M178 Engine Builds
M178 Engine Builds — 4.0L Dry-Sump V8 Forged Crate Engines
The M178 is the dry-sump variant of Mercedes-AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, exclusive to the AMG GT sports car family: GT, GT S, GT R, GT R Pro, GT C, and GT Black Series. It shares the hot-vee twin-turbo layout and 4.0L displacement with the M177, but uses a dry-sump oiling system that keeps oil supply consistent under sustained lateral and longitudinal G-loads — essential for track and race use. The GT Black Series variant adds a flat-plane crankshaft for a fundamentally different firing order and higher-RPM power delivery.
Build Options
YPG Motorsport builds M178 engines in two primary configurations. The CNC-ported cylinder heads ship as a matched pair with five-angle valve job, competition valve springs, flow bench testing, and ARP head studs. The complete crate engine is a turnkey long block — forged short block with CNC heads, dry-sump oil system, intake, and ancillaries. Every forged bottom end uses 4340 steel connecting rods and aluminium pistons with ceramic-coated crowns and Teflon-coated skirts, rated to 1,500HP+ with appropriate turbo and fuel system upgrades.
AMG GT Platform Specifics
The AMG GT chassis was designed around the M178 from the ground up — front-mid engine placement, transaxle gearbox, and aluminium spaceframe. Because the dry-sump system removes the conventional oil pan, the engine sits lower in the chassis than a wet-sump M177, contributing to the GT's low centre of gravity. For race builds, the M178's dry-sump reliability under sustained track loads makes it the preferred AMG V8 for endurance and sprint applications.
The flat-plane crankshaft variant in the GT Black Series produces a cross-plane-equivalent torque curve with a higher RPM ceiling and sharper throttle response. YPG builds flat-plane M178 crate engines for Black Series owners pursuing maximum track performance.
Chassis Fitment
All AMG GT C190 variants: GT (462 HP), GT S (515 HP), GT R (577 HP), GT R Pro (577 HP), GT C (550 HP), and GT Black Series (720 HP). The M178 is not interchangeable with the wet-sump M177 without significant ancillary modifications. For M177-powered AMG models (C63, E63, GT63), see the M177 engine builds page. Browse M178 builds below or contact sales@ypgmotorsport.com for custom build requests.
