Unreal

My factory LS7 had a lifter break the roller off. I have to pull the heads and cam to replace the cam and lifter and since I have a blower on it now, I figured now is a good time to build the motor.

Plans are:
5.3L Aluminum Block
Have Steve@RED sleeve it with Darton Dry Sleeves to 4.125"
Diamond or Weisco Pistons, 9.5-9.7 compression
Calles compstar crank
Not sure on cam or lifters to run. H-beam or I-beam rods.

Already have PRC 285CC LS7 heads.
It is going in my 2006 z06. The car has an A&A blower. Probably upgrade to the T-trim. I want 700-750rwhp actual at 4500ft elevation.

The builders I've contacted and are interested in using so far are:
Texas Speed
Livernois
Vengance/Proline
Fran@RPM

Waiting to hear back on them all. Welcome to ideas, suggestions. It will be a street car that see 8-10k miles a year.

cantrelmitl

You want have any problems with Vengeance/Proline. You will be very happy w/ Ron and company, plus lots of experience w/ SCs and Turbos.
Mike C

My6speedZ

iTrader: (18)

I've Dealt with Ron on a lot of things and bought my long block from them. They are a great choice.

I would also try AES. Fraser would ALWAYS call me back when he said he would.

I've emailed Steve before about sleeving my LS1 with a wet-sleeve. He will take good care of you too, and when it comes to sleeves is second to none. He even usually has a few 5.3's in stock.

One question, why not just re-hone and forge it? Seems like 700 would be pretty doable with a forged rotating assembly.

StryfeS13

iTrader: (2)

Seems like a good build to me bro. Sounds like an awesome "street" car haha.

Unreal

LS7s still have weak sleeves and I rather just sell the factory shortblock to fund a new block. No reason to use a LS7 block from what I can tell when I can grab a 5.3 for $200.

My6speedZ

iTrader: (18)

Whats the sleeve thickness at .0005 over on a LS7?

Those 5.3's have gone up from what I can tell people are catching on to the fact that you can sleeve them and beat the premium of trying to find a LS2.

Unreal

No idea. The pistons and liners are in great shape on my ls7. Rather just start with a new motor and not tear down the ls7 just for the block.

My6speedZ

iTrader: (18)

Shoot Steve an email and post up some pictures of that thing when you get her together!

Unreal

Talked to Steve yesterday morning. Just waiting on some of the vendors to call me back and get prices.

Unreal

Wiseco vs Diamond pistons?

Unreal

Seems like most places are telling me go RHS or just put pistons in the current block. Plus the price to upgrade the blower was way higher than I expected. I may just order a cam and lifters, and just get this running again. Maybe throw pistons in it.

redctsv

iTrader: (1)

Why the 5.3 block? Why not just put the darton sleeves in the ls7 block? RED quoted me 1800 for a complete install of the sleeves and the block should be able to hold 1000hp as opposed to the RHS block that alone is over $4000, or having to buy a 5.3 block then spending over $2500 to machine it.

Unreal

5.3L block is $200 and sleeve it for $1800.

Then I sell my ls7 block for $3000-3500 for the shortblock, or reuse my rods/crank in the 5.3L and sell the ls7 block for $1500-1700. Once they are sleeved the ls7 blocks only advantage really is the billet main caps but I can add those to the 5.3L or the stock 5.3L mains are still good for 1000+.

Just a cost reason. No reason to sleeve a good ls7 block. Now if it was cracked then I would just do that. A good shape ls7 block is just worth too much to use as a core to sleeve.

Unreal

Right now the plan is
5.3L Block
Livernois Darton Dry Sleeves 4.125" Bore
Livernois/Diamond Coated 9.7:1 compression pistons
Callies I-beam Rods
Callies Dragonslayer Crank
Clevite Bearings
GM Racing Lifters
Some sort of cam, not idea which one.
Upgrade to the T-trim or Ysi. Not sure either. Want to be able to make 750-800rwhp at 4500ft. The t-trim maybe tapped out to do that.

My6speedZ

iTrader: (18)

Vengeance Racing did a really nice YSI Z06 that put down 700+.

But I still think with proper pistons/rods and you should be fine with your block.

Check these out:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...os-inside.html

https://ls1tech.com/forums/corvette-...ed-c6-z06.html

They both are still using the LS7 block with forged internals.

Unreal

If I'm doing it, I don't want to worry about the motor. I rather sell the current block and goto a sleeved block to make sure it can take the power.

Probably go Ysi.

Unreal

Got a quote from Vengance. Looks pretty good.

Still up in the air on sleeved block vs stock ls7 block vs going LSX.

Unreal

Just looks like a bad lifter. Cam stuff was all tight. All the lifters cam right out. The one with the broken tip I just pushed down so it didn't damage the bore. Pistons, valves, etc all look great. Pictures added





Good thing is the block and everything look great so probably pull it out, clean it up and sell it. Anyone want a nice factory LS7 shortblock?