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LS7 build up

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Old May 24, 2006 | 08:31 PM
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Default LS7 build up

Well I was planning on boosting my ls1, I came across an LS7 and I need help building it from the block. What all do I need to acheive 550 rwhp?? Also how much would it cost to make it boost ready??? Sorry I am new to the LS2/LS7 place.. Thanks Chase
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Old May 24, 2006 | 09:02 PM
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is all you have a block?
or a short block?
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Old May 25, 2006 | 12:46 PM
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I wouldnt use anything from the ls7 shortblock for your buildup.

If you want the 4.125" bore, just have a ls1/ls2 block sleeved at Race Eng and youll save a bunch of money and have a much stronger block
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Old May 25, 2006 | 12:51 PM
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What is wrong with the factory LS7 block other than the dry sump oiling? I would much rather have a block designed to handle a 4.125 inch bore and 500 hp instead of a block designed to handle a 4.00 inch bore 400 hp and then resleeved (which I dont trust) to accept a much bigger bore. how is the LS2 block stronger than the LS7
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Old May 25, 2006 | 02:23 PM
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Well if you don't trust it the LS7 is nothing more than a LS2 sleeved. The Darton sleeves are much thicker and make a stronger deck which makes the Darton Sleeved block much stronger.

Nate
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Old May 25, 2006 | 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Nasty N8
Well if you don't trust it the LS7 is nothing more than a LS2 sleeved. The Darton sleeves are much thicker and make a stronger deck which makes the Darton Sleeved block much stronger.

Nate

Regarding the LS7 being "nothing more" than a resleeved LS2. It is far from it... the castings are NOT one in the same.

I don't doubt the Darton dry sleeves (or MID wet for that matter) are stronger than the factory LS7 sleeves... but the LS7 with its factory sleeves are proving themselves quite nicely in the performance aftermarket. 01-up LS1/LS6 blocks (including LS2) with their factory cast in sleeves are proven to 1000bhp... when tuned correctly. Doubt me? Call Katech... call folks who have ACTUALLY pushed the LS7 in the new Z06 as well as crate motors. Ya, there have been a couple of idiots blowing up LS7's with nitrous (NO TUNING AVAILABLE AT TIME)... and trying to develop/install a Procharger system. But you will find that kind of bad news info regarding just about any GENIII/IV block aluminum block. The LS7 block is JUST NOW available... we're going to see folks pushing it hard... it will pass/fail on its own merits regardless of what is said on this forum... and I'm sure we'll hear it here as blocks in volume start to make it to engine builders... and then out to the race scene.

Bill

Last edited by billreid1@cox.net; May 26, 2006 at 12:07 AM.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by billreid1@***.net
Regarding the LS7 being "nothing more" than a resleeved LS2. It is far from it... the castings are NOT one in the same.

I don't doubt the Darton dry sleeves (or MID wet for that matter) are stronger than the factory LS7 sleeves... but the LS7 with its factory sleeves are proving themselves quite nicely in the performance aftermarket. 01-up LS1/LS6 blocks (including LS2) with their factory cast in sleeves are proven to 1000bhp... when tuned correctly. Doubt me? Call Katech... call folks who have ACTUALLY pushed the LS7 in the new Z06 as well as crate motors. Ya, there have been a couple of idiots blowing up LS7's with nitrous (NO TUNING AVAILABLE AT TIME)... and trying to develop/install a Procharger system. But you will find that kind of bad news info regarding just about any GENIII/IV block aluminum block. The LS7 block is JUST NOW available... we're going to see folks pushing it hard... it will pass/fail on its own merits regardless of what is said on this forum... and I'm sure we'll hear it here as blocks in volume start to make it to engine builders... and then out to the race scene.

Bill

So far we have pushed LS7 blocks to 650hp with no problems. We have a customer who has pushed to 675hp with no problems.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 12:21 PM
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Billreid: your basing your claim on how good the ls7 is on what you have read and not done hands on.....


Yes the LS7 block could be good for 1500+ HP for all we know. Just like stock LS1 blocks/cranks have been pushed to 1500 hp and lived. BUT saying that a LS7 is more than a resleeved LS2 is not true. A DARTON sleeved LS2 block is CHEAPER and STRONGER, period.

