Oh boy.... ha... look at all the stuff happening in this post of mine.

Just short and sweet:
1) No the build is not done but quite the opposite. I just started the teardown a week ago.
2) Intake is about to reach GPI for their Radius Rod-Mod, and race Porting. Will it make power? Certainly. A lot? I don't know, but we shall see.
3) The Heads are at a recommended local shop for cleaning, sink the valve .020" and mill .020" and setup my BTR Springs. Final compression should be around 11.1:00 approx. I needed the valves sunk a tad anyway for the 1.800" installed height, so why not bump the comp a smidge while I'm at it.
4) The Throttle Body is now ported, which I know is simply for improved throttle response, no power gain... which is fine with me.
5) The build plans has obviously evolved a bit since my original post, which now finds me using my original LS7 listers, and selling my Johnsons. Why? A very long story which included a ton of research in why the LS7's fail (Clue: it ain't the lifter folks). I also did some serious digging into the Johnsons design, why they do what they're capable of and why they cost me what they did. In the end I had to agree with the many learned LS voices politely nudging me back to the OEM, as I my engine/build would actually never enter their performance envelop = sustained stretches of 6800 to +8000 rpm. To quote one builder; "For your build it's like killing a fly with a Bulldozer"... Earlier-on Tom Wong recommended I reuse my original LS7 lifters, since they only have 14,880 easy street miles, and the lifters are a good performer. I've now pulled those lifters from my engine, ..damn it. They're like new, the rollers roll as smooth and tight as the Johnsons, and there are barely any wear signs from the Trays. And so, my STILL beloved Johnsons must find a new home, and perhaps to one who's build will utilize their gifts much better than I would have.

I'm scheduled at Wong's Performance Engineering for my Dyno tune on June 23rd. A proper and overly wordy post will follow shortly afterwards with the results and commentary.

> In the meantime: Can anyone please give me some pointers on how to remove that blasted Radiator/AC Condenser Shroud...?

 

Interesting insights, thanks for sharing. Look forward to reading the pending results and commentary. Good thread.

 

You've got to pry out several plastic fir-tree connectors. They get kind of mangled in the process so it's best to replace them with new ones.

My favorite tool for these things is the SK Tools 6640. It's expensive, but I end up using it a lot, and it doesn't mar whatever you're prying against.