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The background: At the Oct 2023 Texas Mile, my 2013 Z06 threw a rod through the block. That engine was the stock block with the following top-end mods:
Pat G Stage 1 Cam
Cylinder Heads ported, milled, re-valved, and re-sprung by Texas Speed
Johnson lifters
BTR Pushrods
Kooks Headers
NW throttle body
MSD Atomic Intake Manifold
Pat G dyno tuned to 550 RWHP/500 torque.
The goal was a NA build with great street manners that could break 180mph in the Texas Mile. 178 was the best achieved before the engine failed. Enjoy some photos of the afternmath:
The new build is intended to be stronger and a more powerful, but still street-driveable. Looking for ~800 RWHP with FI.
I went with a Late Model Engines short block featuring a Dart 427 iron race block with Callies Compstar Crank and Rods and Diamond 2K/LME Pistons.
The supercharger is an A&A Corvette Ti unit with the secondary belt drive.
The oil pan on the stock engine was cracked, so I will be using the dry sump system from Armstrong Race Engineering (tank + oil pan + vent/catch can) with the Katech high-capacity LS7/9 oil pump.
Cylinder heads TBD. Recommendations welcome.
Monster clutch, plate, and flywheel.
I'll post pictures, progress, frustrations, and lessons of the build as I go.
Make sure you install the correct sprocket if you're using the Katech Red pump. The one on the left is the correct (2009+); notice the longer drive section. The one on the right is the 2006-2008 sprocket, and can cause binding of the Katech pump due to the shorter drive section/thicker base.
One complaint I have about A&A's Supercharger Kit is the Intercooler attachment: It's two self-tapping sheet metal screws to hold the entire 30+lb assembly in place. One of the screws stripped through pretty quickly, as there's not much frame material for it to grab on to.
My solution was to install M6 rivnuts, and secure the intercooler with some spare M6 bolts:
DIY LS7 (re)Build
Thread hijacked, AND off topic! Best to start your own thread, and YES-EVERY LS7 potentially has cylinder head issues....
