Literally Build Your Own LS In EFI University’s CED Course

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By now, you’ve probably at least heard of EFI University. If not, you’re really missing out since they have become one of the leading authorities in most things automotive, ranging from EFI tuning to high performance engine building, and everything in between. They recently turned the LS world on its head when they built a 778 horsepower naturally aspirated 381 cubic inch LS that produced its unheard amount of power by utilizing a 17.5:1 compression ratio, and did it all on ported 243 casting cathedral port heads. That’s over 2 horsepower per cubic inch, without boost!

Needless to say, they know a thing or two about making massive amounts of horsepower, especially when it comes to the LS. Luckily for you, they now offer a Competition Engine Development Course in which they will show you all of their trade secrets for getting the most out of any mill. And we’re not just talking about a class on how to “blueprint” engines. The course shows you how to optimize volumetric efficiency, mechanical efficiency, and thermal efficiency—in essence, you’ll examine every single piece of the engine and determine how you can get the most from that component in an effort to wring every available pony from any powerplant.

But what if you want to apply that knowledge to your build right on the spot? Well, we have even more good news for you. EFI University will not only show you how to make big power, they’ll actually let you build your own motor for the class. That’s right. You provide the engine and the parts and they’ll show you how to get the most out of your exact combination. They can even get you a good deal on parts if you’re lacking something here or there.

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“I had the idea for the program because of a firearms manufacturing business I also own,” said Ben Strader, the owner of EFI University. “I found out about this guy that was a world-class, world-renowned rifle builder in Georgia and you could pay him and he’d build you a rifle, or you could pay a little extra to actually go help and learn a lot of what he was doing. That’s basically the same principle we are using here with the engine development class.”

The parameters of the build are solely up to you, EFI University will just show you how to maximize it. For example, if you wanted to build a nasty big-cube LS that is destined for a large dose of laughing gas, they would tailor the class around the engine build and show you how to get the most out of it—not tell you what build they think you should do with it.

“You are free to build anything you’d like to, within reason of course,” Ben said. “It might be difficult if someone wanted to do a twin turbo, methanol, water-to-air intercooled, whatever, because those parts would have to either come with it or be built. But if they wanted to do a build like that, we would optimize the long block for them and run it naturally aspirated and they could add the turbos and everything later, since that typically needs to be fabricated in the car. But no matter what, they would be walking away with the strongest possible combination for their needs.”

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Ben snapped this photo right before the engine broke 778 horsepower. Either way, it is a phenomenal feat.

How often do you get the chance to learn the “black craft” of engine building? In our experience, you won’t run into a lot of engine builders that are willing to give away their trade secrets, much less teach you how to do it yourself—especially not on your own engine if you so choose. The guys at EFI University, on the other hand, will actually walk you through the process step by step and answer any questions you might have about your build along the way.

Hell, you could even make a guy’s weekend out of it. You and your buddies put together your engine and learn how to apply those skill to any other engine you might build down the line. In fact, that sounds like the best mancation we’ve ever heard of. Bachelor party? Birthday? February 3rd? What ever you need to justify it to your significant other.

As of this writing, they are all booked up for their next class to be held in February, in which they will be building a 15:1, naturally aspirated, 440 cubic inch LS with an RHS block and heads. Ben said he believes the engine will make more than 750 horsepower. After that, the father-son drift team duo that is building the engine for the class will get to take it home with them and slap it between the fenders of their drift machine.

So, if you’re looking to learn what most shops aren’t willing to show you when building high-horsepower engines and you want to apply all of that to your engine on the spot, EFI University can definitely help you out.

About the author

Chase Christensen

Chase Christensen hails from Salt Lake City, and grew up around high-performance GM vehicles. He took possession of his very first F-body— an ’86 Trans Am— at the age of 13 and has been wrenching ever since.
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