If we get a GM 427...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,725
Likes: 115
From: Phoenix AZ
If we get a GM 427...
If the General gives us a 427 for the C6 Z06, do you think that there would be much trouble in stuffing it in a C5? Who's waiting to do this, how much do you think a crate 427 would cost and how do you think other components will hold up to this motor?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I seriously doubt that's going to happen. 
The 427 LS7 they're building for the C6 Z06 is being hand-assembled by one tech per engine in the new engine assembly plant they recently announced. The LS7 is the first engine to be built there. The new plant was described as a low-quantity center for hi-po engines. Capacities for the plant were characterized as relatively low so it seems highly unlikely that they will have crate engines available for general public consumption. Most likely, any excess capacity would be reserved primarily for warranty and in-house use. Plus, the low quantity and labor-intensive nature of the engine would make them expensive.
The 427 LS7 they're building for the C6 Z06 is being hand-assembled by one tech per engine in the new engine assembly plant they recently announced. The LS7 is the first engine to be built there. The new plant was described as a low-quantity center for hi-po engines. Capacities for the plant were characterized as relatively low so it seems highly unlikely that they will have crate engines available for general public consumption. Most likely, any excess capacity would be reserved primarily for warranty and in-house use. Plus, the low quantity and labor-intensive nature of the engine would make them expensive.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 7
Originally Posted by Patches
I seriously doubt that's going to happen. The 427 LS7 they're building for the C6 Z06 is being hand-assembled by one tech per engine in the new engine assembly plant they recently announced. The LS7 is the first engine to be built there. The new plant was described as a low-quantity center for hi-po engines. Capacities for the plant were characterized as relatively low so it seems highly unlikely that they will have crate engines available for general public consumption. Most likely, any excess capacity would be reserved primarily for warranty and in-house use. Plus, the low quantity and labor-intensive nature of the engine would make them expensive.
The 427 LS7 they're building for the C6 Z06 is being hand-assembled by one tech per engine in the new engine assembly plant they recently announced. The LS7 is the first engine to be built there. The new plant was described as a low-quantity center for hi-po engines. Capacities for the plant were characterized as relatively low so it seems highly unlikely that they will have crate engines available for general public consumption. Most likely, any excess capacity would be reserved primarily for warranty and in-house use. Plus, the low quantity and labor-intensive nature of the engine would make them expensive.I agree and disagree with Patches - The motors will surely cost more than a LS6 crate but I will bet they will undercut the 20K price you need to spend @ a tuner to get one now.
Is there and hard data on how many C6 Z06/7 they are going to produce. If they turn out 5k to 10k of these cars a year I would guess that we will see a crate motor from GM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,725
Likes: 115
From: Phoenix AZ
Tuners that offer crate 427's are $25k+ 
I believe I can get a C5R block for <$6.5k, a Lunati stroker kit for <$4k and stage II heads/cam for <$3K = $14k. I don't know how much the electronics cost but it is probably less than the core I'm required to send to a tuner.
I saw a NASCAR contest where they had crews put together an unassembled motor. I remember five maybe six guy put the motor together in minutes
I'll give the GM tech 24 hours and gladly pay $150/hour ($3.5k).
So $17.5k for a crate 427 should be the maximum. The block, stroker kit and heads are already at retail price so it should be lower. Plus I would have an LS1 that I can sell for at least the cost of the installation of a 427
I believe I can get a C5R block for <$6.5k, a Lunati stroker kit for <$4k and stage II heads/cam for <$3K = $14k. I don't know how much the electronics cost but it is probably less than the core I'm required to send to a tuner.I saw a NASCAR contest where they had crews put together an unassembled motor. I remember five maybe six guy put the motor together in minutes
I'll give the GM tech 24 hours and gladly pay $150/hour ($3.5k).So $17.5k for a crate 427 should be the maximum. The block, stroker kit and heads are already at retail price so it should be lower. Plus I would have an LS1 that I can sell for at least the cost of the installation of a 427
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
How much did 4.6 Cobra DOHC motors go for they were had assembled I thought?
I'm guessing $10-12k for a LS7. Hopefully they don't go to the price extreme LT5 crate motors sold for.
I'm guessing $10-12k for a LS7. Hopefully they don't go to the price extreme LT5 crate motors sold for.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,281
Likes: 5
From: Boston
Originally Posted by 93Polo
How much did 4.6 Cobra DOHC motors go for they were had assembled I thought?
