Engine Swap Build Advice Please
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 1
From: Orange County California
Engine Swap Build Advice Please
Looking for some advice...I have 12-15K to spend (including labor and install), and want the most NA streetable power that I can get on the 91 octane gas here in Socal that is a good dailey driver and will pass the sniffer part of a smog test...(not worried about the visual inspection ;-)
was leaning toward a forged LS3 417 stroker with ported LS7 heads etc...I think I can get to the upper 500's HP without going with a cam that hurts daily drivability too much....
I'm open to all NA options that fit within my budget, and that is still a "reasonably" civilized daily driver. Tell what you would build and estimated HP/Torque output etc please.
Thanks in advance guys...I just want to make sure I explore all options before pulling the trigger.
was leaning toward a forged LS3 417 stroker with ported LS7 heads etc...I think I can get to the upper 500's HP without going with a cam that hurts daily drivability too much....
I'm open to all NA options that fit within my budget, and that is still a "reasonably" civilized daily driver. Tell what you would build and estimated HP/Torque output etc please.
Thanks in advance guys...I just want to make sure I explore all options before pulling the trigger.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,892
Likes: 47
From: Helotes TEXAS
I meant an LQ9 iron block w/stroker kit to make a 427. Heads would be your choice. Personally I would go with 243's or 799's unless the LS7 heads are THAT much better.
Most 427 LS builds yield an easy 500 plus streetable hp.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale AZ
12-15 was my original budget, then over time that doubled lol. Try not to do the same, I did the whole 427 thing as well and I go from regretting it to loving it back and forth all the time....
Just make sure you think as "complete" as possible and picture as many "extra's" you might need as well so it doesn't surprise you after or during the build.
You being in Cali could limit your NA abilities so look around alot for what works out best.
In fact going with a good forged 402 or even a 383 should yield what you want but it's hard to say given Cali's restrictions.
Just make sure you think as "complete" as possible and picture as many "extra's" you might need as well so it doesn't surprise you after or during the build.
You being in Cali could limit your NA abilities so look around alot for what works out best.
In fact going with a good forged 402 or even a 383 should yield what you want but it's hard to say given Cali's restrictions.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
if 10-15k is your budget ... I'd go for a solid 383 (oh wait I did) 
.
Give a tuner a call to get your best options plus if you can, get in cars locally and ride around. This way you can really decide if you want to spend the extra on an emblem that says 427.
. Give a tuner a call to get your best options plus if you can, get in cars locally and ride around. This way you can really decide if you want to spend the extra on an emblem that says 427.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 1
From: Orange County California
great tips, thanks
I looked at doing a 427, but it seems that the 4.125 stroke is not amenable to blower applications...I don't have any intentions of adding a blower, but would like to keep the option. I can get to 580 hp with the 417, if I could get to 620+ in a streetable setup with a 427 I'd be interested for sure, anyone done this on a $15k budget?
I like the idea of a forged 383, but I can only really get to around 480 rwhp and still be in a comfortable daily driver in California, plus, it costs about the same as doing a forged 417, and you end up with 100 hp less.
anyone done a 650+ Hp build at my budget on a bigger cube setup, like a 454 or a 502?
I looked at doing a 427, but it seems that the 4.125 stroke is not amenable to blower applications...I don't have any intentions of adding a blower, but would like to keep the option. I can get to 580 hp with the 417, if I could get to 620+ in a streetable setup with a 427 I'd be interested for sure, anyone done this on a $15k budget?
I like the idea of a forged 383, but I can only really get to around 480 rwhp and still be in a comfortable daily driver in California, plus, it costs about the same as doing a forged 417, and you end up with 100 hp less.
anyone done a 650+ Hp build at my budget on a bigger cube setup, like a 454 or a 502?
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 1
From: Orange County California
I think I may have a winner, am researching an LS7 alluminum blocked stroked to a 454....seams like I might be able to do that close to my budget, and hit 700 Hp.
if anyone knows of a build like this let me know please.
am trying to find a stroker "kit" that would work, but might need to build a kit from components.
can't imagine it would be more than $3500 for an ls7 stroker setup...$2500 for the bare block...$2700 for built ported ls7 heads...$2000 for TB/Mani/fuel rail....cam $450....labor & tune $4500.
am I missing anything, will the accessory drives port over from my LS1 to this LS7.
What additional costs am I missing or off on?
Last edited by steven31371; Nov 13, 2012 at 07:22 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 27,567
Likes: 99
From: San Diego
WKMCD or whatever his screen name is, has an LS2 based 427 that makes around 577rwhp and drives like a gentleman's cruiser around parking lot speeds, but is a complete animal when you give it some throttle. This guy... Talk to him about a bad-azz swap. 
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/memb...137-wkmcd.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/memb...137-wkmcd.html
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 1
From: Orange County California
WKMCD or whatever his screen name is, has an LS2 based 427 that makes around 577rwhp and drives like a gentleman's cruiser around parking lot speeds, but is a complete animal when you give it some throttle. This guy... Talk to him about a bad-azz swap.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/memb...137-wkmcd.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/memb...137-wkmcd.html
yeah, he has my favorite car on the forum
am familiar with his build...am researching doing a sleeved 5.3 aluminum block out to a 454 or 440 stroker
haha, I consider him a forum buddy actually, its passing his numbers in a kind of friendly Vert sibling rivalry thats got me looking into stuff other than a forged LS3 417 stroker...I can get to his numbers with this setup, but would like to be a little a head of him lol.
His car sets the standard for an all around fun and drivable Vette in my book.
Incredibly well balanced in every way, not just in the power plant.
I'd like to see if I can improve on what he did. i.e go a little bit further with the handling and power, but still maintain his car's manners.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 1
From: Orange County California
if you look in my garage, before I even saw his car, I said my goal was to create a Ferrari level eurokiller as far as all around performance, but do it on a reasonable budget, meaning a car with less than $40,000 invested including the purchase price of the car.
I think I can build a car that performs as good as a $250,000 Euro Supercar, but with better reliability, for under $40,000 using the C5 Vert platform.
I've done a lot of the lower cost DIY stuff, now its time to start dropping some cash and getting the bigger stuff done.
But there are a ton of options, and I want to explore them all as much as I can before pulling the trigger on the higher ticket stuff
I think I can build a car that performs as good as a $250,000 Euro Supercar, but with better reliability, for under $40,000 using the C5 Vert platform.
I've done a lot of the lower cost DIY stuff, now its time to start dropping some cash and getting the bigger stuff done.
But there are a ton of options, and I want to explore them all as much as I can before pulling the trigger on the higher ticket stuff
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 1
From: Orange County California
am looking at either doing a 454 stroker in an LS7 block, or a resleeved 5.3 LS block.
Both should make nearly equal HP, but I'm wondering which will make more low end/mid range torque.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 1
From: Orange County California
what kind of numbers did you get out of your 383, and how are it's street manors?