So guys , im not new to the ls scene. But i am new to extensive modifications.

As fun as my GXP is , im really looking for something i could turn into a playcar.
I already know what i want to do for a powertrain...

ls7 / sleeved / stroked - 454..
Heads , cam blah blah
Twin turbos , sizing depending on what an engineer suggests to meet my power goals.
Some spray just for ***** and giggles...


But im trying to figure where this is all gonna go..
Camaro , Trans Am , Vette ,Older muscle car , Hell maybe even something european
I was orginally thinking of sticking with a newer GM car just for ease of install. Maybe a vette or something , 2 door CTS-v....

What do you guys think? Im not just thinking about whats going to fit in the engine bay , but what am i going to be able to do to the vehicle to put the power to the ground , and make it streetable. At one point an AWD conversion crossed my mind , maybe using an upgraded Denali Drivetrain but i know zip about doing something like that.

If i get the car i can start doing body work / gutting it / building a cage , while i get my business off the ground , then in the next year or two i can start spending some $$

What do you guys think is a good base for my project car?

 

I'm a big fan of putting newer powertrain and suspension components onto older muscle cars because they have so much appearance character and aren't seen around as much, plus with the modern parts they have the go to match the show. You mentioned what would fit in the engine bay, no worries with the old cars man you could sit in there while you work on it haha.

A Corvette would probably be the best(easiest) starting point since they're so light and already come with great handling which would only get better once you start modding.

Are you gonna build it for track use or just to have a monster street car?

 

Planning on a monster street car. I've been thinking of a vette..

 

So your going to run a stroked ls7 with twin turbo's and nitrous??

 

who on earth would do that.?

 

sounds like a bad idea to me, go ls3 save yourself the headache, lol ive read in a few places that ls7's are not very good boost candidates and have failures under N/A applications.

 

Cylinder wall thickness issues or other problems?

 

this, not to mention ls7 blocks are 2 grand used...

 

go 408 lq9 and have fun with it, should last a long time...

 

Well im fully prepared to sleeve an LS7. Im just looking for the cubes.

 

I'm a big time lurker on the C6Z forums, and it seems that the main issue LS7's have(which doesn't affect many of them but when it does, it's pretty bad) has to do with valves and valve guides. If you're planning on doing a nasty build like you're talking about then I'm sure you would be reworking or replacing the heads anyways. I'm not sure you would need to bore out the LS7 though, but I don't know exactly how much power you're trying to make. Mark Stielow, an engineer at GM, built something similar with a supercharged LS7 in a '69 Camaro, making 756hp. Is this similar to what you had in mind or are you going more extreme?

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...touring-review

 

good point. i kinda thought about that after i said ls7 was a bad idea! arent they bad for dropping lifters and doing damage that way too??

 

as far as I've read there have been a few cases of them dropping valves and blowing the engines. I'm not sure if it's because of the sodium filled valves or extra wear on the valve guides, but it seems like most of the problem engines were early production C6Z's from 06-08

 

oh, well thank you for the spread of knowledge.

 

My pleasure, I've been reading all I can about C6Z's. I'm 22 and I dream of owning one someday haha.

I've learned a ton from this site and I'm glad to help out any way I can

 

Aren't ls7's thin walled the reason why they can't handle boost?

 

id say use a tahoe.

 

Shoebox Chevy.

 

Safe way to spray and boost is to get a 5.3l and it will take every bit you throw at it. Also it's quite cheap to replace if it does decide to break on you.

 

Roughly double that..
If you want one you can. Im 20 and just got approved for a black c6. Now im looking at steel shipping containers to store it in till my house is done..