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When you’re building an engine that’s destined to make over 1,100 horsepower, the stock oil system might as well be a plastic kiddie pool trying to contain a tsunami. That’s exactly why we turned to Aviaid for a dry sump system for our bonkers Whipple-Supercharged 427ci LS build.
Let’s be real — most people look at a 1976 Chevy LUV pickup and see a rust bucket. We saw a canvas for automotive mayhem. This little truck is about to get an oil system that frees up horsepower and makes it more reliable for its power level, helping transform it from a forgettable economy truck to a street-legal missile.
Building a Monster
Our build started with a Concept Performance LSR aluminum block — a foundation designed to handle extreme performance. We weren’t just building an engine; we were crafting a precision instrument of automotive destruction.
The combination was pure automotive poetry: Air Flow Research cylinder heads flowing massive volumes of air, a Brian Tooley Racing camshaft with an aggressive profile, and a 3.0-liter Whipple Supercharger that looks like it was stolen from an industrial compressor. Running on E85, this combination was always going to be special. But the Aviaid dry sump system transformed it from impressive to legendary.
Being as efficient as possible with routing the lines helps with aesthetics and helps prevent the risk of damaging hoses.
But what truly sets this build apart is the level of detail. Every component was chosen to create a cohesive, high-performance machine. From the billet aluminum dry sump pan to the precision-ground chromoly drive shafts in the pump, each element of the Aviaid system contributes to the engine’s overall reliability and efficiency.
More Than Just an Oil System
The Aviaid dry sump system isn’t just some fancy add-on. It’s a critical piece of engineering that solves fundamental problems with traditional wet sump lubrication. The OEM Chevrolet oil pump has serious cavitation issues north of 6,000 RPM, essentially turning into a glorified eggbeater when you’re pushing serious power. The Aviaid system laughs in the face of such limitations.
At the heart of the system is a 3-stage pump — two scavenge sections and one pressure section. It mounts elegantly on the right side of the engine block, driven by an HTD belt and an ATI Super Damper. The stamped steel dry sump oil pan comes with screened pickups and a louvered windage tray that means business.
The Aviaid system’s modularity also deserves a mention. With over 35 mounting options and customizable pump segment widths, it’s a solution that adapts to different builds. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a professional racer, Aviaid has configurations that cater to your needs.
We opted for the 6” diameter sump tank, which gives us a solid 8-10 quarts of oil capacity. For a truck about to see some serious abuse, that extra oil volume is like having an insurance policy bolted to your engine.
Why Dry Sump Matters
In a traditional wet sump system, oil sloshes around the pan during acceleration, braking, and cornering. This creates a nightmare scenario for consistent lubrication. Imagine trying to drink a milkshake while riding a roller coaster — that’s essentially what a wet sump oil pump experiences during high-performance driving.
The Aviaid dry sump system eliminates this problem. Continuously scavenging oil from the pan and storing it in a remote reservoir, ensures that the oil pump always has a consistent, reliable supply of lubricant. The two scavenge sections quickly remove oil from the pan, while the pressure section ensures consistent oil pressure throughout the entire RPM range.
The Aviad dry sump pump looks right at home on this 427ci.
Dry sump systems also allow for greater oil cooling and aeration removal. This means the oil circulating through the engine is cooler, more stable, and better equipped to protect critical components. In high-performance engines like our Whipple-supercharged 427cici LS, these benefits are non-negotiable.
A Holistic Approach to Performance
What sets truly exceptional builds apart isn’t just raw power — it’s system-level integration. The Aviaid dry sump doesn’t just solve oil circulation problems; it actively contributes to overall performance. By reducing windage and eliminating oil movement during extreme driving conditions, it allows the engine to focus entirely on making power.
This level of integration is especially important in endurance applications. Whether it’s a road course event or extended dyno sessions, sustained performance requires systems that work together seamlessly. The Aviaid dry sump ensures that lubrication remains constant, even under the most extreme conditions.
The dry sump pump is belt driven by adding a pulley behind the ATI Super Damper.
