L18 / 8.1L / Vortec 8100 / 496 Engine Swap Performance Parts
Building a street machine or muscle car with a GEN7 L18 / 496 big block Chevrolet? Our performance packages produce big power and exceptional reliability in L18 / 8.1L / 496 engine swaps. Our stage 1 performance kits give you everything you need to make 540 horsepower / 601 ft-lbs of tire shredding torque with very mild street manners. Stage 2 adds forged pistons and connecting rods, eliminating the weak links within the late model big block Chevy engine. Stage 2 also sees a more aggressive camshaft which produces 607 horsepower / 638 ft-lbs.
Our stage 1 hot rod / muscle car performance package bumps the 496 / 8.1L to 540 horsepower & 601 ft-lbs of torque.
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- BP-203 Street / Strip Camshaft
- 80mm Modified Intake Manifold
- 1.7 Ratio SS Roller Rockers & AFN nuts
- ARP Re-torqueable High Strength Head Bolt Kit
- Cometic MLS Head Gasket Set
- *Add $400 for 90mm Modified Stock Intake Manifold
- *Add $1900 for 90mm Cool Gap Intake Manifold
Our stage 2 hot rod / muscle car performance package bumps the 496 / 8.1L to 607 horsepower & 638 ft-lbs of torque. 2400-2800 stall is recommended.
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- BP-206 Max Effort High-Lift Camshaft (must use with forged aftermarket pistons with deep valve relief)
- 90mm Modified Intake Manifold
- 1.7 Ratio SS Roller Rockers & AFN nuts
- BigPower Forged Flycut Pistons, Rings & Wristpins
- BigPower Forged I-beam Connecting Rods
- ARP Re-torqueable High Strength Head Bolt Kit
- Cometic MLS Head Gasket Set
- *Add $1900 for 90mm Cool Gap Intake Manifold
Raylar 511 CID Stroker Performance Kits
Want even more power? Our 4.5" stroke crankshaft, forged I-beam connecting rods and forged pistons replace your exisiting rotating assembly adding cubic inches and more power. Direct replacement parts for your stock Vortec rotating assembly.
Our most popular forged 511cid stroker kit. The street / strip stage 1 hot rod performance package bumps the Vortec 8.1L to 545 horsepower & 600 ft-lbs of torque.
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- BP-205 High Torque Camshaft
- 90mm Modified Intake Manifold
- 1.7 Ratio SS Roller Rockers & AFN nuts
- ARP High Strength Head Bolt Kit
- Cometic MLS Head Gasket Set
- 4.5inch Stroke Forged Crankshaft
- Forged I-beam Connecting Rods
- Forged Flycut Pistons
- Rings & Wristpins
- *Add $1900 for 90mm Cool Gap Intake Manifold
For maximum power from our forged 511cid stroker kit, the stage 2 hot rod performance package makes 625 horsepower & 660 ft-lbs of torque. 2400-2800 stall is recommended.
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- BP-206 Max Effort High-Lift Camshaft
- 90mm Modified Intake Manifold
- 1.7 Ratio SS Roller Rockers & AFN nuts
- ARP Re-torqueable High Strength Head Bolt Kit
- Cometic MLS Head Gasket Set
- 4.5inch Stroke Forged Crankshaft
- Forged I-beam Connecting Rods
- Forged Flycut Pistons
- Rings & Wristpins
- *Add $1900 for 90mm Cool Gap Intake Manifold
Raylar 540 CID Crate Engine Kits
Build the ultimate GEN 7 big block! *Short block engine kits will require the reuse of some components off original 8.1L engine.
Our most popular 540cid stroker kit street / strip package, the stage 1 hot rod performance package bumps the Vortec 8.1L to 650 horsepower & 670 ft-lbs of torque. 2400-2800 stall is recommended.
- 540cid Aftermarket Short Block
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- 90mm Modified Stock Intake Manifold
- ARP High Strength Head Bolt Kit
- Cometic MLS Head Gasket Set
- BP-206 Max Effort High-Lift Camshaft
- 1.7 Ratio SS Roller Rockers & AFN nuts
- *Add $1900 for 90mm Cool Gap Intake Manifold
For maximum power from our forged 540cid stroker kit, the stage 2 hot rod performance package uses the same camshaft found in our 632cid HO750. 685 horsepower & 680 ft-lbs of torque. 2800-3200 stall is recommended.
- 540cid Aftermarket Short Block
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- 90mm Modified Stock Intake Manifold
- ARP High Strength Head Bolt Kit
- Cometic MLS Head Gasket Set
- BP-213 (HO750) Race Camshaft
- 1.7 Ratio SS Roller Rockers & AFN nuts
- *Add $1900 for 90mm Cool Gap Intake Manifold
Keeping Stock Cylinder Heads?
Our full-roller camshaft kit for iron cylinder heads reuses stock head studs and fits under the stock valve covers. Includes the BP-203 camshaft and 1.70 ratio stainless steel roller rockers.
- BP-203 Stage 1 Hot Rod Camshaft
- 1.70 Ratio Stainless Steel Roller Rockers
Want More Tire Smoke?
1980 Oldmobile Wagon 8.1L Swap
8.1L / L18 / Vortec 8100 Swap Info
Looking for information on what it takes to drop an 8.1L engine in your vehicle?
Vortec 8.1L Engine Swap InformationStage 1 Aussie Hot Rod Ute
Need A Tune?
We don't offer computer tuning, but we've met lots of good people who do. Check out our tuner list to find a tuner in your area.
8.1L Computer Tuning521HP / 627FT-LBS 540CID Build
Car Craft magazine put our 540 stage 1 truck kit in their 2006 Chevy Avalanche and made 521HP / 627FT-LBS with headers and stock exhaust.
540cid Chevrolet Avalanche BuildHow Much Air Do Raylar Heads Flow?
Raylar Big Power cylinder heads out flow every 496 / 8.1L cylinder head on the market. Our combustion chambers promote a more even burn, increasing engine efficiency, fuel mileage, improving driveability and reducing detonation in forced induction applications. Check out the flow numbers for our standard Raylar CNC heads and our special-order CNC Extreme cylinder heads using the link below. We’ve included the Dart Iron Eagle 8.1L cylinder head in both 4.5 and 4.26 bores for comparison.
Cylinder Head Flow Comparison496 / 8.1L Swap Into 1969 Vette
Corvette Enthusiast magazine did an excellent job swapping an 8.1L engine into a 1969 Corvette. You can check out the full build article at the link below. (12MB)
8.1L Hot Rod Swap - '69 CorvetteL18 / 8.1L Vortec Swap Resource Thread
CK5 Forum has an excellent 8.1L engine swap resouce thread with great pictures and part numbers for those considering an L18 / 8.1L / 496 engine swap.
8.1L / 496 Swap Resource ThreadOil Pan Manufacturers
"Header-Proof" Ceramic Spark Plugs
Ceramic Spark Plug Wires - $340
8.1L engines with short and long tube headers routinely melt stock plug wires and even performance spark plug boots. Ceramic spark plug wires eliminate burnt spark plug boots in boats, trucks, hot rods and RVs. If you've had this problem before or don't want to worry about it in the future, check out our 45 degree ceramic plug boots which are rated to withstand extreme temperatures up to 2000°F!