I'm guessing $10-12k for a LS7. Hopefully they don't go to the price extreme LT5 crate motors sold for.
I'm guessing $10-12k for a LS7. Hopefully they don't go to the price extreme LT5 crate motors sold for.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 26,794
Likes: 614
From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
I hope GM finally grows a pair of ***** and steps up to the plate with the 7 liter 427 for the new Z06!! For my $, its going to be a 6.4 liter making around 505 HP and in a 3000 lb car it will still fly regardless.
At any rate, if the Z06 makes at least 500HP at the crank, i believe regardless what the c.i.d is the car is going to cost around $70,000.00!!
IF the motor is a 427 7 liter and i HOPE IT IS, to order that motor by itself from GM will be VERY VERY EXPENSENSIVE and the tuner built strokers will be the cheaper way to go in my honest opinion!!! 
COME ON GM GIVE US WHAT WE WANT-427 CUBES and at least 500 PONIES AND TORQUE oh yeah, and only a $60K price tag (not)!!!
For my $, its going to be a 6.4 liter making around 505 HP and in a 3000 lb car it will still fly regardless.At any rate, if the Z06 makes at least 500HP at the crank, i believe regardless what the c.i.d is the car is going to cost around $70,000.00!!
IF the motor is a 427 7 liter and i HOPE IT IS, to order that motor by itself from GM will be VERY VERY EXPENSENSIVE and the tuner built strokers will be the cheaper way to go in my honest opinion!!! COME ON GM GIVE US WHAT WE WANT-427 CUBES and at least 500 PONIES AND TORQUE oh yeah, and only a $60K price tag (not)!!!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Jim I think you're guess on the pricetag of the new Z is probably pretty close to accurate.
Consider the C6 is still using the same basic rearend, drivetrain components, etc as the C5...and as you've recently found out on your beast, those parts ain't gonna cut it in with 500hp in the average consumer's hands.
We all want the power yes, and that's relatively easy for GM to deliver...but what about everything else that needs to be beefed and upgraded to reliably support it? And all those compnenents will cost $$ to tool up and build. They have warranty claims to worry about.
Consider the C6 is still using the same basic rearend, drivetrain components, etc as the C5...and as you've recently found out on your beast, those parts ain't gonna cut it in with 500hp in the average consumer's hands.
We all want the power yes, and that's relatively easy for GM to deliver...but what about everything else that needs to be beefed and upgraded to reliably support it? And all those compnenents will cost $$ to tool up and build. They have warranty claims to worry about.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 8,840
Likes: 43
From: State of Confusion.
I'd like to see GM build an affordable stroker, but the rumors that I've read are that they're going to make it a 6.4. Who cares though, if they can make a motor that meets Federal regulations and have 500 horse, that's not too bad (especially if they make it affordable).
If you look at the C6's now, the General is still keeping things priced VERY well for us, as the C6 stickers for $1k less than an 04 did (this is base price).
I think that they'll try to keep it affordable and my hat is off to them, and hope that they can do it. If they do price it at $70k, then $100k for a Blue Devil won't seem so bad!
If you look at the C6's now, the General is still keeping things priced VERY well for us, as the C6 stickers for $1k less than an 04 did (this is base price).
I think that they'll try to keep it affordable and my hat is off to them, and hope that they can do it. If they do price it at $70k, then $100k for a Blue Devil won't seem so bad!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37,329
Likes: 12
From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
CI-VI Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by grady
Tuners that offer crate 427's are $25k+ :
:I know, I have the LPE 427 in my '99
This engine will probably be, overall, better that attempting to get a GM LS7. I.e., no issues with tuning (probably will need 'new' software to address the GM 427), the LPE is 'plug and play for the C5, who knows about the same capability with the GM LS7, etc.
Last edited by AC54ME; Nov 8, 2004 at 09:35 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,634
Likes: 15
From: IL, Chicago area.
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
Keep in mind GM isnt completely blind or stupid. I am sure they watch what the "mod makers" do and will utilize some of that tech to beef up the drivetrain.
I personally think they would be idiots if they dont figure out some way to use a DTE like rear diff brace. How much could that cost them to fabricate and now they have a beefier rear end without spending a ton of money to completely redesign it.
I personally think they would be idiots if they dont figure out some way to use a DTE like rear diff brace. How much could that cost them to fabricate and now they have a beefier rear end without spending a ton of money to completely redesign it.
