This video gives us a rare look inside the creation of the most powerful GM engine ever!

You’ve seen the C7Z by now, you know it’s a monster. What powers this beautiful beast is the amazing LT4 engine by GM, an engine being use in the 2016 CTS-V as well, and set to go into the extreme ZL1 Camaro. In this video, Speed Academy takes their cameras inside the GM Engine Plant in Tonawanda, NY.

This plant has been building Chevy engines since 1938, and is currently handling the LT1 and LT4 performance engines (along with others). The plant got a 400 million dollar retooling so the gen-5 blocks can be made here. A total of 49 steps go into the assembly of the LT4.

The engine blocks come into the plant as roughly machine blocks; the cranks come in cast. These blocks are fed through a series of programs that perform boring, honing, and machining. The cranks are cut, balanced, and polished; each crank is finished with tolerances down to the micron. A single station robot assembles the cylinder heads, with many precautionary features added to the design. Before ever reaching the assembly line, the components go through extensive quality testing and checks.

When all of the components are ready to go, the engines go on an assembly line with cameras and checkpoints to ensure precision at every turn. Each engine assembly starts with a disassembly of the machined caps so the crank can be dropped into place. The highly skilled workforce carefully puts in the rods and pistons, with the help of limited automation on the assembly line. Once the head gaskets are installed, the freshly assembled heads are placed onto the block, and the process continues.

When the engine is finally in long block form, it is checked at over 12,000 test points. To top it off, the supercharger is added to the engine, robots install the manifolds, and the LT4 engine cover is bolted into place. After being checked one more time, the engines are shipped off to Bowling Green, KY where they will be dropped into the C7 Z06 Corvette.