Richard Holdener Holdener took a stock, flat-top 5.3-liter LS and put it on an engine dyno to find a baseline power rating. The results were as predicted: 342 peak horsepower and 379 lb-ft of torque.

The plane itself is a Van's Aircraft RV7, a two-seat kit plane that the manufacturer says is capable of cross-country flights. Jonathan left the stock LS engine accessories in place, except for ...