Advice needed: LS7 or supercharge my LS1
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 140
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From: Denver, CO
Advice needed: LS7 or supercharge my LS1 I'm fairly new to the LS1 world and fell in love with the motor. I have a new project and need advice. I have a 93 RX7 and since I have a history of creating hybrids, I want to drop an LSX into it. I view it as the perfect marriage. I have a 99 Camaro SS drivetrain with 90K miles. I hear it's good for many more. I am not sure if I should just drop the LS1 in and probably add the Kenne Bell Supercharger, or go with a 427 with heads and cam, nothing crazy.
As for goals for this project, this is to be my more streetable, slow car. I say "slow" because my other car is a Datsun 280Z with a twin turbo 383 SBC. It's crude, rude, and fast. I want to be able to drive the RX7 often, yet outrun the exotics that are in the area (Porsches, Vettes/Vipers, M's, an occasional Ferarri or other Italian exotic). I will also use it for autocrosses and track days. I drag occasionally just for fun. Yes, there is a budget for this project, but I am prone to overrun, so it's not absolutely critical (the Datsun turbo project was 20K over budget-it was supposed to be an economy buildup and I fell victim to the "it only costs a little more to do this"...syndrome.)
Your comments would be welcome.
As for goals for this project, this is to be my more streetable, slow car. I say "slow" because my other car is a Datsun 280Z with a twin turbo 383 SBC. It's crude, rude, and fast. I want to be able to drive the RX7 often, yet outrun the exotics that are in the area (Porsches, Vettes/Vipers, M's, an occasional Ferarri or other Italian exotic). I will also use it for autocrosses and track days. I drag occasionally just for fun. Yes, there is a budget for this project, but I am prone to overrun, so it's not absolutely critical (the Datsun turbo project was 20K over budget-it was supposed to be an economy buildup and I fell victim to the "it only costs a little more to do this"...syndrome.)
Your comments would be welcome.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Somewhere Between Mild Insanity and Complete Psychosis
Originally Posted by silicone boy
As for goals for this project, this is to be my more streetable, slow car. I say "slow" because my other car is a Datsun 280Z with a twin turbo 383 SBC. It's crude, rude, and fast. I want to be able to drive the RX7 often, yet outrun the exotics that are in the area (Porsches, Vettes/Vipers, M's, an occasional Ferarri or other Italian exotic). I will also use it for autocrosses and track days. I drag occasionally just for fun.
1. Streetable: AFR Heads, 224/228 cam, forged internals, bolt-ons = linear, predicatble power, reliability, 450+ rwhp/rwtq
2. Outrun exotics: 450+rwhp/rwtq from an LS1 RX7 will outrun stock Porches, Vettes, Vipers, Ms no problem. Not to mention stock blower Terminators.
3. Autocross: NA is the way to go for autocrossing.
4. Occasional drag racing: FORGED 402, so throw on an N20 kit, 100-150 shot, for occasional drag race or street encounter with one of the above exotics that has been heavily modded.
5. Budget: much cheaper than ls7, well within your budget, especially if you're doing the labor.
Originally Posted by will82
Built LS2 402
1. Streetable: AFR Heads, 224/228 cam, forged internals, bolt-ons = linear, predicatble power, reliability, 450+ rwhp/rwtq
2. Outrun exotics: 450+rwhp/rwtq from an LS1 RX7 will outrun stock Porches, Vettes, Vipers, Ms no problem. Not to mention stock blower Terminators.
3. Autocross: NA is the way to go for autocrossing.
4. Occasional drag racing: FORGED 402, so throw on an N20 kit, 100-150 shot, for occasional drag race or street encounter with one of the above exotics that has been heavily modded.
5. Budget: much cheaper than ls7, well within your budget, especially if you're doing the labor.
1. Streetable: AFR Heads, 224/228 cam, forged internals, bolt-ons = linear, predicatble power, reliability, 450+ rwhp/rwtq
2. Outrun exotics: 450+rwhp/rwtq from an LS1 RX7 will outrun stock Porches, Vettes, Vipers, Ms no problem. Not to mention stock blower Terminators.
3. Autocross: NA is the way to go for autocrossing.
4. Occasional drag racing: FORGED 402, so throw on an N20 kit, 100-150 shot, for occasional drag race or street encounter with one of the above exotics that has been heavily modded.
5. Budget: much cheaper than ls7, well within your budget, especially if you're doing the labor.
Originally Posted by silicone boy
I am not sure if I should just drop the LS1 in and probably add the Kenne Bell Supercharger, or go with a 427 with heads and cam, nothing crazy.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Originally Posted by 11 Bravo
Kenne Bell does not make a supercharger for f-bods. You'll have to do some cutting to get it to fit, along with a different hood.
It's not an F bod, unless you count FD3S as an F bod
I will have to cut the hood anyway if I go with a supercharger. Intriguing idea about the LS2. So it's forged internals. That's good to know and I just may go in that direction. I agree that forced induction does not make for a good autocross car. I've tried it in my Datsun, and boost hitting at the wrong moment is not pretty. 
I agree, the 402 is probably the best bang for the buck idea. You can get pretty aggresive with a cam because your car is much lighter than a F-body. You can get to around 500 rwhp no problem and still retain good drivability. Would be great for all the above criteria and like was said earlier throw a 100 shot and some sticky tires and be deep in the tens.
Originally Posted by will82
Built LS2 402
1. Streetable: AFR Heads, 224/228 cam, forged internals, bolt-ons = linear, predicatble power, reliability, 450+ rwhp/rwtq
2. Outrun exotics: 450+rwhp/rwtq from an LS1 RX7 will outrun stock Porches, Vettes, Vipers, Ms no problem. Not to mention stock blower Terminators.
3. Autocross: NA is the way to go for autocrossing.
4. Occasional drag racing: FORGED 402, so throw on an N20 kit, 100-150 shot, for occasional drag race or street encounter with one of the above exotics that has been heavily modded.
5. Budget: much cheaper than ls7, well within your budget, especially if you're doing the labor.
1. Streetable: AFR Heads, 224/228 cam, forged internals, bolt-ons = linear, predicatble power, reliability, 450+ rwhp/rwtq
2. Outrun exotics: 450+rwhp/rwtq from an LS1 RX7 will outrun stock Porches, Vettes, Vipers, Ms no problem. Not to mention stock blower Terminators.
3. Autocross: NA is the way to go for autocrossing.
4. Occasional drag racing: FORGED 402, so throw on an N20 kit, 100-150 shot, for occasional drag race or street encounter with one of the above exotics that has been heavily modded.
5. Budget: much cheaper than ls7, well within your budget, especially if you're doing the labor.
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