LS7 700whp
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 113
Likes: 45
From: Maryland
As the others mentioned. The basic recipe falls down to very stable valvetrain. The heads need to be able to do what you want and then some (good flow and velocity in all lift measurements). The cam as @jayyyw stated is going to need to be more than the BTR 4 you were talking about using in your facebook post (at least from what I remember that is what you were looking to use, I may be wrong). Definitely give it as much lift and rpm a possible. Either a hi ram, Brentons MSD 112 setup will get there.
Im not using a BTR cam anymore. I have had a few companies give me custom grind for the goal, but none of them are much bigger than the BTR 4v2 really. Which is why I'm asking around. If I waited to put it together for a while, I could build with more cubes and compression but I need to stay within pump E85 capabilities.
Like we also stated in your facebook thread, the aftermarket crank and rods won't make the power that a stock ti rod setup would, but if you focus on the top end a bit more, you will be just fine and can get your goal.
I think on the titanium rods you can make the weight up in other ways (the rods are about 150 grams lighter each than say an aftermarket steel rod 620 vs 470). The Callies crank I think on mine was 5 pounds (2500 grams) lighter than OEM (57 pounds vs 52). The OEM piston I think is like 480 grams whereas aftermarket is like low 400s. If a stick shift a light flywheel can help but that has its own drawbacks.
I think on the titanium rods you can make the weight up in other ways (the rods are about 150 grams lighter each than say an aftermarket steel rod 620 vs 470). The Callies crank I think on mine was 5 pounds (2500 grams) lighter than OEM (57 pounds vs 52). The OEM piston I think is like 480 grams whereas aftermarket is like low 400s. If a stick shift a light flywheel can help but that has its own drawbacks.
I think on the titanium rods you can make the weight up in other ways (the rods are about 150 grams lighter each than say an aftermarket steel rod 620 vs 470). The Callies crank I think on mine was 5 pounds (2500 grams) lighter than OEM (57 pounds vs 52). The OEM piston I think is like 480 grams whereas aftermarket is like low 400s. If a stick shift a light flywheel can help but that has its own drawbacks.
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 111
Likes: 102
From: Dallas TX
OP, I would go bigger on the cam specs for sure. My setup is bore limited but still should give some insight. I have a 258/268 @.050 cam with .675/.657 lift, limited by the rating of the Comp BSR shaft rockers. My engine is a 416 so is basically stock LS3 bore sizing with a small bore BR7 head. Compression is up there, 15:1 and the first dyno trip it made 642whp. This was before adding a velocity stack, 3.5 header collectors, and some other small changes that should give a few hp here or there. That was made on pump E85 as well. I would assume I might fall in that 660-670 range like someone had assumed you would be in. I say that would be a pretty good guess just based on my experience. If I were you I would put some more cam in it and some more compression, that should be able to get you knocking on the door of 700.
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I disagree that you can't make the same power a Ti rod setup would. You may have a quicker acceleration rate of the rotating assembly with the Ti rod setup, which could result in a lower E.T., but many tests thru the years have shown lighter weight rotating assemblies do NOT make more power. I know what you're saying, but there'll be no power increase......
I disagree that you can't make the same power a Ti rod setup would. You may have a quicker acceleration rate of the rotating assembly with the Ti rod setup, which could result in a lower E.T., but many tests thru the years have shown lighter weight rotating assemblies do NOT make more power. I know what you're saying, but there'll be no power increase......
so this has been discussed a lot between me and a random tuner and a random builder. what the tuner cant fathom is how the ls7 rod which is 6.098 or 6.076 length whatever, so shorter than a 6.125 rod, and has shorter dwell time at tdc than an aftermarket rod/piston, somehow seems to always make more than the heavier aftermarket setup.
i also know someone who says heavier cranks make more power than the lightened ones.
anyway, a bit of thought has gone into my rods/pistons for my setup which at this rate will never be running. what i can say that somewhere is a 434 shortblock on the stands, has XXX pistons, XXX rings, a standard compstar CCW crank, but the cool thing is the lunati X beam steel rods. since we all agree lighter rods make more power in n/a, and i dont like the titanium coating, the builder wanted to try them. they come in somewhere around 550-560 grams i think, NA only, and rated at 8000 rpm. Since i am trying a short runner msd, i dont see myself going over that.
basically building this thing around the intake. this a c6z and i am 100% keeping the stock hood untouched. Im pretty sure i wont be happy with the short runner intake so that means my next and probably only option would be a btr trinity, then ill probably be shifting around 82-8300 rpm so slightly over the recommended rpm on the rods.
i also know someone who says heavier cranks make more power than the lightened ones.
anyway, a bit of thought has gone into my rods/pistons for my setup which at this rate will never be running. what i can say that somewhere is a 434 shortblock on the stands, has XXX pistons, XXX rings, a standard compstar CCW crank, but the cool thing is the lunati X beam steel rods. since we all agree lighter rods make more power in n/a, and i dont like the titanium coating, the builder wanted to try them. they come in somewhere around 550-560 grams i think, NA only, and rated at 8000 rpm. Since i am trying a short runner msd, i dont see myself going over that.
basically building this thing around the intake. this a c6z and i am 100% keeping the stock hood untouched. Im pretty sure i wont be happy with the short runner intake so that means my next and probably only option would be a btr trinity, then ill probably be shifting around 82-8300 rpm so slightly over the recommended rpm on the rods.
