Generation IV Internal Engine 2005-2014 LS2 | LS3 | LS7 | L92 | LS9

ls3 vs ls7

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-20-2014, 07:27 PM
  #1  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
 
massconfusion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: the chi/ addison Il
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default ls3 vs ls7

So this winter I plan on upgrading from my turbo Camaro to a vette. Originally I thought I was definitely going with a c6z. A few guys suggested I consider a grandsport and top it with a blower. I thought the ls7 were capable of boost and were as stout as other ls motors. More than a few people said not to go beyond H/C if I went with the c6z. So I guess what I m asking is which route woud you go. If I got the c6z I wouldn't go beyond H/C (I ve overdone cars before and don't need a an all out street car). If I went with GS, I would def. go FI. Ive never had a big cube motor before and would love an ls7 but I also don't need a 13k motor to grenade bc I was romping on it ( I m aware of the head shortcoming and would upgrade that right away). would love to hear from you guys that have these motors and how far you re pushing them.
Old 10-20-2014, 07:40 PM
  #2  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
HCI2000SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Howell & Fenton MI
Posts: 11,145
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 15 Posts
Default

Well I obviously so not have either motors but I've seen several LS7 vettes put down 700-800 hp on the the stock motor
Old 10-20-2014, 08:02 PM
  #3  
KCS
Moderator
iTrader: (20)
 
KCS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Conroe, TX
Posts: 8,848
Received 307 Likes on 207 Posts

Default

I'd prefer the Grandsport with a blower. I'm not a fan of dropping valves or cracked sleeves, plus a blown LS3 will be able to make more power than a heads/cam ZO6.
Old 10-20-2014, 09:25 PM
  #4  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
 
massconfusion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: the chi/ addison Il
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Its not about what makes more power though. Its about good driveability and reliability while making good power. I m not sure if the ls7 will do that, I m not super familiar which why I ask. I wanted to get away from FI bc its easy to go overboard
Old 10-20-2014, 09:27 PM
  #5  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (27)
 
Rise of the Phoenix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Jefferson City, MO
Posts: 9,728
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

WCCH can take care of the LS7 heads for regarding the valves.
Old 10-21-2014, 05:44 AM
  #6  
11 Second Club
 
BODUKE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Ls3 all the way.They can be made mild or wild.
Old 10-21-2014, 02:47 PM
  #7  
TECH Fanatic
 
MuhThugga's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Wilmington, De
Posts: 1,671
Received 228 Likes on 153 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by KCS
I'd prefer the Grandsport with a blower. I'm not a fan of dropping valves or cracked sleeves, plus a blown LS3 will be able to make more power than a heads/cam ZO6.
This.

Even a heads/cam LS3 Grand Sport will be a hell of a car.
Old 10-22-2014, 12:38 PM
  #8  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
 
massconfusion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: the chi/ addison Il
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I guess i shouldve stated my goals. Want a car that can handle a little road racing, perform well at the strip and be fairly reliable. 550rwhp as far power levels. I'd prefer not to go FI but would have to with the ls3. I don't know how well ls7 hold up. If all I have to do is the heads, I can live with that. Wasn't aware of the sleeves cracking until I started researching them. I don't know how big of an issue that is, which why I m asking
Old 10-22-2014, 12:46 PM
  #9  
KCS
Moderator
iTrader: (20)
 
KCS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Conroe, TX
Posts: 8,848
Received 307 Likes on 207 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by massconfusion
I guess i shouldve stated my goals. Want a car that can handle a little road racing, perform well at the strip and be fairly reliable. 550rwhp as far power levels. I'd prefer not to go FI but would have to with the ls3. I don't know how well ls7 hold up. If all I have to do is the heads, I can live with that. Wasn't aware of the sleeves cracking until I started researching them. I don't know how big of an issue that is, which why I m asking
I feel like a Grandsport with a blower is more reliable than a heads/cam LS7. GM uses a blower on several factory cars, including the ZR1 corvette. A blower setup from one of those cars wouldn't be difficult to preice together for pretty cheap, or an aftermarket kit like a Kenne Bell or Whipple would leave more room for improvement later on down the road.

I've had experiences with both, which is why I prefer what I prefer.
Old 10-22-2014, 03:34 PM
  #10  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
 
massconfusion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: the chi/ addison Il
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

[QUOTE=KCS;18489205]I feel like a Grandsport with a blower is more reliable than a heads/cam LS7. GM uses a blower on several factory cars, including the ZR1 corvette. A blower setup from one of those cars wouldn't be difficult to preice together for pretty cheap, or an aftermarket kit like a Kenne Bell or Whipple would leave more room for improvement later on down the road.

