Doober said:
The things you stated apply to most of the other LS engines as well, plus the 4.8 won't make torque because of a)its small displacement, and b)short stroke (~3.2"). The 5.3 and 6.0 have a longer (~3.62") stroke, the 5.3 and 4.8 share the same (3.78") bore and the 6.0 has the largest (4") bore which would be the largest aid for cylinder filling. It's like the old 305 vs. 350 debate... sure you can make power with it, but how much more do you want to spend when it's attainable much easier (and earlier) with a larger displacement engine that bolts in with the same parts?
alright but of course in stock the 4.8 isnt a torq monster nor a all out all motor contender. like a 350, 383,388,377,396 or 400 gen1 small blocks AND qgen 3,4,5 blocks for example in stock form,when forced induction or boost is applied all hell breaks loose.it will respond better to boost alwasys small displacement engines always do look at the 3.8 that were used in the GNX,that car was outlawed because it outran the state troopers.the 4.8 is not a slouch as well compared to the old 305 and 350 vortecs espeacialy non vortec stock 350 and 305.The 4.8 will out run them any day of the week including the almighty lt1.the 4.8 will keep up with the lt4 in stock form.and get the gas well over 25mpg with power levels reaching over 450hp,im talking about city driving from stop light to stop stop and go.
It does makes enough torq to move heavy vans,pickups and suvs thats weight over 4800lb.there were some 4.8 found in the long company g350 10 passenger vans but alot of people use for construction and cargo so how does it not make torq.in a gbody those tire will spin all day first and second gear.
when the 4.8 vortec is turbo charge or supercharged it makes unbelievable torq and power,that will slay a stroker motor any day surpassing its bigger cousins the 5.3,and the 6.0 vortecs when turbo charged .thats reason being those compresson ratio of those other motors that i mention are too high for boost application to began with you have to change out the heads ecept for the lq4 heads they are alsome for boost appliction and could be found on ebay for under 400 dollars.again thats why the 4.8 shines in boost applications.its not so prone to detonation like the other ls except for the ls9 that is found in the zr1 corvette and cts-v because of its already low compression ratio.
The last and most important the 4.8 is fact that you over look for boost .being that the rod raio of the little 4.8 is 1.92.and a trubo ready 12 degrees of piston dwell time,which means NO turbo lag,thats why it gets over 30mpgs on the interstate and will respond better to boost the any other chevy small block v8 or ls except for the ls9.so with that being said you will spend about the same or less turbo charging a 4.8 vortec than your 5.3,6.0,6.,ls1,ls2 etc.
the pay off will the less time spend at the gas pump,and insane torq and hp move down the drag stripe with facory parts and a turbo.