Hotrod magazine LA BUILD VERSUS LS

Let’s cut to the chase: The LA small-block racing engine we’ve been following, built by Michigan’s Valley Performance for the Race Engine Challenge, took home the gold.

Based on average horsepower per cubic inch, the 376-inch underdog surprised and overpowered more than a few LS builders in the event, punching out 1.963 hp for each genuine Mopar cube and claiming the class win.

“We were confident we had a competitive combination and would give the LS engines and other well-developed engines a run for their money,” says Jack Barna, Valley Performance’s owner. “But it was still somewhat of a surprise to see our engine come out on top. It had something to prove and really did.”