427 shortblocks $5500 US

[ringram]

Prices are a'tumbling. Now you can get a brand new LS7 block with all the requisite parts for $5500 US, less than £3000 for a 7L engine!
www.ls1tech.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6018264&postcount=74

The temptation is phenomenal.

Stock top end should fit, but with some shrouding. Of course the ideal is the L92 or LS7 style heads and intakes. Or for $1000 less get a 6.8L engine that will more happily take the heads from the smaller bores.

Expect 650bhp with the right heads and cam.

These engines are pretty much a like for like swap.

[Boosted LS1]

As said, the stock top end will shroud by a lot, it won't have 70 cc chambers either so some research on compression needs to be done first as it's 11:1 or thereabouts with 70 cc heads. You'll need to look for aftermarket heads with big chambers if you don't decide to use the ls7 heads with all that titanium luvliness

Boosted.

[ringram]

For sure. Or go with larger dished pistons. I think you have a choice.
But new heads are best.

[Boosted LS1]

ringram said:

For sure. Or go with larger dished pistons. I think you have a choice.
But new heads are best.

To dish them you'll need to check rod length and piston clearance. If it's 6.125" for an ls7 then there's little scope for a dished piston as the wedged little ends are close to the piston underside. piston manufacturers also like conventional pistons/pins not the wedged type used on the ls7. Heads are certainly the way to do this.

Me thinks GM has overproduced on bottom ends hence the clearance price

Boosted.

[ringram]

Yeah its interesting.

I saw some suggestion that cheap performance parts from GM encourages new vehicle purchasing.
I read one of the newer mag's which was saying Ford has a load of good stuff for the mustang. Maybe thats why they think its outsold the camaro etc for years and years.
But most people dont modify so Im not sure what they are up to. Perhaps they can make extra cash from all their R&D and compete with the massive aftermarket.

Those L92 heads look kick arse. Apparently they were pre production LS7 heads and were based on the C5R etc. They wont be on any of the HSV's but the new Holden SS and other V8's run these heads. They flow like 20% more than the LS2 heads. Latest GMTHP mag has a stock head swap with an LS2 showing 44BHP gain. They are only like $400US each fully assembled. Blows all the after-market heads out of the water.

[Boosted LS1]

It seems common to over produce stuff. I bought loads of it a while back but I've cleared it out. Then when everything is out of warranty the price shoots up alarmingly. Have you seen any big chambered heads on your travels, those L92's are 69cc or thereabouts iirc?

Boosted.

[ringram]

Some places do 70cc heads as an option. But Im not sure about factory stuff.
The LS7 stuff is expensive due to the titanium.

L92 heads on LS2's might be good, the intake, injectors, fuel rail and throttle body can be had for $520 as a set.