I've been doing a lot of research the last few days on budget lm7 builds. From what I've gathered:

Upgraded LS6 springs/pushrods, and intake

1.7/1.8 ratio rockers

possible ls1 heads with 4.8 flat tops

I'm not looking for a "best combination". I am looking for input from everyone who has used an LM7 to build. It would be going into a 240sx and I have the option to pick them up together for a sweet deal. Is 400hp a realistic number to look at while keeping the build cost under say, $2-2.5k? Let me hear what you used and how it worked for you. Thanks!

 

Don't touch the rockers, or pushrods.
Get a decent 22x/22x cam with less than .600 lift and run PAC1218 springs.
LS6 intake, Cheapest headers that will fit. That's about $1000 in the long block and will make around 400 at the crank with a great tune.

 

Engine is coming with 863 heads. As I sit now, I'm looking at the ls6 intake, ls1 fuel rail/42# injectors/tb, TSP 224R cam that comes with 7.400 rods/PAC1218 springs/LS6 ported oil pump(maybe high flow Melling)/LS2 chain, comp cams trunion kit, morel link bar lifters, ls1 water pump, ls1 harness/ecu, and 4.8 flat tops for a bump on CR to compensate for the heads. I should mention that the engine is torn to bare block and has been in storage for almost a year. Block and crank will be getting a hone/polish job to clean up as all clearances are still in spec. The way I figure, it's all apart; I'm going to replace some of the more critical components so I don't have to break it apart later. I'm hoping to find the pistons, intake, fuel rail, injectors, and tb used on here to keep my cost minimal.