Last edited by Floorman279; Jan 9, 2025 at 09:33 PM. Reason: ....
so this has been discussed a lot between me and a random tuner and a random builder. what the tuner cant fathom is how the ls7 rod which is 6.098 or 6.076 length whatever, so shorter than a 6.125 rod, and has shorter dwell time at tdc than an aftermarket rod/piston, somehow seems to always make more than the heavier aftermarket setup.
i also know someone who says heavier cranks make more power than the lightened ones.
anyway, a bit of thought has gone into my rods/pistons for my setup which at this rate will never be running. what i can say that somewhere is a 434 shortblock on the stands, has XXX pistons, XXX rings, a standard compstar CCW crank, but the cool thing is the lunati X beam steel rods. since we all agree lighter rods make more power in n/a, and i dont like the titanium coating, the builder wanted to try them. they come in somewhere around 550-560 grams i think, NA only, and rated at 8000 rpm. Since i am trying a short runner msd, i dont see myself going over that.
basically building this thing around the intake. this a c6z and i am 100% keeping the stock hood untouched. Im pretty sure i wont be happy with the short runner intake so that means my next and probably only option would be a btr trinity, then ill probably be shifting around 82-8300 rpm so slightly over the recommended rpm on the rods.
i also know someone who says heavier cranks make more power than the lightened ones.
anyway, a bit of thought has gone into my rods/pistons for my setup which at this rate will never be running. what i can say that somewhere is a 434 shortblock on the stands, has XXX pistons, XXX rings, a standard compstar CCW crank, but the cool thing is the lunati X beam steel rods. since we all agree lighter rods make more power in n/a, and i dont like the titanium coating, the builder wanted to try them. they come in somewhere around 550-560 grams i think, NA only, and rated at 8000 rpm. Since i am trying a short runner msd, i dont see myself going over that.
basically building this thing around the intake. this a c6z and i am 100% keeping the stock hood untouched. Im pretty sure i wont be happy with the short runner intake so that means my next and probably only option would be a btr trinity, then ill probably be shifting around 82-8300 rpm so slightly over the recommended rpm on the rods.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2017
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I've seen them lose power with even only just aftermarket pistons. Everything else the same, they lose roughly 20whp. Could be heavier pistons than stock or the difference in the ring packs or even bore finish.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,611
Likes: 1,086
I wholeheartedly believe I would have eclipsed 800whp with my heads/cam/intake setup on the SBE LS7. Just too problematic for most people. They just want to beat on it but that motor needs to be maintenanced well. Sleeves, valves, rods, pistons, etc are the weak links. Been seeing a lot more ring land failures on them, lately.
I wholeheartedly believe I would have eclipsed 800whp with my heads/cam/intake setup on the SBE LS7. Just too problematic for most people. They just want to beat on it but that motor needs to be maintenanced well. Sleeves, valves, rods, pistons, etc are the weak links. Been seeing a lot more ring land failures on them, lately.
so this has been discussed a lot between me and a random tuner and a random builder. what the tuner cant fathom is how the ls7 rod which is 6.098 or 6.076 length whatever, so shorter than a 6.125 rod, and has shorter dwell time at tdc than an aftermarket rod/piston, somehow seems to always make more than the heavier aftermarket setup.
i also know someone who says heavier cranks make more power than the lightened ones.
anyway, a bit of thought has gone into my rods/pistons for my setup which at this rate will never be running. what i can say that somewhere is a 434 shortblock on the stands, has XXX pistons, XXX rings, a standard compstar CCW crank, but the cool thing is the lunati X beam steel rods. since we all agree lighter rods make more power in n/a, and i dont like the titanium coating, the builder wanted to try them. they come in somewhere around 550-560 grams i think, NA only, and rated at 8000 rpm. Since i am trying a short runner msd, i dont see myself going over that.
basically building this thing around the intake. this a c6z and i am 100% keeping the stock hood untouched. Im pretty sure i wont be happy with the short runner intake so that means my next and probably only option would be a btr trinity, then ill probably be shifting around 82-8300 rpm so slightly over the recommended rpm on the rods.
i also know someone who says heavier cranks make more power than the lightened ones.
anyway, a bit of thought has gone into my rods/pistons for my setup which at this rate will never be running. what i can say that somewhere is a 434 shortblock on the stands, has XXX pistons, XXX rings, a standard compstar CCW crank, but the cool thing is the lunati X beam steel rods. since we all agree lighter rods make more power in n/a, and i dont like the titanium coating, the builder wanted to try them. they come in somewhere around 550-560 grams i think, NA only, and rated at 8000 rpm. Since i am trying a short runner msd, i dont see myself going over that.
basically building this thing around the intake. this a c6z and i am 100% keeping the stock hood untouched. Im pretty sure i wont be happy with the short runner intake so that means my next and probably only option would be a btr trinity, then ill probably be shifting around 82-8300 rpm so slightly over the recommended rpm on the rods.
im still months away from testing it and seeing what happens unfortunately