The Numbers Tell a Story
When we finally strapped the engine to the dyno at KPE Racing, the results were nothing short of spectacular. 1,142 horsepower and 1,018 pound-feet of torque, with boost climbing to 17.1 psi. To put that into perspective, we transformed a truck that originally came with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder producing maybe 80 horsepower into a fire-breathing monster capable of humbling supercars.
But those numbers only tell part of the story. The real magic is in the consistency, the reliability, and the knowledge that every single horsepower is being utilized effectively. Beyond its performance benefits, the system’s design reflects Aviaid’s decades of engineering expertise. Features like the louvered windage tray and modular pump construction aren’t just practical; they’re evidence of a company that understands the demands of high-performance builds.
Real-World Applications
The benefits of the Aviaid dry sump system extend beyond the dyno. On the track, consistent oil pressure and reduced windage translate directly into greater reliability and more horsepower. For street cars that see occasional track use, the system offers peace of mind and a level of performance that’s hard to match.
By eliminating oil from the pan, we dramatically reduce windage. The crankshaft no longer fights its way through a sea of lubricant, which means more power to the wheels. It’s like giving the engine a set of performance lungs, creating negative crankcase pressure that improves the ring seal, reduces blow-by, and allows the rotating assembly to move with less resistance. For a high-performance build like ours, these incremental gains aren’t just numbers — they’re the difference between a good engine and a legendary one.
One of the key parts to any dry sump system is making sure you AN fittings are properly seated to their hose.
Aviaid’s Oil System Evolution
While our build showcased the Series 1 dry sump system, Aviaid’s engineering prowess goes way beyond a single product line. They’ve developed no less than eight different lubrication solutions for the LS engine family alone, each targeting a specific performance niche.
Their lineup reads like a performance engineer’s dream catalog. From external wet sump systems that utilize some OEM components to full-blown competition-spec dry sump setups, Aviaid has systematically addressed every potential lubrication challenge an enthusiast might encounter.
Making sure your AN fittings are properly tightened to the female end of the system, prevents headaches down the line or on the road.
Take their mid-range “LS-C” package, for instance. It’s positioned as a sweet spot for both street and competition use. While our build used the Series 1, the Series 2 pump offers some intriguing alternatives. With a unique rotor design and enhanced scavenging capabilities, it’s like the Series 1’s more aggressive cousin — perfect for builds that demand even more precise oil management.
The company’s approach isn’t just about creating products. It’s about solving real-world problems. Their Series 2 pumps, for example, feature a twin-lobe Roots-type impeller section that can create impressive vacuum levels, essentially creating a cleaner, more efficient oil system. For racers and hardcore street performance enthusiasts, these incremental improvements can mean the difference between a good build and a legendary one.
What’s particularly impressive about Aviaid is their commitment to modularity. Whether you’re building a drag racing monster, an endurance road racing machine, or a street-driven beast, they’ve got a solution. Their pump configurations range from single-stage external wet sump systems to complex 6-stage setups designed for engines with completely separated top and bottom-end lubrication.
It is important to know that while a dry sump system can “free up” horsepower, that doesn’t mean it should be your go-to move as a power adder or an oiling solution. If your build is only making a couple hundred horsepower and isn’t cornering, or hard launching then odds are, you don’t need a dry sump system. We asked Aviaid if a dry sump system could be overkill and they had this to say;
There can be “overkill” in setting up a dry sump system. Driving the pump takes horsepower and too large a pump can be parasitic. Having a pump with the correct balance of scavenging and oil volume and pressure is important. — Bill Holland, Aviaid Oil Systems
The Journey Continues
We’re still finalizing the transmission — a Tremec Magnum 6-speed or a built 6L80E are top contenders. But one thing’s certain: whatever goes behind this engine needs to match the engineering excellence of the Aviaid dry sump system. The little LUV truck might look like an automotive afterthought. But with the Aviaid dry sump system pumping its lifeblood, it’s transformed into something far more significant — a rolling testament to what’s possible when engineering meets unbridled passion.
