Chevrolet / GM Vortec 8100 8.1L Performance Parts
Want more power and better economy from your Chevy / GM Vortec 8100 8.1L engine? Our aluminum cylinder head, camshaft and modified intake manifold top end kits are a great place to start. On trucks primarily used for towing purposes, we recommend our stage 1 packages. In daily-driven street / strip applications, our stage 2 kits are a perfect fit, featuring more aggressive camshaft profiles and stainless steel roller rockers. Stage 3 has been developed to produce maximum power in naturally aspirated trucks and suvs using our max effort camshafts, forged pistons and forged connecting rods. Long tube headers are recommended with all of our Vortec 8100 performance parts kits.
8.1L Stock Displacement Performance Kits
Our stage 1 truck performance package makes 440 horsepower & 490 ft-lbs of torque. Great for towing!
- Big Power Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- BP-202 High Torque Camshaft
- ARP High Strength Head Bolt Kit
- Cometic MLS Head Gasket Set
Our most popular 496 street package, the stage 2 truck performance package bumps the Vortec 8.1L to 525 horsepower & 580 ft-lbs of torque.
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- BP-203 Street / Strip Camshaft
- GEN7R Aluminum Intake Manifold
- 1.7 Ratio SS Roller Rockers & AFN nuts
- 80mm Modified Stock Intake Manifold
- ARP Re-torqueable High Strength Head Bolt Kit
- Cometic MLS Head Gasket Set
For maximum power, our stage 3 truck performance package bumps the Vortec 8.1L to 610 horsepower & 640 ft-lbs of torque. 2400-2800 stall is recommended.
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- BP-206 Max Effort High-Lift Camshaft
- GEN7R Aluminum Intake Manifold
- 1.7 Ratio SS Roller Rockers & AFN nuts
- ARP Re-torqueable High Strength Head Bolt Kit
- BigPower Forged Flycut Pistons, Rings & Wristpins
- BigPower Forged I-beam Connecting Rods
- Cometic MLS Head Gasket Set
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.
Perfect for heavy pulling, our forged 511cid stroker stage 1 truck performance package makes 460 horsepower & 505 ft-lbs of torque.
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- BP-202 High Torque Camshaft
- GEN7R Aluminum Intake Manifold
- 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 $400 for GEN7R Aluminum Intake Manifold
Our most popular forged 511cid stroker kit. The street / strip stage 2 truck performance package bumps the Vortec 8.1L to 545 horsepower & 600 ft-lbs of torque.
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- BP-205 High Torque Camshaft
- GEN7R Aluminum 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
For maximum power from our forged 511cid stroker kit, the stage 3 truck performance package bumps the Vortec 8.1L to 625 horsepower & 660 ft-lbs of torque. 2400-2800 stall is recommended.
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- BP-206 Max Effort High-Lift Camshaft
- GEN7R Aluminum 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
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.
Use your truck for serious hauling? Our 540cid crate truck towing stage 1 package makes 575 horsepower & 640 ft-lbs of torque.
- 540cid Aftermarket Short Block
- BigPower Aluminum Cylinder Heads
- GEN7R Aluminum Intake Manifold
- ARP High Strength Head Bolt Kit
- Cometic MLS Head Gasket Set
- BP-205 High Torque Camshaft
- 1.7 Ratio SS Roller Rockers & AFN nuts
Our most popular 540cid crate kit street / strip package, the stage 2 truck 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
- GEN7R Aluminum 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
For maximum power from our forged 540cid crate kit, the stage 3 truck 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
- GEN7R Aluminum 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
Iron Cylinder Head Valvetrain Upgrades
Our full-roller camshaft kit for iron cylinder heads reuses stock head studs and fits under the stock valve covers. Includes your choice of four stock piston safe camshafts and 1.70 ratio stainless steel roller rockers.
- Your Choice Of Camshaft:
- BP-202 Towing / RV Camshaft
- BP-203 Street / Strip Camshaft
- BP-111-S Stock Piston Supercharger Camshaft
- BP-212-T Stock Piston Turbocharger Camshaft
- 1.70 Ratio Stainless Steel Roller Rockers
Heads & Intake Make The Difference
Unlike the LSX series of engines, a cam swap alone won't provide big horsepower gains. The 8.1L cylinder heads and intake manifold were not designed to produce power past 4300rpm, seriously limiting the output of these engines - especially when adding extra camshaft duration. To make the 8.1L an LS2 on steroids, replacing the top end is a must.
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 kit in their 2006 Chevy Avalanche and made 521HP / 627FT-LBS with headers and stock exhaust.
540cid Chevrolet Avalanche BuildGEN7R Intake Manifold
The stock intake manifold can’t meet the air flow demands of the 8.1L engine in performance applications. Our GEN7R intake manifold has been engineered for one purpose, maximum airflow and power output in marine applications. Our GEN7R intake manifold incorporates shorter length, high velocity, tuned runners to produce stronger mid-range torque and higher RPM horse power with a large, unrestricted plenum to satisfy this engine’s demand for more air at higher RPM’s.
- 90MM / 102MM (4 bolt / LS2 style)
How 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 Comparison"Header-Proof" Ceramic Spark Plugs
Ceramic Spark Plug Wires - $350
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!
Ceramic Spark Plug Wires