After we posted up the piece on MCR Tuning’s twin-turbo LSX-swapped Ferrari 550 Maranello, several of you readers voiced up a question: why didn’t they go with one of the LS-based V-12 engines that are being made? We’ve known about the engines since the 2016 SEMA show and we’ve seen footage of the engine blocks being machined out, proving that there isn’t a weld mark after joining another four cylinders to a truck engine…these guys are deadly serious and have shown up at LS Fest 2018 with a Cheetah sporting one of their engines, and one on the stand that V12LS.com co-founder Matt Corish is firing up every now and then for show-goers. Naturally, I couldn’t be patient enough to hear this mill wake up and Corish was more than happy to oblige me.
The engine is a 580 cubic inch (9.5L) unit that runs the LS7 4.125″ bore, a billet 3.622″ stroke crankshaft, “YellaTerra” LS7-style heads, a custom camshaft (naturally) and is run via a Haltech Elite management system, ACDelco sensors and is more than capable of 800 horsepower on pump fuel. Want four-digit horsepower? They have setups that are boost-happy and ready to go, and as a customer you only need to bring four things to the party: a flywheel and flex plate, the water pump and front drive kit, an air filter, and you’ll need to make the headers.
The engine note is interesting. I’m getting a bit of Jaguar in the tones myself, but the tone is sharp and the engine is responsive. Maybe the Ferrari folks should look at this mill. Then again, they’re looking at 1,000 horsepower as it sits, too! I wonder if the Cheetah runs…maybe I can talk them into a road test before LS Fest is through!
A first generation Monte Carlo would swallow that mill up nicely.
Don’t be stupid – “Ferrari guys” would rather shit their pants than put one of these things under the hoods of their cars. Unlike the LS-polluted Ferrari you have mentioned they know how to maintain those fine motors and would never reduce the value of their cars with such an act of sacrilege.
The unassembled engine is $29k. The long block is $40k. The complete engine is $55k. Upgrading from 800 to 1000 hp is another $2k. I’m positive an ls or a big block or a Coyote can get to 800 hp for way under $10k. Isn’t a crate hellcat $20k? The extra cylinders aren’t worth the price.
its not like this engine is going to end up in average street cars. it will find its way into high end show cars, along with other things built for “cool factor” when budget isnt a thing. its the same sort of idea as the falconer v12, and those have been around since the 90s.
one of these needs to be in a longish wheelbase (120″?) T- Bucket
Would be quite a struggle to make it work with the UPP, but a first-generation Eldorado would be the ideal swap, since the Cadillac E-body was originally conceived around one of GM’s mid-1960s V-12s.