Why build a LS7 ($3000 block) when you could get a 4.125" sleeved LS2 block and do it all for $2000-2500...
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Old May 26, 2006 | 12:48 PM
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I am getting an LS7 for free a friend of mine doesn't need it and its a full assembled motor was just wondering what yalls thoughts about it were.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by blue2002ss06
I am getting an LS7 for free a friend of mine doesn't need it and its a full assembled motor was just wondering what yalls thoughts about it were.
Must be nice.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by blue2002ss06
I am getting an LS7 for free a friend of mine doesn't need it and its a full assembled motor was just wondering what yalls thoughts about it were.
NO SH*T ya that must be nice. I wish i had friends like that.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 01:00 PM
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Well the thing is I have no clue what the hell I am going to do with it lol... Any Ideas??
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Old May 26, 2006 | 01:36 PM
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That's a lot of power from an LS7!!! Nice!
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Old May 26, 2006 | 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by blue2002ss06
Well the thing is I have no clue what the hell I am going to do with it lol... Any Ideas??
Ship to:

Katech Inc.
Attn: Jason
24324 Sorrentino Ct.
Clinton Twp., MI 48317


I'll pay for shipping.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by billreid1@***.net
Regarding the LS7 being "nothing more" than a resleeved LS2. It is far from it... the castings are NOT one in the same.

I don't doubt the Darton dry sleeves (or MID wet for that matter) are stronger than the factory LS7 sleeves... but the LS7 with its factory sleeves are proving themselves quite nicely in the performance aftermarket. 01-up LS1/LS6 blocks (including LS2) with their factory cast in sleeves are proven to 1000bhp... when tuned correctly. Doubt me? Call Katech... call folks who have ACTUALLY pushed the LS7 in the new Z06 as well as crate motors. Ya, there have been a couple of idiots blowing up LS7's with nitrous (NO TUNING AVAILABLE AT TIME)... and trying to develop/install a Procharger system. But you will find that kind of bad news info regarding just about any GENIII/IV block aluminum block. The LS7 block is JUST NOW available... we're going to see folks pushing it hard... it will pass/fail on its own merits regardless of what is said on this forum... and I'm sure we'll hear it here as blocks in volume start to make it to engine builders... and then out to the race scene.

Bill
The LS-7 is a resleeved LS-2. The castings are the same with the exception of a few non drilled holes.

The stock LS7 sleeves are now where near as strong as our Dry Sleeve and they are definately no where even close to being as strong as our wet MID liner. The stock LS-7 liner is made of cast gray iron which is made roughly made at about a 30,000 tensile strength. Our Ductile iron sleeve is made roughly at about a 100,000-130,000 tensile strength making it 3 times stronger than the stock LS-7 sleeve.

Also the stock LS-7 is about .080 thick and our dry liner is .100 thick and 3 times stronger. The wet MID liner has a .287 thick wall. So how are the LS-7 just as strong?

The reason behind just going with a LS-2 block with the same bore is cost and reliability. Why spend the money on a LS-7, spend the money to build it up and then have a possbility of failure? Spend less money and get something you know will be reliable.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Darton Sleeves
The LS-7 is a resleeved LS-2. The castings are the same with the exception of a few non drilled holes.
Nope... wrong again...

Here is a couple of teaser pics... one is an LS2 (BTW, MTI dry sleeved 4.125) and one is a production LS7. Tell me what the difference is...





Bill
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Old May 26, 2006 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by billreid1@***.net
Nope... wrong again...

Here is a couple of teaser pics... one is an LS2 (BTW, MTI dry sleeved 4.125) and one is a production LS7. Tell me what the difference is...





Bill
The core plugs are a different color.
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Old May 27, 2006 | 09:59 PM
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Hey Bill, how about you take a pic showing us that the casting numbers are different.

That's what i thought.
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Old May 27, 2006 | 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by BlueSix
Hey Bill, how about you take a pic showing us that the casting numbers are different.

That's what i thought.
If I did that then it wouldn't be any fun... oh ok... if you insist. But the catch is YOU have to tell me which one is the LS2 block and which one is the LS7 block. It is really is easy for you though as its a dead giveaway... if you know what to look for. Also, notice another (insignificant casting difference) and you have to decipher the hard to read numbers and report back to us proving me right or wrong ... or do you need to pay more attention to your baseball team?





Now, what EXACTLY were you thinking?

Bill

Last edited by billreid1@cox.net; May 27, 2006 at 11:22 PM.
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Old May 27, 2006 | 11:40 PM
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I see the difference
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