LS7 Conversion
#221
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Dang it! The new oil pressure sensor is in, and it reads the same as the old one. I drove my ‘13 427 Vert to work today, it gets over 75psi at idle at cold start up with 5water30 synthetic.
I hope 25psi ai idle hot, and 50-75psi hot 2500-3500 with 20w50 Dino oil in the ‘79 Vette is adequate. I intend to autocross this thing.
after break in, I’ll switch to 20w50 synthetic. I’m not tearing this engine apart again, and I sure don’t want to buy and install a high pressure dry sump oil pump.
I hope 25psi ai idle hot, and 50-75psi hot 2500-3500 with 20w50 Dino oil in the ‘79 Vette is adequate. I intend to autocross this thing.
after break in, I’ll switch to 20w50 synthetic. I’m not tearing this engine apart again, and I sure don’t want to buy and install a high pressure dry sump oil pump.
#223
Drifting
#224
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2940 lbs.
I’ve been driving the car to work all this week. Giving the fuel injection a chance to learn the new engine. I like the new 180 degree thermostat, the engine runs at about 190 to 195 degrees now. The oil pressure seems to be up a little with the thick oil and new oil pressure sensor. I’m on vacation in Texas next week. It will be good to get away from this car for a minute. I weighed the car, it is now 2,940 lbs with the new hood and new LS7 engine!
Last edited by Bee Jay; 06-20-2019 at 03:21 PM.
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Metalhead140 (06-23-2019)
#225
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I’ve been driving the car to work all this week. Giving the fuel injection a chance to learn the new engine. I like the new 180 degree thermostat, the engine runs at about 190 to 195 degrees now. The oil pressure seems to be up a little with the thick oil and new oil pressure sensor. I’m on vacation in Texas next week. It will be good to get away from this car for a minute. I weighed the car, it is now 2,940 lbs with the new hood and new LS7 engine!
Regarding your oil pressure readings (and I don't claim to be an expert here), from what I've heard/read over the years, those pressures look okay. IIRC, even Smokey Yunick said 10psi per thousand RPM was enough to protect the engine.
#226
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Holy **** Batman. After driving the car like an econobox for two weeks, yesterday I gave it full throttle and redline a few times. Oh my gosh! Traction is very limited in first and second and the start of third gear. Redline (I’m using 6000rpm for now) comes up very quickly and your hauling ***. The car is very quick and almost scary. It could use traction control like the 427 Vert, and I see why they say never turn it off. The 180 degree thermostat is great and the engine runs at 190 degrees now. The C7 hood vent is here, but the backside is 17 1/2” wide. The raised hood surface has narrowed 17” wide. I’ll need to trim the vent in the back before making a template to install.
Last edited by Bee Jay; 07-02-2019 at 05:18 PM.
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Metalhead140 (07-02-2019)
#227
Old Pro Solo Guy
Question:
Did you use a feeler guage to check clearances on the oil pump and on the rod side clearances? A lot of trash from the bad bearings went thru that original oil pump. I didn't catch whether you re-used the rods or not. Both of those measurements have a huge impact on oil pressure.
Did you use a feeler guage to check clearances on the oil pump and on the rod side clearances? A lot of trash from the bad bearings went thru that original oil pump. I didn't catch whether you re-used the rods or not. Both of those measurements have a huge impact on oil pressure.
#228
Le Mans Master
25 psi hot oil pressure at idle is good. No issues there. Even on C7Zs with dry sump oiling and variable pressure controlled oil pumps, the hot oil pressure is 20-25 psi depending on temps.
#229
Race Director
Holy **** Batman. After driving the car like an econobox for two weeks, yesterday I gave it full throttle and redline a few times. Oh my gosh! Traction is very limited in first and second and the start of third gear. Redline (I’m using 6000rpm for now) comes up very quickly and your hauling ***. The car is very quick and almost scary. It could use traction control like the 427 Vert, and I see why they say never turn it off. The 180 degree thermostat is great and the engine runs at 190 degrees now. The C7 hood vent is here, but the backside is 17 1/2” wide. The raised hood surface has narrowed 17” wide. I’ll need to trim the vent in the back before making a template to install.
I'm thinking about doing the same thing.
Thanks!
#230
Drifting
#231
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#232
Race Director
Factory C7 vent from Corvette Mod. $150
https://www.corvettemods.com/C7-Corv...r_p_10731.html
https://www.corvettemods.com/C7-Corv...r_p_10731.html
#233
The car is back from the muffler shop. It’s not as loud as I expected. I guess the stick LS7 Cam is a lot milder than the LT4 Hit Cam I had in the 383. The LS7 does not like the 750 rpm idle, so I may increase it to 900-950. I drove it 10 miles to let the Sniper FI learn. I’m trying to behave and keep it under 4000 rpm and 50% idle for a few miles. Only one problem so far. This #%^** Mr Gasket adjustable thermostat housing is leaking. It leakes running and sitting. Maybe I installed wrong. Does anyone make a housing that points down instead of right?
also CVR CVRTSH5BK
bfit
Last edited by bfit; 07-06-2019 at 04:57 PM.
#234
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Update!
I cut a hole into my brand new hood! It’s ready for paint.
The car is running like crap under load. I bought a SD card reader so I can send Holley data logs to figure out what’s wrong. I’ve only pushed it once, I hope I didn’t break something.
I cut a hole into my brand new hood! It’s ready for paint.
The car is running like crap under load. I bought a SD card reader so I can send Holley data logs to figure out what’s wrong. I’ve only pushed it once, I hope I didn’t break something.
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Metalhead140 (07-15-2019)
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Metalhead140 (02-20-2020)
#238
Racer
The new hood & vent look really good.
I think that if it were mine, I would paint the center of the hood flat black from the vent back to the back end of the hood, but that's just a personal preference.
Are you going to have the car out for the Santa Maria auto-x on the 10th?
-Chris
I think that if it were mine, I would paint the center of the hood flat black from the vent back to the back end of the hood, but that's just a personal preference.
Are you going to have the car out for the Santa Maria auto-x on the 10th?
-Chris
#239
Race Director
That is exactly what I want for my 73.
Looks awesome.
Thanks for sharing.
Looks awesome.
Thanks for sharing.
#240
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The new hood & vent look really good.
I think that if it were mine, I would paint the center of the hood flat black from the vent back to the back end of the hood, but that's just a personal preference.
Are you going to have the car out for the Santa Maria auto-x on the 10th?
-Chris
I think that if it were mine, I would paint the center of the hood flat black from the vent back to the back end of the hood, but that's just a personal preference.
Are you going to have the car out for the Santa Maria auto-x on the 10th?
-Chris