This Twin-Turbo V8 Crate Engine Makes 1,200 HP Without Race Fuel

Nelson Racing’s new 427-cubic-inch twin-turbo V8 makes 1,200 horsepower on 91-octane pump gas, or up to 1,500 hp on race fuel.

Photo by: Nelson Racing Engines

By: Jeff Perez

Sep 11, at 10:05am ET

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Nelson Racing’s new crate engine makes 1,200 horsepower on regular 91-octane pump gas.
The 427.7-cubic-inch LS-based V8 uses twin 72-millimeter turbochargers.
It starts at $41,999, with output climbing to as much as 1,500 hp on race fuel.

Most high-horsepower crate engines come with a few strings attached: mandatory race fuel, tons of maintenance, and a whole lot of time spent keeping everything happy. Nelson Racing Engines, however, has a new option that delivers serious power without being too complicated.

The company’s Intercooled Outlaw 427 makes 1,200 horsepower on regular 91-octane pump gas. No race fuel required. Nelson Racing builds this complete LS-based V8 to order and dyno-tests it before sending it to its new home.

That 1,200-hp figure comes at 7,200 rpm on 91-octane fuel. If you’re willing to step up to higher-octane race gas, Nelson Racing says the engine can make as much as 1,500 hp.

Nelson Racing Intercooled Outlaw 427

Photo by: Nelson Racing Engines

A 427-Inch LS With Two Turbos

Despite the old-school-sounding name, the Outlaw 427 isn’t a giant Ford big-block. It’s based on GM’s LS architecture and displaces 427.7 cubic inches, or about 7.0 liters.

Nelson Racing builds the engine around a beefed-up aluminum block with iron cylinder sleeves and a stronger six-bolt head design. Inside, there’s a billet crankshaft, forged connecting rods, and custom pistons. The 9.0:1 compression ratio also helps make all that power possible on pump gas.

The rest of the recipe is pretty serious, too. Nelson Racing uses upgraded cylinder heads, a custom camshaft, and a host of strengthened internal components designed to handle the abuse that comes with four-digit horsepower.

The Outlaw 427 then bolts on a pair of Nelson Racing’s 72.0-millimeter Mirror Image Generation 2 turbochargers. They use billet compressor wheels and custom exhaust manifolds, while the rest of the setup includes upgraded wastegates and blow-off valves to keep all that boost under control.

Photo by: Nelson Racing Engines

It Ain’t Cheap

Naturally, 1,200 hp on pump gas doesn’t come cheap. Nelson Racing lists the Twin-Turbo Intercooled Outlaw 427 at $41,999 to start—or about the price of a modern mid-size sedan. Each engine is built to order and dyno-tested before it leaves the factory.

What do you think?

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Comments

That’s a serious chunk of change for an engine, but for a serious project car, it seems like it’s worth the investment.

Motor1’s Take: We’re not saying you need 1,200 hp for your next project car. But if you’re going to build something completely ridiculous, you might as well do it right.