There’s a definite benefit to a country with 300-odd million people: there’s always plenty of money getting around that allows for decent product development. This is one of the reasons why we see so much excellent aftermarket product coming from the US of A.
We stumbled across this gem of a news piece on BangShift.com the other day. RHS have just released a new extreme duty LS alloy block for the racer in all of us. From the impressive specs that they rattle off in their press release (below), it could be lightweight competition for the GMPP LSX block. As Bangshift states, it boasts “a raised cam centerline, priority main oiling due to redesigned oil galleys, standard and tall deck options, and a thicker deck surface”. Sweet!
RHS Press Release:
GM LS engines have truly set a new standard for V8 performance and durability. However, there are limitations for the aftermarket shopper when it comes to finding a high performance replacement for the factory block. Aware of this dilemma, the research and development team at RHS® went to work designing and testing several different versions of GM LS engine blocks until they found the optimal solution for performance engine builders and racing enthusiasts.
The LS Race Block is designed for added clearance and mass customization. Available in both standard (9.240”) and tall (9.750”) deck heights with an extra-thick deck surface (.750”), this RHS® block features a raised cam centerline and priority main oiling via an oil galley that is shifted outboard to allow rod clearance for a much larger stroke (4.600”) while also minimizing windage in the crankcase. Using computer-aided design, the cylinder walls are Siamese cast with press-in spun cast iron liners. Cylinder liners are available in both standard deck (5.67”/5.87” – same as the LS7) and tall deck (5.94”/6.38”) lengths. Also featured is a 6-bolt head design with a full water jacket around each cylinder (based on the LS7 design).
For quality control assurance, RHS® performs a CT scan on each block (similar to a medical CAT scan) to maintain maximum casting precision and consistency. Combine all of these features with a superior finish quality, thanks to the RHS® patented Clean Cast Technology™, ultra-precise computer aided design and extra surface material to allow custom machining, and you’ve got a GM block that sets a new benchmark for LS horsepower, torque and durability.
