z06sicz

Not new to vettes, but have been out of the "loop" for a while and I'm much more familiar with LS1's. I've been researching on this and other sites to learn more about turning this awesome car into a bigger animal. I'm aware of the "head" problem and will get that addressed.

What is the best bet for tuning?
Handheld?
Mail order?
dyno tune?

I want to start modding but won't be able to do all my mods at once, and I don't want to pay more than once for a dyno tune. Will a hand held get it done until I finish up and get the dyno tune?

Future plans

CAI
headers & X pipe
Cam (with good livability)
head porting (they have to come off to get fixed anyway)
Supporting mods, push rods?, Chain?, springs, gaskets

Option A
Send heads to get "fixed" and bolt them back up and save until I can do the rest.

Option B
Get the heads ported and fixed, bolt them back up and do rest of mods later. (Have to tune?)

Option C

Sell my first born and just do it all at once (I wish)

Any insight?

Patriot Six

Getting heads fixed is a must. Porting won't make much power, but milling will, if plan is to stay NA. I would only use a custom tune by a reputable tuner.

LMB-Z

Save and do all at once. No need to do things 2 or 3 times.

z06sicz

Thanks for the responses. I have a tuner in my area that I have used in the past with good results.

What is suggested for a cam swap (not the cam itself) on the LS7?
Are the retainers ti?
I'm thinking push rods 5/16 or 3/8?
What else should be replaced while I'm in there?

z06sicz

How much milling? I'd want to stay on pump gas.

LMB-Z

I did not do any milling or porting when I had mine done. Just new SS exhaust valves and bronze guides. Also threw in a mild cam, headers, CAI, x pipe, and tune. Car made 525 at the rear wheels.

Patriot Six

Most go with around .030, but it depends upon what fuel you'll be using and cam.

Tech

The more you take the car apart, the more possibilities of something going wrong. If I were going to do it in two stages, I'd do CAI and headers first. Then do heads + cam later.

Landru

Owned a C6 Z for 9 years, my insight been formed in that time.
Get heads rebuilt now, ASAP.
There's several reputable vendors specializing in LS7 heads, pick one or more, call & discuss your long range plans.
They'd all have a few insights also, like heads built to handle later cam/lifter build while main weakness addressed, whether it ever gets HCI or not.

Do this now just to be safe, a new LS7 is not an inexpensive prospect.
Might have to pop for labor twice to satisfy budget, but chances of having something to mod increases vs alternative also.
Don't cheap-out on this, get in front of it now, be proactive.

Congrats on the acquisition, Z06 w/ its LS7 is simply special.

z06sicz

Thanks and good points.
Thinking I may just get the heads done, and bolt them back up. Get it tuned and save for the future plans, and just flip for retune.

Landru

Sounds like a great, and safe plan.
W/ heads 'corrected' & a tune, might not feel a need to go further.
Stock LS7 is gawd awful quick as it is, for street use anyway. YMMV

IIRC 2 most popular head rebuilders offer a core exchange deal.
They send heads, you send back cores after swap & deposit's refunded.
IF doing your own wrenching car's down for the time it takes to swap heads. Not a bad deal, many members love it.

Read: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nce-story.html
Guy sounds a lot like your plans, except he's pacing build over time.
Got a solid build by the best putting the head matter to rest while set-up for future H/C/I.
He'd a few interesting comments re going further after his work, too.

REDZED2

..heads rebuilt with a .030 mill best bang for buck. Porting very small gains from what you read from dynos all over the place. As long as you have 93 or better octane.

EnginerdVT

From what I understand, bumped compression also helps larger cams down low, so consider that if you plan to do a large but streetable cam. Have fun as you change it... the LS7 really breaths well with a few mods.

Travlee

i was in the same boat as you, had a high side dollar amount i wanted to spend. i opted to do the intake, heads, headers and tune at the same time, gave me a bump in hp and obviously sound. drove it like that for a year, then recently added the borla atak. as it sits now i am 498.2 whp and i am content with that, although when i retire it to a weekender i will put a cam in it.

i guess i like doing things in stages, gives me something to look forward to