blueprinted against stock engines

[spatz]

the more I dig into the engine question the more confusing it gets and I must admit that I fully agree with pervious posts that doubt
the dyno readings. The question now is, if a more or less stock engine LS7 is the way to go or get a blue printed custom assembled engine with similar specs
and probably for the same amount of money. I am a little reluctant in believing that these custom made engines are so much better than the stock LS7.
Correct me if I am wrong, that is the reason for the post !
As probably others I do want reliability and not the last squeeze out of the engine. I think 505 HP of stock LS7 are plenty enough for the ULTIMAs and
I can imagine that this engine in a corvette probably can do 100.000 miles with no major problems.
I know there is some engine gurus here and I would love to read their comments on this matter.

thanks

[deadscoob]

Stock LS7 will be fairly powerful and should be ultra reliable in an Ultima.
Built engine for same money will be more powerful but will need more maintenance. Probably.

Seems to be quite a few 7litre LS3s out there that seem good value, similar or more power to a stock LS7 but for a worthwhile amount less.

I'd be quite interested to hear actual pros and cons of say a 600hp 427 LS3 compared to a mildy tweaked LS7.

[ivanj]

Easy
1] Put LS7 in and forget.
2] Put built engine in and watch gauges and listen to imaginary ticks/rattles etc.

Edited by ivanj on Friday 30th January 16:23

[spatz]

look what I have found very nice for article do understand the LS7 better

http://www.superchevy.com/technical/engines_drivet...

[Boosted LS1]

That was a good read. A home built engine will have forged pistons instead of the stock ls7 cast items. Plus the builder also gets to spec upgraded bearing shells and arp studs if wanted along with any other parts he may like. Ls7's are undoubtably good but they are still mass produced albeit it in smaller volumes then normal.

On the other hand a hopped up ls1/2/3 etc probably won't have an ls7 engine block or any of those nice Ti internals which are very expensive. It probably won't have ls7 heads either so in reality it just a 427 in an alloy block and not an ls7 by any stretch of the imagination. It's would be a 427 stroker and this is why they cost a lot less. The intake manifold can help with identification. Horses for courses and all that.

[V8 DOM]

To give you an idea.. I know its no LS engine but i used to own many moons ago a Opel Monza 3.0 straight six. We dynod it before we stripped it and it faired with the manufacturers figures but we blue printed it..All standard, no mods just put together correctly and matched the exhaust ports to exhaust , inlet to manifoild etc etca and it produced 8 HP more than before it was stripped...

Now 8 hp may not sound alot but when engine only produced 150 or so HP it =20 or so HP for a LS engine.......would i do it again.....NO not really unless engine already apart..If its apart or im fitting race heads then yes 100%..

As said many moons ago they are all different, some 500, some 515 some even maybe 480 hp , but unless you dyno it before playing you will never know how good they really are...and if its a low HP one you will be depressed...

Just bolt the LS7 in, and drive it...Its more than enough and dead reliable....500hp in a road car is ample.. Run it for a few years and if then you want more, tune it....

Have fun

Dom

[spatz]

this motor is currently on sale here in germany, seems to be a masterpiece of blueprinting (ebay 180323632440 )

http://cgi.ebay.de/LS2-Motor-Corvette-von-Henriks-...

Edited by spatz on Saturday 31st January 08:33

[V8 DOM]

spatz said:

this motor is currently on sale here in germany, seems to be a masterpiece of blueprinting (ebay 180323632440 )

http://cgi.ebay.de/LS2-Motor-Corvette-von-Henriks-...

Edited by spatz on Saturday 31st January 08:33

woooooooow i cant read german sorry!!!!!!!!

[Captain Slog]

Here's the translated page, its still a bit 'Pigeon-English' though

English Translation

Steve

[spatz]

i would say the english translation is not very helpful, so if anybody intersted i can translate what is in question

[Boosted LS1]

I worked out most of the german text because the parts included are well known US parts. It looks to be made from the 'right' stuff imo. The blueprinting stuff at the beginning would have been carried out by GM so I don't see how it could really serve much purpose apart from verifiying things.

I've edited some of the advert text, not sure when it'll be uploaded though.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Saturday 31st January 15:47