GTR and LS7, Sleeved LS1-2, or SBC?
Discussion
It's official. The LS7 will be mine...if I want it.
One of the largest Chevy crate engine distributors put me first on a list to purchase one back in April. They will receive only four LS7 egines in the first batch. Today they made it official and accepted a deposit with a 1-October ship date.
Now, the big decision...an LS7 (complete with dry-sump pump and pan, throttle body, intake manifold, heads, ignition [coils, plugs, wires], and engine sensors...or a wet-sleeved LS1 [or dry-sleeved LS2] 427 [4.125x4.000 - same as LS7] with all of the same bolt-ons...or an SBC with fuel injection.
Pros-Cons? Here's the way I see it:
LS7 - 505 crank HP and 470 ft/lbs right out of the box with a one-year warranty from GM. In its stock configuration, it will be happy running to 7k red-line for probably more than 100k miles. Throw in a cam, a high-flow exhaust and intake, and a good dyno tune, and make between 600-650 HP at the crank. The crate unit is $13,625 delivered. Still need engine management, A/C, alternator, brackets, and harness. Big coolness factor having the Z06 engine.
LS1/LS2 - 4.125" Darton sleeved block with no warranty. Can probably make more power with the initial N/A build. All forged components. Could make low compression for FI. More complicated build process involving components from multiple suppliers. Would be dry-sump, solid-roller. The N/A, EFI price would be about the same as the LS7, but would make around 630-650 crank HP.
SBC - AmerSpeed, or similar, AL long block with forged components, EFI, dry-sump, solid-roller. Roughly the same price, or slightly less. Again, a more complicated build.
A fourth option would be a 402 LS2, which is a 4" crank, stock bore. Again, EFI, forged, dry-sump, solid-roller...would be about $2.5k less and make about 600 HP at the crank.
All configs have their pluses. If you have suggestions/comments, I am all ears. :idea:
One of the largest Chevy crate engine distributors put me first on a list to purchase one back in April. They will receive only four LS7 egines in the first batch. Today they made it official and accepted a deposit with a 1-October ship date.
Now, the big decision...an LS7 (complete with dry-sump pump and pan, throttle body, intake manifold, heads, ignition [coils, plugs, wires], and engine sensors...or a wet-sleeved LS1 [or dry-sleeved LS2] 427 [4.125x4.000 - same as LS7] with all of the same bolt-ons...or an SBC with fuel injection.
Pros-Cons? Here's the way I see it:
LS7 - 505 crank HP and 470 ft/lbs right out of the box with a one-year warranty from GM. In its stock configuration, it will be happy running to 7k red-line for probably more than 100k miles. Throw in a cam, a high-flow exhaust and intake, and a good dyno tune, and make between 600-650 HP at the crank. The crate unit is $13,625 delivered. Still need engine management, A/C, alternator, brackets, and harness. Big coolness factor having the Z06 engine.
LS1/LS2 - 4.125" Darton sleeved block with no warranty. Can probably make more power with the initial N/A build. All forged components. Could make low compression for FI. More complicated build process involving components from multiple suppliers. Would be dry-sump, solid-roller. The N/A, EFI price would be about the same as the LS7, but would make around 630-650 crank HP.
SBC - AmerSpeed, or similar, AL long block with forged components, EFI, dry-sump, solid-roller. Roughly the same price, or slightly less. Again, a more complicated build.
A fourth option would be a 402 LS2, which is a 4" crank, stock bore. Again, EFI, forged, dry-sump, solid-roller...would be about $2.5k less and make about 600 HP at the crank.
All configs have their pluses. If you have suggestions/comments, I am all ears. :idea:
All Ls's have weak liners so there's no big gain by using an ls7 block. Block strength has never really been an issue and they have been known to fail. Ls2 has a weaker block, less coolent volume and it's got siamesed liners so I don't rate that block either.
I do rate the Darton product especially if used with an ls1, not ls6 block. The ls1 block seems to be the strongest block. Darton liners are massively strong and can be replaced if you damage a piston etc. I have darton info on my site and it's the way my 427 hybrid will be built. I have ls7 heads for it and also a custom turbo manifold for it
.
Darton all the way
Boosted.
I do rate the Darton product especially if used with an ls1, not ls6 block. The ls1 block seems to be the strongest block. Darton liners are massively strong and can be replaced if you damage a piston etc. I have darton info on my site and it's the way my 427 hybrid will be built. I have ls7 heads for it and also a custom turbo manifold for it
. Darton all the way
Boosted.
Boosted LS1 said:Thanks, Boosted. My engine will most likely not be "boosted".
All Ls's have weak liners so there's no big gain by using an ls7 block. Block strength has never really been an issue and they have been known to fail. Ls2 has a weaker block, less coolent volume and it's got siamesed liners so I don't rate that block either.
I do rate the Darton product especially if used with an ls1, not ls6 block. The ls1 block seems to be the strongest block. Darton liners are massively strong and can be replaced if you damage a piston etc. I have darton info on my site and it's the way my 427 hybrid will be built. I have ls7 heads for it and also a custom turbo manifold for it
Darton all the way
Boosted.
So, I think the LS7, LS2 (sleeved/not), or SBC are viable and could suffice. For an FI application, I would definitely go wet-sleeved LS1. I like the idea of a sleeved block, even for an N/A build...and even if not going to a 4.125" bore. Would like to have the strength with the intended RPM.Builder, the ls2 sounds like it be good for you if you intend to work on it. More stuff will come 'on line for it' later on. Nobody will really develop stuff for the ls7, at least not for a while. It's that good out of the box. Plus it's an expensive loss if you break it. Mind you, in your car it won't need to be stressed!
Boosted.
Boosted.
Boosted LS1 said:I have made contact with one of the engine builders at the Wixom Performance Build Center, which is the factory that makes the LS7. It sure is a sweet package...with the exotic metals and dry-sump directly from GM...and with a warranty. I think it's a great option. Perhaps down the road, Darton will have a sleeve for this block, too.
Luckily, I still have a little time to decide... Thanks for the comments!
I just know you're going to fit the ls7
Boosted.
I am leaning that way, but really haven't decided yet. It's still not known EXACTLY what comes with the crate engine part number. And, there are a number of details to work out. The major concern is the availability of the PCM/ECU and harness. They do not have a part number yet, so no way to buy them separately, and they aren't included with the crate engine.
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