LS7 build worth it?
The LS7 intake has been proven to be better then both the L76 and Fast intakes.On the L92 combo you run into the restriction of the intake past the 6500 rpm mark where as the LS7 intake shines at the higher rpm.Port the LS7 intake and you really have good flow. 
Traver
Traver 
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 31
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Agreed. The LS7 intake manifold makes the LS7 heads so much more attractive. A Fast90 setup runs $1200+ while a LS7 setup runs for $600. I decided to just pick up a crate GM LS7, get the car running, and then go from there reguarding head/cams. Nothing too fancy for now.
Originally Posted by gnx7
I would check out WCCH. Richard at WestCoastCylinderHeads will touch up the exhaust side of the factory LS7 castings and maybe a little clean up on the intakes. The intake port flows plenty already... the exhaust side just needs to catch up a little. They flow 360/250cfm+ afterwards. I have a set and they look awesome. I also had the spring pockets machined for larger 1.46" springs rated at .700" lift. Unless you are going forced induction or plan to spray a ton of nitrous... the factory castings should suffice. I plan to spray a 100-150hp shot without issues and rev it to 7300rpm. Harlan Sharp rebuilt stock LS7 rockers and the CTS-V race lifters are in it. I would say that is the main reason for wanting a thicker deck with the ETP castings IMO. No distortion/deflection with high cylinder pressures affecting the head mating surface to the block.
If the ETP heads are only a few hundred more... and offer the thicker deck. Go for it! The power is in the heads and your cam selection. It will leave options for the future wide open. ie forced induction/tons of nitrous.
The LS7 intake is the highest flowing intake for low/mid/high RPM's out there. Better than the FAST 90 and certainly better than an LS6//LS2/L92 intake. All the custom $3K intakes get smoked by it all across the board until you reach about 7K rpm. That is when a hand fabbed setup that suits the high RPM's starts to shine. The 6-9K RPM range. Anything below that RPM and the LS7 will kick it to the curb for overall HP and TQ. The LS7 intake is truly the reason why I went with an LS7 in the first place. It will still make power beyond 7K RPM and is great down low as well.
If the lash caps were an issue... you would see a recall from GM to fix it. They may not be optimal and do throw another complexity into the mix.... but if they were a problem... wouldn't the masses that own the new Z06 be having problems on a large scale?
If I were to do it again and didn't want a dry sump motor... I would most likely go 415ci (L92 block/4" crank) and ETP LS7 small bore heads with LS7 intake. You will save a few grand and essentially achieve the same results.
IMO the attraction of the LS7 block is the low entry price for a dry sump style motor. Plus the factory forged crank is well priced and will get the job done. I found out that if you swap in forged rods (Lunati ProMod billets) that aren't titanium like factory... the crank balancing is $$$'s due to all the mallory they have to use. If people are making 1000rwhp with factory cast LS1 cranks... the LS7 has more potential than that being a forged piece.
If the ETP heads are only a few hundred more... and offer the thicker deck. Go for it! The power is in the heads and your cam selection. It will leave options for the future wide open. ie forced induction/tons of nitrous.
The LS7 intake is the highest flowing intake for low/mid/high RPM's out there. Better than the FAST 90 and certainly better than an LS6//LS2/L92 intake. All the custom $3K intakes get smoked by it all across the board until you reach about 7K rpm. That is when a hand fabbed setup that suits the high RPM's starts to shine. The 6-9K RPM range. Anything below that RPM and the LS7 will kick it to the curb for overall HP and TQ. The LS7 intake is truly the reason why I went with an LS7 in the first place. It will still make power beyond 7K RPM and is great down low as well.
If the lash caps were an issue... you would see a recall from GM to fix it. They may not be optimal and do throw another complexity into the mix.... but if they were a problem... wouldn't the masses that own the new Z06 be having problems on a large scale?
If I were to do it again and didn't want a dry sump motor... I would most likely go 415ci (L92 block/4" crank) and ETP LS7 small bore heads with LS7 intake. You will save a few grand and essentially achieve the same results.
IMO the attraction of the LS7 block is the low entry price for a dry sump style motor. Plus the factory forged crank is well priced and will get the job done. I found out that if you swap in forged rods (Lunati ProMod billets) that aren't titanium like factory... the crank balancing is $$$'s due to all the mallory they have to use. If people are making 1000rwhp with factory cast LS1 cranks... the LS7 has more potential than that being a forged piece.
Other than that A++++ post.
On The Tree
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw, Ga
Originally Posted by VictionOne
Will do.
btw, anyone know who will give the best price for a GM LS7? Gmpartsdirect has it for $12,000 plus shipping.
btw, anyone know who will give the best price for a GM LS7? Gmpartsdirect has it for $12,000 plus shipping.
Be sure and get a "delivered price" !!! I forget who it is... but one of the GM parts suppliers offers a low parts price, then kills you with the shipping & handling charges !!! 
