h/c LS7 vs Boosted LS3
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2
Likes: 2
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
h/c LS7 vs Boosted LS3
Hello all!
I’m a close relative of y’all from the 5th gen camaro forum. Here to ask a question i could not find an answer for on the internet!
What is better for drag racing / roll racing?
a nasty h/c LS7 (c6 z06) setup or a boosted (c6 gs / base) setup?
Im referring to straight line speed, not auto cross or track events. With occasional daily driving between.
Every other forum post is referring to either n/a vs n/a built or a boosted vs boosted build. Everyone knows LS7s can’t handle much more than 6lbs of boost but a LS3 can eat it up all day.
I already own an LS3 6MT in my 5th gen. I really don’t wanna build another h/c na car unless it’s the almighty LS7. On top of that, if i build another LS3 it will be boosted.
Grand sport C6s seem to only be floating $5-10k cheaper than Z06s in my area (Toronto Ontario).
Z06s are floating around $48-55k CAD ~ T56 not TR6060 models.
Let’s hear your opinions!
I’m a close relative of y’all from the 5th gen camaro forum. Here to ask a question i could not find an answer for on the internet!
What is better for drag racing / roll racing?
a nasty h/c LS7 (c6 z06) setup or a boosted (c6 gs / base) setup?
Im referring to straight line speed, not auto cross or track events. With occasional daily driving between.
Every other forum post is referring to either n/a vs n/a built or a boosted vs boosted build. Everyone knows LS7s can’t handle much more than 6lbs of boost but a LS3 can eat it up all day.
I already own an LS3 6MT in my 5th gen. I really don’t wanna build another h/c na car unless it’s the almighty LS7. On top of that, if i build another LS3 it will be boosted.
Grand sport C6s seem to only be floating $5-10k cheaper than Z06s in my area (Toronto Ontario).
Z06s are floating around $48-55k CAD ~ T56 not TR6060 models.
Let’s hear your opinions!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,338
Likes: 5,115
From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
naaaa plenty of people have been boosting LS7s for years, just gotta do it the right way. Just comes down to how deep in your pocket you want to go. Personally the boosted LS3 is probably the better bang for your buck but a 600hp h/c/i ls7 is pretty skitz too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
A lot of the LS7's popularity comes from what's around it in a C6. The Z06 is lighter and better balanced than any other C6. Hundreds of pounds difference between a Z (lightest C6) and a Grand Sport with an auto transmission (heaviest C6).
In a Camaro, I'd go LS3 with a TVS blower. Helps that the LS3 is already in your engine bay. Magnuson Heartbeat would be my top choice. With 10 PSI, mild blower cam, and bolt ons, it will out power/torque a heads and cam LS7 from bottom to top. It will live a long time without any issues either. You don't have to do much research to find a **** load of horror stories due to LS7 head issues. They have issues even after they've been "fixed". I love to drive Vettes. Absolutely hate to repair them.
In a Camaro, I'd go LS3 with a TVS blower. Helps that the LS3 is already in your engine bay. Magnuson Heartbeat would be my top choice. With 10 PSI, mild blower cam, and bolt ons, it will out power/torque a heads and cam LS7 from bottom to top. It will live a long time without any issues either. You don't have to do much research to find a **** load of horror stories due to LS7 head issues. They have issues even after they've been "fixed". I love to drive Vettes. Absolutely hate to repair them.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,631
Nope, since stock LS7 block can not take a lot of pressure (only about 7lbs of boost), since very this cylinder liner spots between the cylinders.
Simply, can make more power out of a boosted LS3, since cylinder liners are thicker between each other.
As for boosted LS3 motors with centrifugal super charger, over 700hp, and now have to trying to keep all the power going down to the tarmac, without just roasting street tires; so next hurdle you will need to over come on the streets.
As for HPDE road course use, then LS7 any day of the week, since it not a HP thing, but a torque thing that is much more manageable on hard drives out of the apex with that motor instead.
Simply, can make more power out of a boosted LS3, since cylinder liners are thicker between each other.
As for boosted LS3 motors with centrifugal super charger, over 700hp, and now have to trying to keep all the power going down to the tarmac, without just roasting street tires; so next hurdle you will need to over come on the streets.
As for HPDE road course use, then LS7 any day of the week, since it not a HP thing, but a torque thing that is much more manageable on hard drives out of the apex with that motor instead.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
You guys should try looking up Thomson Automotive (now LPE) builds a 1,000 hp LS7. Its out there online, built around 2014, and in a Motor Trend article. It made 1,000hp reliable hp with the LS9 blower. It also cost $40,000 in 2014 $$!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,009
Likes: 491
From: South Florida
A 600+ wheel C6Z with a good drive is a tough matchup for a stock bott end LS3 with boost. They’re lighter and can turn a bit more RPM. It would probably take 800+ wheel boosted LS3 to keep up with or possibly beat a 600+ C6Z
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Advanced
Joined: Apr 2023
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Personal opinion but unless you're specifically going for some class or something, NA LS builds are a lot of money for less.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
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From: Southeast TX
The weight difference will be the weight that the supercharger system adds minus the parts it replaces. Less than a hundred pounds. It won't take two hundred hp to make up for that. It won't take 50 hp to make up for that if a TVS blower is used. A 650 wheel hp TVS rig will outpower and out torque a 600 hp n/a LS7 from idle to redline. The torque difference is hugely in favor of the TVS blown LS3. Full boost coming in just past idle makes a big difference.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,917
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From: Central NJ
If the N/A LS7 had an auto behind it with the right converter/ gears/ tires I'd choose that over a boosted stock LS3 but you have to row the gears on a zo6.
imo to have any N/A set up for the track if needs the right parts behind it and on our cars that can get expensive really quickly. A centri blower will be easier on the driveline out of the gate.
imo to have any N/A set up for the track if needs the right parts behind it and on our cars that can get expensive really quickly. A centri blower will be easier on the driveline out of the gate.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2011
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2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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If the N/A LS7 had an auto behind it with the right converter/ gears/ tires I'd choose that over a boosted stock LS3 but you have to row the gears on a zo6.
imo to have any N/A set up for the track if needs the right parts behind it and on our cars that can get expensive really quickly. A centri blower will be easier on the driveline out of the gate.
imo to have any N/A set up for the track if needs the right parts behind it and on our cars that can get expensive really quickly. A centri blower will be easier on the driveline out of the gate.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 451
From: Central NJ
I had an LS7 (441) in my '98 Trans Am-Rossler, Moser, Neal Chance etc 9.6x all day long 1.29 60'
Gotta have the right parts in an N/A car-ALL the right parts. You have yours leaving hard!! Nice job.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 846
Likes: 105
From: Knoxville TN
You've never ran a boosted C6 that was setup correctly then. Back when my car was a blower car, I could run the 1/8th, let off and coast to some 9 sec passes lol.
