Exclusive Interview: The Chevy Performance LS427/570 Crate Engine Descends from the Mighty L88 427
The 7.0-liter LS427/570 pumps out 570 hp, 540 ft-lbs of torque, and will soon be available as a Connect & Cruise kit!
When it comes to naturally aspirated Chevrolet Performance small blocks, there are none more powerful than the all-new LS427/570 crate engine. And in the history of Corvette and Chevrolet racing, very few monikers outshine the vaunted 427.
1967 Corvette L88 Preproduction 427
And, of course, before the later gen Corvettes and Camaros upgraded to LT4 supercharging, the Corvette Z06 and Camaro Z/28 both housed the fabled 7.0L LS7 engine. Hand built. Forged steel crankshaft. Titanium connecting rods. CNC Ported cylinder heads. And huge 4.125-inch bores. The original LS7 was and remains a street-legal racing engine. The LS427/570 leaps skyward where the LS7 crate engine left off. Chevrolet Performance was kind enough to (virtually) sit down with CorvetteForum for a quick interview about the new king crate engine. Here’s what we learned.
2012 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Centennial Edition
Hot Cam
A dedicated “competition” engine (aka NOT emissions compliant), the LS427/570 bumps power figures by 65 horsepower and 70 lb-ft over the LS7. That’s a hefty 570 hp, 540 ft-lbs of torque. “We ran the same validation test cycle as the production Z06 LS7 engine and power certification in our Pontiac Racing Dynamometers,” Chevy Performance told me.
Most of these gains come from new high-lift hydraulic roller camshaft. It features a 0.591-inch intake/0.590-inch exhaust lift, 227-degree intake/242-degree exhaust duration, and a lobe separation angle of 116 degrees. But GM says they also tested the LS427/570, “with long tube headers so the exhaust restriction is lower than with the regular LS7 production engine. This results in a power gain too.” The engine comes with fifth-gen Camaro Z/28 headers, but it sounds like you’ll want to ditch those for longtubes.
2015 Cheverolet Camaro Z/28 LS7
The LS427/570 also features unique high-rate valve springs, CNC-ported cylinder heads featuring 2.20-inch titanium intake valves and 1.61-inch sodium-filled exhaust valves, and the fourteen-inch Camaro Z/28 168-tooth manual transmission flywheel. FYI, Chevy Performance also sells “CNC ported LS3 cylinder heads and they are a very popular upgrade.”
We asked about issues of valve drop. Chevrolet replied that LS7 engines, “have been sold as crate engines for several years, and were based on the fifth-generation Camaro Z/28. Chevy Performance has not seen this issue with any of our crate engines.”
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 dry-sump oiling system
Wet-Sump
One item you won’t find from the original LS7 is the dry-sump oiling system. Instead, Chevrolet Performance swapped in an F-body aluminum oil pan and a specific wet-sump oil pump. It turns out the oil pan configuration of the LS7 engine is the very reason Chevy Performance took on this project. “The LS7 was the biggest displacement LS engine made, but was limited to a dry sump. We know that wet sump engines, especially with our “F” car oil pan package much easier into most project vehicles.”
F-Car Oil Pan
The challenge with the production and crate LS7, from a hot rodder or racer’s perspective, is that it requires all the extra dry-sump system components, which adds to the workload. “Most project cars are not being used on the track, hence the dry-sump system does not offer much advantage. And the LS7 oil pan configuration is not as user-friendly as the “F” car oil pan that is part of the LS427.”
Swapping to a wet-sump system allowed Chevrolet Performance to upgrade to a hotter cam. Personally, I thought maybe someone at Chevy didn’t like the hot-cammed LS3 (aka the LS376/525) outperforming a 427, but no, it was the oil pain. “It was not a conscious decision to “top” the LS376-525, which is a great crate engine by itself. We felt that by converting the LS7 to a wet sump design that there might be some added power with a camshaft change. We ran some analysis to develop this camshaft and testing yielded the results. We could not be happier with the power and torque output!”
2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427
Exclusively for Competition, but Connect & Cruisable
The LS427/570 product page fine print notes this crate engine, “is designed and intended for use in vehicles operated exclusively for competition.” Meaning, you shouldn’t (WINK) drop into a “legally registered” C6 Corvette Z06 or Camaro Z/28 because, “with the design of the camshaft, this engine is not able to meet the tough emission standards required of today’s engines.” This engine, instead, is for someone who “wants the iconic LS7 (or 427) moniker for their project vehicle.”
2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
“Installing an LS engine into any Corvette or Camaro has been successfully done by many project builders. Each generation of these vehicles has its own personality and unique attributes. It is possible to install this engine into any Corvette or Camaro, regardless of the generation. Of course, some are easier than others and may require more work!” We imagine that the GM faithful will find a way to stuff this in anything they possibly can.
And, making this a little bit easier, we’re excited to announce that Chevrolet Performance confirmed, “the LS427 will be available as a Connect & Cruise with the 4L75, 6L80, and 6 speed Super Magnum manual transmissions.”
Dyno Testing the LS427/50 Crate Engine
It. Sounds. Glorious.
Don’t Forget the Mobil 1 & Engine Controller
Like many LS and LT crate engines that aren’t already part of a Connect & Cruise kit, the LS427/570 doesn’t include an engine controller with purchase. But it does require the use of Chevy Performance engine control kit 19420000. So make sure to add that to your shopping list and budget. Also, Chevy Performance highly “recommends the use of Mobil 1 15W-50 oil in this engine to ensure it maintains proper lubrication.”
LS427/570 Specifications
- 427 Cubic Inches
- 570 horsepower & 540 lb-ft torque
- Unique high-lift hydraulic roller camshaft with a 0.591-inch intake/0.590-inch exhaust lift, 227-degree intake/242-degree exhaust duration, and a lobe separation angle of 116 degrees
- Unique high-rate valve springs
- Camaro fifth-generation Z/28 exhaust manifolds
- Low-profile LS7 EFI intake manifold with fuel rails, injectors, and throttle body installed
- Robust LS7 rotating assembly featuring a forged steel crankshaft and titanium connecting rods
- CNC-ported cylinder heads featuring 2.20-inch titanium intake valves and 1.61-inch sodium-filled exhaust valves
- Fourteen-inch Camaro Z/28 168-tooth manual transmission flywheel
2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
LS427/570 Pricing & Availability
Chevy Performances says there “will be limited availability” of the LS427/570 wet-sump crate engine. But it is available NOW from all official Chevrolet Performance dealers. Taking a quick look around the interwebs today, I found the LS42/570 HERE at Scoggin Dickey for $12,714.70.
Thanks so much to the team over at Chevrolet Performance for taking the time to answer all of our questions!
Images: Chevrolet
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