One Step Closer to a 6.6L C8 Corvette: Chevrolet Debuts 523-Horse L8P Crate Engine

By
Alex Sommers
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6
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One Step Closer to a 6.6L C8 Corvette: Chevrolet Debuts 523-Horse L8P Crate Engine

Photo Credit: Chevrolet Performance


One of the great joys of being an Average Joe in America lies in the ability to play armchair quarterback and openly criticize – often after the fact – the people out there making decisions. Only a crazy person would even want to imagine themself holding public office, but it can be extremely satisfying to put on your make-believe NFL GM/Head Coaching pants or pretend to helm a major organization. It should come as no surprise that your friendly neighborhood CorvetteBloggers tend to frequent the imaginary C-Suite of the General Motors Corporation.

Ever since the real GM debuted its 6.6L “L8T” gas engine for Heavy Duty trucks a couple of years ago, the 400-cubic inch monster has been a mainstay of our “how we’d command the General” fantasies. Well, it took a while for Barra and Co. to catch up, but they have officially taken the first step towards realizing our dream of marrying the C8 chassis and the largest displacement LT-based motivator in existence.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce you to the first modern 6.6L V8 with performance intentions: the L8P. Unfortunately, the L8P is currently relegated to crate motor duty, and double-unfortunately, it retains the excessive weight of the L8T’s cast iron block, but we’re still talking about a new LT-based 6.6L bent-eight from Chevrolet. And in Bow Tie land, 400 ci is pronounced and spelled “396,” signifying the return of the Corvette’s first-ever big bore displacement!

One Step Closer to a 6.6L C8 Corvette: Chevrolet Debuts 523-Horse L8P Crate Engine


With a hotter cam, valvetrain upgrades, six-bolt mains, a forged-steel crank, forged powdered-metal rods, aluminum pistons, and 10.8:1 compression, the boost-ready (one perk of the block material is increased cylinder strength for those looking to extract four-digit HP from their next project) L8P makes 523 horsepower at 5,800 rotations per minute, and its incredibly flat torque curve reaches an even more impressive 543 lb-ft at just 4,600 RPM in its naturally aspirated form. For comparison’s sake and so that you see how serious this powerplant is, those numbers are up from the L8T’s 401 HP and 464 lb-ft of twist.

Until an emissions-compliant aluminum version gets the green light for Corvette duty (come on, GM, throw us one more internal combustion bone before betting the farm on low-demand EVs!), the L8P’s exclusive home will be your local parts counter where it can be found later this year under PN19435523.


Source:
motortrend.com

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Chevy Officially Retires the LS7 V8 Crate Engine

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6 COMMENTS

  2. Excellent writing Alex. I loved the first sentence, it hooked me. Subscribed because of your writing.

  6. This engine also does not have afm / dod which makes it less complex and more bulletproof.

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