1300 HP Street Car, and I should let him know how it worked out.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THREE: 2011 GM Performance Parts Catalog.
2nd To The Last Page:
“Because our new LSX blocks take the LS-series to the extreme, It’s engineered to take over 2000 horsepower”.

Here is a sampling of more references in the GM performance parts catalog:
Second Page, Not Page Two: “A bomb-proof LSX block”
Page 186: Lsx Block Max Horsepower Rating 1500+
Page 192: “1700 horsepower turbo engine for an Outlaw drag racer, the LSX Bowtie Block is the foundation”
Page 213: LSX-454 Pistons “dependable performance, even with high boost (high boost is a power adder)”
2nd To The Last Page: “Because our new LSX blocks take the LS-series to the extreme, It’s engineered to take over 2000 horsepower”.

Here is the link to the 2011 GM Performance Catalog:
http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/_r...talog_2010.pdf
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOUR: “Magazine Article Written By Dr. Jamie Meyer” SuperChevy May-2007:
For those interested in big nitrous systems, large superchargers, or twin turbocharging, the LSX is the block for you. (Note: these are power adders) http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...ild/index.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FIVE: the book titled "HOW TO BUILD AND MODIFY GM LS-SERIES ENGINES" states on page 41 "race-boost compression ratios hover in the 10 to 1 to 11 to 1 compression ratio"
my destroyed lsx454 crate motor was 11 to 1 on c-16 with a vortech intercooler.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Up to this point I have:
(1) Dr. Jamie Meyer in a magazine article saying adding a “power adder“, 1300 horsepower can be quickly achieved.
(2) Dr Jamie Meyer personally telling the automotive shop that worked on my camaro that a “power adder” on my motor to make 1300 hp and is a good plan.
(3) 2011 GM Performance Parts Catalog stating the lsx block is strong enough to handle over 2000 hp.
(4) 2011 gm performance catalog has many references about the LSX-454 block being able to handle 1500 plus to 2050 horsepower.
(5) Magazine Article Written By Dr. Jamie Meyer endorsing “power adders“.
(6) HOW TO BUILD AND MODIFY GM LS-SERIES ENGINES" states on page 41 says race-boost compression ratios hover in the 10 to 1 to 11 to 1 compression ratio"
(7) After all of this research, a reasonable person can assume its safe to make only a relatively small 1048 Horsepower which is approximately ½ of Gm’s horsepower claim.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FIVE: I purchased the engine and the lsx-454 is received by Jannetty Racing Enterprises, one of the most respected automotive shops on the east coast. The engine is installed in my 2010 camaro. The camaro is loaded on a scientific measuring and monitoring device call a dynamometer for final tuning. On the dynamometer the engine makes 1148 horsepower (½ of the “GM performance parts” catalog claims of over 2000 horsepower.
The lsx-454 block experienced a catastrophic crack at only 1048 horsepower! The engine’s life span was only minutes!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SIX: Mr. Dee Turner of GM calls to inform me that I voided the warranty by putting a “power adder” on the engine. I told him that the “power adder” was sanctioned by the big boss, Dr Jamie Meyer verbally and in print.
Even if this engine never had a warranty, it should be replaced because of an obvious defect.
The engine is clearly defective because “GM performance parts” catalog clearly states on the 2nd to the last page: “Because our new LSX blocks take the LS-series to the extreme, It’s engineered to take over 2000 horsepower”. My engine broke at half of this “over 2000 horsepower” claim!

How can I denied reimbursement? THIS IS NOT A WARRENTY CLAIM, My claim is the engine block was defective. Even if this engine never had a warranty, it should be replaced because of an obvious defect.

At the very least this is a defective engine block because of its inability to survive at only 50% of the advertised claims of Dr Jamie Meyer and GM . At worst, this engine has been misrepresented by Dr Jamie Meyer and GM .

my block will be sonic tested soon.
although my race car shop took a measurement of the wall thickness of the piece that blew out and it varied from .250 to .185 in just 1 inch diameter of material! i can only imagine the results from a full sonic testing!

GM states for the lsx block: "Maximum 4.250" bore at .200" minimum wall thickness". my lsx-454 crate engine bore was only 4.185 and the piece that blew out was measured by my race car shop and was as little as .185, showing that my lsx-454 crate engine bore was only 4.185 and the piece that blew out was measured by my race car shop and was as little as .185, showing that my bore thickness was short at least .080!



soon a complete sonic test will be done for more results.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

[fastfaster]

Block going to machine shop today for sonic checking. i'll post the results when i get them.

[mark21742]

IMO GM should replace the block as a defective part.

Good luck!

[tremiles]

I'm assuming the power adder was a turbo or SC based on the dish in the piston but correct me if I'm wrong. Were you adding N2O also? What kind of fuel system? Was the block the only part that failed?

[Firebirdjones]

I take it you bought this in crate engine form,,,and not a bare block to build??

[SteveCZ28]

horsepower tv just took a lsx 454 and built it to take over 1200hp on a big pill of nitrous...only mod they did was stronger rod bolts

[Sarge]

Warranty? Who built it. Who tuned it?

[SteveC]

Something certainly does not sound right, good luck in dealing with the situation.

SteveC

[Firebirdjones]

horsepower tv just took a lsx 454 and built it to take over 1200hp on a big pill of nitrous...only mod they did was stronger rod bolts

Are you sure that was an LS motor they did??

Because I just watched the episode last weekend and it sounds like the same scenario except it was GM's 572 BBC crate motor they did, rated at 720 hp. They installed stronger rod bolts in that engine and hit it with a 300 shot. It made just over 900 HP.
Apparantly this combo doesn't respond well to the nitrous, I wasn't impressed.
Since Steve Brule at Westech built a much smaller 496 with AFR heads that made 789hp naturally aspirated and hit this engine with a 300 shot and made 1,091 HP.
In any event, sounds interesting.

[jacjetlag]

It was a crate engine. Did the warranty state it would be voided with a "power adder"?

From the warranty:

"• Damage caused by a turbocharger, supercharger, nitrous oxide, or similar product, which is not an
approved GM Performance Part or Accessory.
• Racing engines and / or their components."


However, if the block was shipped outside of spec, they should cover it.


Commonsense-wise, Jannetty and you both should have known high compression and high boost are ingredients for a grenade. If you plan on building an engine to safely and reliably make this much power, shouldn't each component be verified as being "in spec"?

Afterall, it is your life going down the track at 160mph.

[SMWS6TA]

Jack you do know this was over 2 yrs ago right?

[jacjetlag]

OK. So how did it end for the guy? He's put the story on several sites.

[pajeff02]

OP hasn't logged back in on here since February 7, 2011, the day he originally posted it. Looks like he was simply on a mission to go out on the internet and say bad things about GM Performance Parts on as many websites as he could. Apparently, he really didn't care what we though about it...

[0rion]

right......that's what people do. Get in over their heads, tear shit up, find as many facts as they can to support their case, and go on an internet smear campaign. I notice he didn't post how much boost/spray he was running and what the AFR was. A dyno sheet here would've filled in some blanks I bet.

[cammed goat]

Warranty was probably void.

[dethinboots]

I still want that block lol