Generation IV Internal Engine - na ls7 build... is sleeving needed

So I have a standard bore ls7 that I just picked up. Its got some mystery flat top pistons, lunati pro billet rods, and a lunati crank. My question is is it necessary to re sleeve the block? I plan on maybe running g a 200-250 shot. This is a street driven six speed car.

Thanks for any input

Not unless the pistons you have are a much bigger size than can be accepted by the current bore.

Pistons are 4.125... ill post pics later

Not saying for sure that you can't do it without sleeving but I have quite a few LS7 cores here with cracked cylinders due to higher cylinder pressure and OEM cast iron sleeves.

Those sleeves were not designed for a 200 to 250 shot of nitrous. I know people will think I'm biased because we sleeve but I thought I would respond to this because I see way to many cracked blocks because of this.

Good luck with your build!

Not saying for sure that you can't do it without sleeving but I have quite a few LS7 cores here with cracked cylinders due to higher cylinder pressure and OEM cast iron sleeves.

Those sleeves were not designed for a 200 to 250 shot of nitrous. I know people will think I'm biased because we sleeve but I thought I would respond to this because I see way to many cracked blocks because of this.

Good luck with your build!

I would agree 100% but thats just IMO and i'm sure we'll hear otherwise...

Agree with ERL. I would not push a stock LS7 past about 750 flywheel

I'm with ERL. The sleeves are prone to cracking. If it was just N/A I would leave it. With the spray I say sleeve it

I don't like hearing this since I was planning 150-200 shot :(

NA you should be fine, but yes I would recommend resleeving with any kind of nitrous/blower/turbo.

Building an LS7 based engine is not cheap - why cut corners now. If you can afford new dry sleeves, it would provide a lot of insurance for the future. Last thing you want is to have to build this engine twice.

So I bought a disassembled ls7 shortblock below are the pictures of the pistons. I am having a hard time getting info on brand and specs. The numbers on the skirt are

809ts & 28583

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f400/nicktomstew/20120710_172120.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f400/nicktomstew/20120710_172156.jpg

Thanks, Nick

Darton Wet sleeve it and have some piece of mind.

Not interested in putting $3k into this block.... if I stay NA will I have any issues

Not interested in putting $3k into this block.... if I stay NA will I have any issues

You could sell the ls7 block and buy a resleeved one for close to the same money and have a better block.

Whats an ls7 block worth?

You could sell the ls7 block and buy a resleeved one for close to the same money and have a better block.

^^^ What he said....

TSP sells the LS7 block for $2899.

how bout a used LS7 block what's that worth?

Any ideas on the pistons?

They look like Diamond pistons. I'll give you $1000 for your block.
MrE

They look like Diamond pistons. I'll give you $1000 for your block.
MrE

really... :eyes: Texas-speed lists LS1 blocks at $1100...

Pistons are custom diamonds for etp ls7 heads.... and nice lowball on the block

Well, I have three cracked LS7 blocks here to repair at the moment. Any detonation at all will crack a sleeve and block. I have had shops send me cracked blocks from engines just getting a dyno tune to squeeze a bit more power out of the engine.

It is a lot cheaper to sleeve the block prior to the build than to build the engine twice.

Steve

I would take RED's and ERL's advice.

I'm selling the ls7 block and gonna run a iron 408

I'm selling the ls7 block and gonna run a iron 408

Man, you don't have to go to that extreme. Just get a used ls2 or alum 5.3 block and let ERL or RED sleeve it. Then you have the best of 3 worlds. Bore of an LS7 and larger, strength damn near the LSX block, and the light weight of any aluminum block.

The price is probably close to what you would sell the LS7 for.

To what extreme??? Wouldn't that be more extreme than using a 6.0 iron block I already have? Sleeving runs $2k++ . Although I do have a aluminum 5.3 block I use for mock up:-)

The extreme of using an iron block that will add 110lbs of weight. Plus, on a boosted or nitrous application 4.030 is recommended and 4.080 on a N/A application on an iron block.

At least if you sell the LS7 block you can damn near get the money needed to sleeve a block thru ERL. The sleeves they use are the strongest in the business and you get the bore of a LS7 and larger. Included in that price are the main studs from ARP

http://erlperformance.com/gm-ls-dry-sleeve-block-sleeved

My next setup will be an ERL superdeck 6 bolt.

I don't want to be a dick and ONLY offer $1.oo more..... So ....$1001.50:)

Don't have to be a dick, it was just a dick move by the other guy.

I'm selling the ls7 block and gonna run a iron 408

Dry sleeves for the LS7 block would cost you more than the iron 408 but you have many more head options with 4.125 bore if you are looking for big power. Did you buy an entire LS7 or only short block?

Shortblock only

Were just saying to stay with the 4.125 bore because it opens up even more head options instead of going with the iron block which your max bore that would be safe in my book would be 4.070-4.080.

A while back I built a stock ls7 for my 02 Camaro SS,LE with auto trans first
time on dyno with a week auto it made 460 + wrhp.So for a street car with the right cam it should be a hand full.

Well, I have three cracked LS7 blocks here to repair at the moment. Any detonation at all will crack a sleeve and block. I have had shops send me cracked blocks from engines just getting a dyno tune to squeeze a bit more power out of the engine.

It is a lot cheaper to sleeve the block prior to the build than to build the engine twice.

Steve

In one of those blocks you have, the sleeve actually failed before the piston did. Aside from a little pitting, it was virtually intact.

I am getting started on a resleeved block project, and interested in using the ls7. PM me a price please.

TSP sells the LS7 block for $2899.

You sure about that? I'm seeing 6,xxx for the short block and 10,xxx for the long block for the LS7.

http://www.texas-speed.com/c-107-427-441-cid-ls7-shortlong-blocks.aspx


Never mind, found the LS7 block only for 2899 on the site.

http://www.texas-speed.com/c-123-engine-blocks.aspx

yeah that's what sdparts is selling it for too...OP, please PM me if you want to sell that block.