I've had experiences with both, which is why I prefer what I prefer.[/QUOTE


Thanks, these are the responses I m looking for. Hopefully a few more people will chime in
Old 10-22-2014, 08:13 PM
  #11  
Launching!
 
Youngblood16's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Fairfax, VA
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

LS7s are great, and so are LS3s. But who doesn't want a blower?

(In your case)
GS w/ blower>Zo6
Old 10-24-2014, 04:27 PM
  #12  
TECH Apprentice
 
Unreal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I've had a ls7 with a blower, and a heads/cam/blower ls7.

Get the ls3. If you do the blower on ls7, you need to do the heads anyway to be reliable at all. You can make just as much or more on the ls3. Plus it will drive better, better gas mileage, and just a more fun car.
Old 10-24-2014, 08:54 PM
  #13  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
98z8uup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Covington ,GA
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I don't think he really wants to go the blower route. A heads and cam lS7 should give him the hp numbers he's looking for. At least I hope a heads and cam Z06 will give you close to 550 at the wheels.
Old 10-24-2014, 09:18 PM
  #14  
TECH Apprentice
 
Unreal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

It will, but a 550-560rwhp n/a ls7 won't drive as nice as a 600-1100rwhp blower car. My car makes 1100rwhp with a blower, and drives MUCH nicer than any cam car, and gets better gasmileage.
Old 10-25-2014, 12:20 AM
  #15  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
98z8uup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Covington ,GA
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Unreal what blower setup do you have? Also maybe he doesn't want to pay the cost of a blower setup.
Old 10-25-2014, 04:00 AM
  #16  
TECH Apprentice
 
Unreal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

ECS Ysi kit

$5500 blower kit will be no more than a heads/cam/headers/intake/tb/etc. Or at least it will be very close in cost.
Old 10-25-2014, 09:00 AM
  #17  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
 
massconfusion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: the chi/ addison Il
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by 98z8uup
Unreal what blower setup do you have? Also maybe he doesn't want to pay the cost of a blower setup.
X2 what set up do you have? Also its not just the cost of the setup its the fact that with a blower I can easily over do it. Like 550rwhp eventually becomes 700rwhp which then becomes 800rwhp and so on. Also I can't believe your car drives that much better than mild h/c, mainly bc your injectors have to be enormous, clutch is probably a bear to push and you still need a good nice cam to hit anything beyond 700ish to the tire. These all complaints I have with my car, monster stage 3 clutch, Siemens 80lb injectors (I know not the best to tune). I merely want a low 11-high10 car that can handle, if that's a gs with a blower than I guess that's what i be doing. Seems that's the concensus. Or I may reconsider a cts v since that comes with a blower to begin with...
Old 10-25-2014, 09:02 AM
  #18  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (18)
 
massconfusion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: the chi/ addison Il
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Unreal
ECS Ysi kit

$5500 blower kit will be no more than a heads/cam/headers/intake/tb/etc. Or at least it will be very close in cost.
Only kit I ve considered since I ve started looking at GS's.
Old 10-25-2014, 09:08 AM
  #19  
TECH Apprentice
 
Unreal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

ID1000s, idles like stock.
Mantic 9000, same clutch I would run in a heads/cam car. Drives like stock, no issues. Heads/cam or blower you will need a nice clutch.
Cam is 230/242 116. Idles at 750, no surge, no issues, drives like stock. Yes the car, even at 1100rwhp, is much better. Keep the cam selection to <5 degrees of overlap and it won't be an issue.

You do no need a big cam to make big power with FI. Made 1100rwhp and recently over 1400rwhp on ls9 cams, which are tiny.

Had two cams in the car and tuned 60+ with big cams in ls7s. One was a 240/250 110. Made good power 580rwhp, but of course had the normal big cam hiccups. Other was a 232/250 113. Runs good, but not as well as the low overlap cam.
Old 10-25-2014, 09:36 AM
  #20  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
98z8uup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Covington ,GA
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I ask my self these same question about all these cars a few months ago. First it started with the V or C6. The I decided to go with the C6. From there it went from the GS or Z06. I knew I wanted to do just a heads and cam car, and still haven't made up my mind. I do know what you mean about going over board with FI. I have a friend with a supercharger and keeps wants more and more.


Quick Reply: ls3 vs ls7



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:12 PM.