anybody do an LS7 swap yet?

[chevybuilder18]

I've always wanted to do one but there so expensive that's its not even funny, however there are luckier guys out there that can get there hands on one of these corvette/crate engines without even trying. Gotta consider the LS1/LS6- 5.3 swaps and 6.0 swaps are all of the rage but I haven't seen anyone consider the value of these small blocks pinical in cubes. Chevrolet has made it to wear us guys can actually pick a small block up to 427+ and fords still playing with supercharged 5.0s and the max 6.2 liter raptor engine. So I was curious if anybodys taken advantage of the 500+HP LS7 (carbed) and dropped one in there pick up.

[tylervalo]

I've seen one in an s10, not a square yet though.

[chevybuilder18]

Originally Posted by tylervalo

I've seen one in an s10, not a square yet though.

I'm not sure but I think I saw it on youtube. Nobodys bothered to experiment with this swap

[INSIDIOUS '86]

The ls7 is the 400 block of the ls family. It can't take much boost if at all and price and availability are hat make it less desirable to build. Stock form it's impressive and a cam swap and intake with longtube headers and it can make 600hp just fine. But like you said. Price sucks. And the ls9 and lsa and thier boost ready crates pretty much eclipse the ls7 anymore so the wow factor is pretty much gone.

[nekkidhillbilly]

10k no thanks

[pwradder]

never seen one, i sure wouldn't do it- even if i did have the money. i put a procharger kit and a set of long tubes on a ls7 zo6 that made 690rwhp. while impressive i've also seen the bad side of the ls7's-like the valve stem and rocker bearing failures. i would rather build a healthy ls2/ls3 instead!

[tylervalo]

Rocker bearing failures was limited to I believe a year or 2yr window. I almost went with one in my C5 but decided on a built LS3 instead.

[chevybuilder18]

I've seen some lsx swaps in 4X4 forum, its the same thing, 427 cubes, all except on thing. The lsx is a iron block with LS3 heads pretty much comes with the rectangle ports for optimium performance, but they suck more on price, priced at 25000 dollars and less. Its pretty funny everyone here says it takes out the wow factor. I was thinking daily driver stock or well tuned pcm, never did I say anything about the superchargers. And not to mention every part mechanical except the sensors are interchangable with other 3rd-4th gen engines, so I mean the wow factor would be there. Instead of a 454 stock big block, that weighs a lot more, you could have a stock factory 427 small block that weighs 200 lbs idk compared to a big block, that weighs 425 pounds, and that's a diet.makes more power stock too. Its the price the only negative to this engine. I think all the positives out weigh the negatives by a land slide, exceptions in power and weight would be the newer 8.1 liter vortec, that has continuesly in stock form impressed me. I'm thinking 8.1 in the future for another truck build after I do the 440 plymouth project.

[bryantreams]

I'm thinking about doing an lq4 with ls2 cam, heads, and intake. Anyone care to talk me out of this budget "junkyard" build?

[rs74]

The bodyshop where I had my truck at is redoing a 64 Impala SS. The guy who owns the car bought a wrecked 06 (I believe)Z06 with the LS7 and siz speed. He is going to use as much of the vette and implement it in the Impala. Not a square by any means but it will be interesting. The vette was built to race on circuit tracks and a cam and other goodies have been added to it. That is my ultimate package for my short bed. Either the LS7 or the LS9.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by bryantreams

I'm thinking about doing an lq4 with ls2 cam, heads, and intake. Anyone care to talk me out of this budget "junkyard" build?

theres better cams for a truck than that but other than that y would i

[nekkidhillbilly]

for the money your better to buy a aftermarket block and build a lsx.

[BigBlocksRule]

I have a new block and pair of heads, probably going to go with the 4.125" stroke to make a square motor, 441 cubes. Cylinder walls are longer than other production blocks, which allows for longer stroke without pulling the piston out of the bottom of the bore. Sleeves are more brittle than other LS engines, so detonation will kill them pronto. Other than that, they're reliable to around 900hp. I'm not far from Texas Speed, they have quite a few that are doing well. Valvetrain and valve guide issues are no more common in LS7's than LS3's.
Other than a show piece, I don't see any reason to drop one into a truck. They are NOT the block choice for big power race engines, but they're a great street/strip mill.
Mine is reserved for a '40 Ford Coupe, there's one in a field not far away, just waiting for the old fart to kick the bucket so I can snag it from his heirs.