Assembly processes of the Value Short-Block are as regimented as the block preparation. The reciprocating assembly is balanced and blueprinted, including the use of highly accurate air-based measuring devices from Air Gage Company, which are used to blueprint the crankshaft journals, main bores, etc. Katech uses these tools when building Corvette racing engines, lending a nice rub-off effect for a higher degree of precision on its customer-based street engines.
Also, each short-block-actually, every engine Katech touches-is serialized and logged into a database. That means years down the road, the assembly details and specifications can be retrieved, even if the engine changes hands.
As for the reciprocating assembly parts themselves, they're all expectedly high-strength, all-forged materials from names like Cola and Callies. The Value Short-Block assembly only includes the crank, rods, and pistons, but the blueprinting steps make it a painstaking build process.
"Based on customer preferences, we found that the basic reciprocating assembly is what people really wanted," Newman says. "Things like the camshaft, heads, and more are the items that are individualized. We're happy to help in those areas, too, but the Value Short-Block is the foundation everybody can build on."
The accompanying photos provide an overview of the short-block blueprinting and assembly process. There's also a sidebar story on what an engine built from a Value Short- Block delivers on the dyno.
Every strong engine needs a sturdy foundation, and it appears Katech delivers it at a reasonable price. It's fun living in the new golden age!
Vetting The Value Short-Block
After following the assembly of our Value Short-Block project,we were more than a little curious about its potential as a completeengine.
"No problem," Katech's Caleb Newman said. "Follow me." He led us to one of the company's several engine dynamometers -Katech builds racing engines for the C6.R effort, remember-where a fully dressed Value Short-Block-based 427 was getting a workout. It was an engine built to a customer's specifications, but the block and reciprocating assembly were the same as we outlined in our main story.
On top of that, this engine also featured:
11.1:1 compression
L92 ported cylinder heads
L76 intake manifold
GM Stage III camshaft with 0.595/0.595-inch lift and 233/277 degrees of duration; 107 LSA and 103-degree timing
1.7-ratio rockers
LS7 fuel injectors and ignition coils
90mm throttle body
MEFI-4 controller (for dyno use)
This combination of off-the-shelf parts demonstrated once again that, unlike modern engine families from other manufacturers,LS-based engines don't need a power adder to make killer dyno numbers. In this case, the naturally aspirated 427 made 604 hp and 566 lb-ft of torque.
And the peak numbers are only part of the story. Peak horsepower occurred past the 6,000-rpm mark, but the engine was making more than 500 horses before 4,800 rpm, and never dropped below 580 horses between approximately 5,550 and 6,800 rpm.
The torque story was equally compelling: 500 lb-ft was achieved at a low 3,100 rpm and held above that mark past 6,100 rpm. Yes, the phrase "stump puller" is tossed around liberally in car magazines, but how else could this engine be described? A "forest puller"?
To achieve 427 ci, the 6L block's cylinder sleeves are removed and replaced with 4.125-inch sleeves. They're made of cast ductile iron, and deliver a sturdy 0.075-inch wall thickness all around. The sleeves are installed using a temperature differential that allows themto slide into the bores; they're set when the aluminum block and iron sleeves are brought to temperature equilibrium. | 
All of Katech's short-blocks, engine assemblies, and other components receive identification numbers that allow the parts to be tracked years after they leave the shop.The specs are logged into a database and are available for reference should the engine/cylinder block change hands or vehicles. | 
The Value Short-Block is completely balanced and blueprinted, which means that before the assembly starts, the crankshaft is balanced and the journal dimensions are inspected. |