We are almost done installing the LS7 into the 05 C5 Convertible. We
are waiting on headers from the Vette Doctors (holiday shipping back-up)
Many thanks to katech for the torque spec help! We changed the
cam gear and the crank trigger reluctor. Thanks to TPIS for letting me
borrow the Goodson Tool for the reluctor wheel. For those of you doing
this, the only wiring issues on an LS2- LS7 swap - You will have to
extend the Oxygen Sensor harnesses to reach the collector if running
headers. The Oil Level sensor also serves as the oil temp sensor on the
LS2. The LS7 oil pan does not have a level sensor! The oil temp sensor
is in the dry sump tank (same part number as an LS1 oil temp sensor)
You will have to wire the oil temp sensor from the Dry Sump tank to
the oil level sensor oil temp combo sensor on the LS2 harness! You will
lose oil level indication, however this can be checked off in LS2 Edit.
The battery fits quite nice in the left rear compartment and I spent
a couple of hundred dollars at my local stereo shop in 1 ot cables and
Gold terminals to relocate the battery! The Dry sump we were able
to utilize the mounting threaded holes on the frame for the bottom mounting
where the computer was- Moved the computer to the top (plenty of harness
to do it) Look like factory Z06!
I will complete this mod and Monday and let you know the wire colors on the
oil temp sensor.
The 05 Vette will be equipped with Callayway Honker, Vette Dr. Long Tube
Headers for LS7, Callaway rear exhaust, No cats, Hoping for 500RWHP!

 

factory motor ............
c6 convertible
I want this in the c5

 

Where did you get replacement rod bolts?

 

How exciting! Keep us posted and thanks for the notes on the oil temp sensor.

 

Great job guys!

also interested in the rod bolt info - as we're on hold with our project til we can get some!

 

Did not replace the rod bolts- re torqued to specs and checked the stretch
All looks good!

 

Sounds good.

 

How did you check for stretch? I'm assuming that you checked them after taking them out, but how do you know if they stretched even more upon the re-installation and torqueing? Did you re-install, then take them back out once again and recheck stretch?

We thought about reusing ours, but I wasn't ready to gamble a $13k motor with the most important bolts in the engine

 

Measure length in all - then installed one to torque spec- removed and rechecked - no change in length compared to others 20 newton meters and 110 degrees ended
up being 48 ft lbs on my snap on torque wrench for what it is worth.

 

Is 48 ft lbs normal for an LSx rod bolt?

 

It varies from based on the motor, the brand of rod, the brand of bolts. My Lunati rods with 7/16" ARP bolts torque to 74 ft-lbs. You are actually supposed to torque them based on bolt stretch, but they have already been stretched and they end up at about 73-75 ft-lbs.

 

Hey Ron...How about some updates! Haha...Jim

 

Surely one of the sponsors will build a kit to make this swap easier.

 

All rod bolts should be fastened to a certain stretch, IMO.

TQ values can vary in many ways, but stretch is the most consistent.