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Critique my ls7 setup.

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Old Dec 12, 2012 | 08:26 PM
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Default Critique my ls7 setup.



Okay so I had my ls7 swap tuned by a local guy and he did a fantastic job. The car drives great and pulls hard. It has great manners and does everything I want it to. However, I was expecting a little better numbers and wanted some opinions on how I can pick up more power.

Setup

Ls7 with Mahle forged pistons, 11.4 to 1 compression
Valve job and new exhaust valves
stock ls7 intake
1 5/8 slp longtubes with slp x pipe and hi flow cats through a stock z06 exhaust.
stock new rockers
lethal cam from ragin racing 230/ 248 625 lift (low lift cam for PAC springs)
Heads decked .008 and block decked .008 for compression around 11.8?
lingenfelter 24 X converter
New rebuild with a couple hundred miles.
McCloud RST twin clutch
Stock fuel system ( have pump just in case but air fuel was ok)
stock MAF
Vararam intake

Air fuel is on the conservative side for preservation of ls7.

Now I know my exhaust is weak and I am using stock intake. Since I have forged pistons I already have a nitrous kit on the car and can add a quick 150 HP if needed. (standalone fuel system)

What are some suggestions? I would like 500 rwhp on a mustang dyno.
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Old Dec 12, 2012 | 08:33 PM
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http://youtu.be/V92l5n1VM0w

Idle video

Last edited by superramvette2; Dec 12, 2012 at 10:17 PM. Reason: url
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Old Dec 12, 2012 | 09:14 PM
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Fast 102 + 1 7/8"
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Old Dec 12, 2012 | 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by LoneStarFRC
Fast 102 + 1 7/8"
+1 and ditch the stock airbridge. Get yourself a VR Powerduct.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 12:13 AM
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what does the factory maf sensor flow? I had not thought of the vararam powerduct. However, I am not sure it will work with the HSW plate that I will be installing.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 12:40 AM
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I'm thinking that it certainly is not liking the little headers.

Ron
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 02:28 AM
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Well the headers are O shaped instead of D shaped which I think makes it that much worse.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 07:58 AM
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Hey bud. Don't take Scott's Dyno numbers to heart. He is a great guy but that Dyno is known in Cleveland as the heartbreaker Dyno. We have put one of my buddies cobra on his Dyno and it made 434 and then put it on a dynojet and it made 512. So that will give you an idea. I don't know if you remember me but I bought those heads from you a while back and came up to your house. I seen your car at Scott's a couple weeks ago. Scott is currently building my motor and should be done here soon. Maybe we'll meet again one day up there.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 08:00 AM
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Originally Posted by superramvette2
It has great manners and does everything I want it to. However, I was expecting a little better numbers and wanted some opinions on how I can pick up more power.

What are some suggestions? I would like 500 rwhp on a mustang dyno.
If it truly does everything you want it to - why change a thing?

There are a few of things you "could" change to increase the power that shouldn't change the characteristics of the build.

1. Get some ARH 1 7/8 LT's on there

2. Go with an LS2/3/7 MAF in front of the 90mm TB

3. Have the dyno operator manipulate the numbers. Lot's do it.

Here's a long thread on the development of my very mild but highly optimized build. You may find some ideas there. It goes all the way from the 403 build to the 427.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/generation...b-c-d-e-f.html

Last edited by WKMCD; Dec 13, 2012 at 08:03 AM.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 08:21 AM
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Originally Posted by McAllister513
Hey bud. Don't take Scott's Dyno numbers to heart. He is a great guy but that Dyno is known in Cleveland as the heartbreaker Dyno. We have put one of my buddies cobra on his Dyno and it made 434 and then put it on a dynojet and it made 512. So that will give you an idea. I don't know if you remember me but I bought those heads from you a while back and came up to your house. I seen your car at Scott's a couple weeks ago. Scott is currently building my motor and should be done here soon. Maybe we'll meet again one day up there.
Hey man did you get your car running? Yeah I really liked what Scott did with the car. I know a lot of people that get their feelings hurt on that dyno. I was really hoping to hit the 500 mark up there but my combo just did not have it in the cards.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by WKMCD
If it truly does everything you want it to - why change a thing?

There are a few of things you "could" change to increase the power that shouldn't change the characteristics of the build.

1. Get some ARH 1 7/8 LT's on there

2. Go with an LS2/3/7 MAF in front of the 90mm TB

3. Have the dyno operator manipulate the numbers. Lot's do it.

Here's a long thread on the development of my very mild but highly optimized build. You may find some ideas there. It goes all the way from the 403 build to the 427.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/generation...b-c-d-e-f.html
Thanks for the link. You make a good point. I guess fast is never fast enough. I probably need to get track times before I worry too much about dyno numbers. The back half of the car is stock and I am not sure it will like the track much.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 10:08 AM
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Am I correct in assuming that your LS7 is stock displacement?
Did you have the heads flowed? If so, are you getting enough valve lift to maximize air/exhaust flow?

As others have said, there are areas in which you can improve flow through the engine:
1) larger headers...go for the gusto and get 1-7/8"
2) larger intake OR port the one you have
3) larger throttle body and MAF

I have 408 cu. in. (11.1 CR) with a FAST 102mm intake, Nick Williams 102mm throttle body, Kooks 1-7/8" LTs and a 3" x-pipe. My engine tuner went with a speed density tune.

Post-build I had 603 hp/503 ft-lb on the engine dyno and 518 hp/440 ft-lb on Dynojet.

Hope this helps...
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 04:14 PM
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I think your numbers are pretty good on a Mustang dyno. Chasing 23-30 more RWHP is going to be expensive, and I'd bet you're probably having traction problems as is. If you don't already have a trans brace, I'd recommend one ASAP.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 11:26 PM
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No trans brace and yes traction is an issue with my 315 toyo drag radials. The displacement is 428 the pistons were 4.130 bore.

I get what you guys are saying and thanks for the input. The extra 30rwhp looks like 2500 bucks some of which can be offset by selling the stock stuff.

Transbrace make a huge difference in keeping the tranny alive? How hard are they to install? I am not very familiar with them.
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