Katech Twin-turbo LT5 Makes Over 1,300 Horsepower on the Dyno
Katech Twin-turbo LT5 Makes Over 1,300 Horsepower on the Dyno
Katech twin-turbo LT5 is restricted only by the limits of the engine dyno it’s being tested on.
Katech is one of the global leaders in high performance Chevrolet engines, with their work powering Corvette Racing to wins in some of the biggest endurance races around the world. In addition to building the engines of America’s most successful endurance racing team, the Michigan-based firm offers a variety of upgrade packages for the road-going General Motors engines.
Recently, Katech assembled a custom twin turbocharged setup for the new Corvette ZR1’s LT5 V8 with their own standalone fuel system and they showcased the whole process on the company’s official YouTube channel. In fact, the twin turbo LT5 made so much power that the dynamometer was maxed out, meaning that this engine could likely make even more power on a dyno with a higher limit.
The video above begins with a look at the team assembling the bottom end of the LT5. We watch as the pistons are placed in the block, followed by the cylinder heads and the valve train components. It appears as though the stock camshaft is still in the block when the assembly begins, as the timing chain is in place when the heads go on. Once the valve covers have been bolted up, the engine stand is rolled into Katech’s dyno room.
Once in the dyno room, the Katech team had to fabricate an entire exhaust system for the LT5 V8 starting with the manifolds, followed by the massive Precision Turbo turbochargers and the exhaust system that routes the fumes out of the room. Of course, the team also had to fabricate all of the charge piping, including the huge water-to-air intercoolers and the waste gates.
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Finally, the Katech Xtreme-DI 3600 fuel system was tasked with providing the E85 to the hungry, boosted engine and only the stock direct injection points were used for the build. After a lengthy process, the LT5 had a full, functioning twin turbo system and it was time for the dyno pulls.
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The second portion of this video is the best part, giving us two chances to listen to the twin turbo LT5 in action. The first pull is solid, with the engine speed slowly increasing per SAE standards, resulting in 1,206.6 horsepower and 1,130.2 lb-ft of torque using the J-607 standards. Mind you, the stock Corvette ZR1 offers 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque with the factory-installed supercharger seutp.
On the second run, some tuning adjustments were made and the engine was pushed a bit harder, laying down a whopping 1,308.5 horsepower and 1,097 lb-ft of torque. On this run, boost levels were regulated through the peak torque range due to the limit of the dyno, meaning that this engine has even more left in the tank while setting the E85 record for a Gen 5 GM small block.
With any luck, Katech will put this engine in a new Corvette ZR1 are offer up plenty of video, but in the meantime, crank up your speakers and enjoy this footage of the twin turbo LT5 in action.
