Sterling “Not Likely” To Offer LS-Platform Based Engine

Speculation on high-performance marine engine builders bringing the promising 7.4-litre LS platform into their engine product lines has run high since Ilmor Marine introduced a 522-hp catalyzed LS offering for MasterCraft tow boats and announced it will release a non-catalyzed, 550-hp version of  the powerplant for the high-performance market in 2012. Not all engine shops, however, are ready to embrace LS platform architecture. Among them is Sterling Performance in Milford, Mich.

“I know it can make great power, but what I don’t know is if the platform has the mass to make big power reliably for a sustained period of time,” said Mike D’Anniballe, the principal of Sterling Performance. “So it’s not likely that we’ll offer anything based off that platform. No one’s asked us for it yet.

“For 500, 500 horsepower, it’s just fine, but no one really comes to Sterling for that kind of power,” he added. “The smallest engine in our line makes 700 hp, and we don’t sell many of those.”