Does the LS7 engine fit into a C5? What is needed to make this work: fit in engine compartment, electronics and trans/rear axle....

 

Yes, there has been successful transplants. The PCM has to be changed..alot of electronics have to be changed along with the running gear I do believe...look it up on here and you will find those who have done it..
I've seen the LS7 on fleabay for $9,000.

 

Yes it can and has been done. Engine drops right in. No PCM changes necessary after a change to the reluctor wheel on the crankshaft. Any and all wire harness changes/extensions are plug-n-play.

Search posts by gojo. He's one name that comes to mind right off.

HTH

 

a change to the reluctor wheel on the crankshaft. Are the parts needed.

 

One very large difference is the LS7 is a dry sump engine design which necessitates a storage/return reservoir for all of the engine oil. I did read about such a transplant many months ago. I do recall a considerable amount of work to relocate the battery, modify that part of the engine bay and construct a suitable reservoir. Perhaps by now someone has the instructions, drawings and custom fabricated reservoir to complete this task.

A1

 

Conversion to a wet sump system can be done too. Using a different oil pan (LS2 maybe?). Unsure on any oil pump/pickup mod details though, but apparently not difficult.
HTH

 

PM Nick Yoskin, he just put an LS7 in his C5 vert, I'm sure he can walk you thru what you need.

 

Very simple install. Reluctor wheel, throttlebody connector change and thats about it.

The C6Z06 uses a dry sump with its LS7 install - not the other way round

The LS7 is just another iteration of the LS series... its Gen4 and plugs right into the Gen3 slot - we even reused the sump, valve covers and coil packs.

The big advantage is the intake an heads - what I would suggest though, is not just go with a "crate LS7" - as there have been quality issues in the crate motors - that being said if you are about to drop $12,000 on a crate LS7, why not pay the same money for a custom built forged LS7?

 

Can you elaborate a bit on the "quality" issues"?

 

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showth...=613080&page=1

This type of information and other first generations stories told to me while resaerching this project steered me towards a built LS7

 

It's has and can be done. However, if I was to spend $10K just on the engine I'd make my own forged stroker that would put away a crate LS7 with ease.

 

Wow. That whole thread turned into a tuner bashing fest and I never saw any good feedback as to the 2 engines that were the subject of the OP.

 

A heads and cam LS6 will "put away" a stock crate LS7.

The reason I went with a forged LS7 is that at the end of the day, the "550rwhp 500rwtq $10K forged stroker" doesn't exist.

I know - we tried to build one, and by the time you are done spending your $10K you are a day late, a dollar and a horsepower short. The addons are what kills the deal and sends the price north of $10K quickly. And by that time you may as awell not go with FAST90/90 and a "forged stroker" - as the LS7 intake and heads are just a better package.

Remember, a "forged stroker" short block, is the same price as a forged LS7 short block... it is the rest of the package that will determine power numbers and final price.

Anyway, doesnt matter how you end up at the number, 500+rwhp is a an awesome amount of power for the street

 

That was my concern, I never did read or hear about a satisfactory answer to the other "bad" motors I was told about either.

In each case it seemed the buyer was going to build the motor anyway so the failures were bad news but not project ending - if you have unlimted money that is

So I figured, lets just do it once - and then one thing lead to another and by the end of the process it was putting down 565rwhp

 

Yeah it can be done we did one with a Ls7 and did TT kit. Obviously he did forged internals but it was dry sump and all.

 

Why not just slap a decently built ls2 motor with some ported l92 heads or aftermarket heads. Less modification with the oil system and practically plug and play.

 

There is NO modification to the "oil system" if you buy or build and LS7 - the dry sump oiling components are part of ther C6 Z06.. not inherent to the LS7.

ANd again, the price of an "aftermarket heads built LS2" is only a few grand short of the same spec LS7.

I really wish people would not demote the LS7 as "too expensive" and promote every other option to new comers to the LSx wars.

I know for the first 6 months of my research I was constantly pointed away from an LS7 as "its a watse of money - no power - LS2 sleeved/strokers are cheaper" blah blah blah.

I am glad I held out, and did some actual research and part pricing.

In my mind, spending $15,000 on a complete solution (including headers, cat back, heads, forged internals etc" is so close to spending $13,000 for a "similar" package I simply waited till I had the extra 2G's and went for the "whole enchilada".

I really think it is important to allow folks to see ALL the options out there and really make choice based on their budget and wishes.

I know foir a fact - had I ended up "only" spending $13G's on a LS2 based /stroker/sleeved/L92 whatever motor - and found out the real de4al afterwards that a complete end to LS7 was only $2,000 more, I would have been really pissed.

This is the reason I am telling people - don't believe the hype - price the complete build out first - call around - youwill be pleasently surprised...

Oh yeah - the LS7 intake and throttle body are better than the entire FAST setup, and costs about $800 less in total.

I know - I bought the FAST 90/90 setup for my intended stroker/resleeved project - thast was $1200 right there.. the better flowing LS7 bits cost $700 new - ita these little details that get overlooked.

Stock LS7 heads are about $1300 a piece - thats $2600 - same as a decent set of aftermarket heads...

Seriously - don't right off the LS7 as "expensive junk" till you price it all out

 

Not writing it off as expenisve junk. Just giving another solution. Just look at scoggin dickies, is the ls7 head complete worth the extra 1000 bucks?

I'm interested, because as soon as i get the car i would be swapping out to some sort of standard motor to run the l92 heads. (or another aftermarket head)

 

Putting a non-crate LS7 into a C5 is straightforward. If interested please see the following link for pics of my '01 Z06 with custom built, dry sump LS7 installation: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1761787

As mentioned in the posts above, there is need to use the correct crankshaft reluctor wheel and to purchase throttle body and knock/cam sensor harnesses to allow the C5 computer and wiring harness to work with a Gen IV engine. Going the wet sump route prevents having to relocate the battery to the rear to make room for the oil tank.

We have built and installed several LS7, L92 and LS2-based engines for C5's, both wet and dry sump, in displacements ranging from 415 to 455 cubic inches. And these engines can be put togethr for a very reasonable (compared to an LS7 crate motor) price.


Doug
Praetorian Racing Engines
Phoenix, Arizona
doug@praetorianracing.com

 

Hey Doug, sweet post of the project! Do you guys have a website?