Video: Harrop-blown L8T on the dyno

It is no secret that Ford has struck gold with their 7.3-litre pushrod V8 dubbed Godzilla. Built primarily for use in F250 trucks, the Godzilla is also proving popular as a boost-ready crate motor for the aftermarket.

GM has a similar offering, although it doesn't have quite as many cubes or such a catchy name. Nevertheless, the 6.6-litre L8T is going to be an important part of GM's armoury in the aftermarket.

The iron block L8T makes 401hp at 5200rpm and 464lb-ft at 4000rpm in stock form. Like the rest of the Gen V or LT family, the L8T runs direct injection.

Compression ratio is 10.8:1, down a touch on the L8T's smaller cousins. Othe key specs include aluminium heads, forged crank, forged powdered-metal rods and hypereutectic pistons.

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The aftermarket is already on the case, as the crew from Harrop found out when they visited Mast Motorsports in Nacogdoches, Texas.

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Mast are currently testing one of their L8T crate motors with1046hp a Harrop port fuel injection-optioned TVS2650 blower strapped on top.

"That engine itself has had a rod, piston and cam upgrade with valve springs and ported heads; one of Mast's basic stock-displacement packages," says Harrop's Heath Moore.

With a 102mm throttle body and running on E85 fuel, the blown L8T made 1046hp and 958ft/lb on the engine dyno.

As GM winds back production of LS-based motors, expect to see more of the L8T and other Gen V-based millls making their way downunder.