Summary

• LS7 is one among GM’s strongest naturally aspirated engines, producing 505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque.
• The LS7 is a particular engine, discovered within the performance-driven C6 Z06 and fifth-gen Z/28 Camaro.
• Despite being discontinued, the LS427/570 crate engine with 570 hp and 540 lb-ft of torque is a powerful improve.

The LS7 engine is among the extra extensively recognized engines of this millennium from Chevrolet, maybe solely outdone by the LS9 that powers the C6 ZR1. Given that the LS9 is supercharged from the manufacturing facility, nevertheless, provides the LS7 the excellence of being some of the highly effective naturally aspirated engines General Motors has ever produced. Stemming from the identical LS designated household tree that started with the venerable LS1, the LS7 is a giant small block V-8, having 7.0 liters or 427 cubic inches of displacement.

This naturally aspirated engine solely got here in two manufacturing facility purposes, the C6 Z06, and fifth era Z/28 Camaro. Both efficiency automobiles are superior in their very own rights, however are additionally each very completely different, regardless of sharing this LS7 coronary heart. Pick up a used instance of both of those two automobiles, and you will have one particular journey, a car that’s each a looker and a performer. Though each could also be street-driven, their engineering stems from observe breeding, and true fans will acknowledge the worth.

In order to provide the most recent and correct info potential, the info used to compile this text was sourced from numerous producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with Classic.com, Car & Driver, and Road and Track.

A 7.0-Liter Or 427 Cubic-Inch Beast

The LS7 is a pushrod 7.0-liter engine, one with titanium connecting rods and consumption valves. It’ll rev to 7,000 rpm, with a 6,300 rpm horsepower peak, and with more than 400 pound-feet of torque available as early as 2,400 rpm. It’s an all-aluminum V-8, with a solid metal crank.

The LS7 Utilizes A Dry-Sump Oil System

Most automobiles use a deep oil pan that rests on the backside of the engine, however the LS7 has a dry-sump system, one which makes use of a extra shallow pan coupled with an exterior oil reservoir. Oil capability is eight quarts, in comparison with the 5.5 quarts of the usual C6 Corvette. This system permits the Z06 to take care of oil stress throughout sustained high-g cornering.

A Lot Of Naturally Aspirated Power

The base C6 has 400 horsepower, however the LS7 offers the Z06 model with 505 horses. Not solely that, but it surely offers 470 pound-feet of torque. As of 2019, years after the C6’s production ceased, the LS7 remained GM’s most powerful naturally aspirated engine installed in a production vehicle.

First Debuted In The C6 Corvette

The C6, or sixth-generation Corvette, lived from 2005-2013. The Z06 geared up with the LS7, took place in 2006 and ran all through the remainder of the mannequin’s manufacturing. The C6 Z06 is a particular automotive.

The C6 Z06 Is Well Balanced

The loopy factor concerning the C6 Z06 is that as an apex ‘vette, it weighed solely 3,147 kilos. That’s 141 kilos lower than the bottom automotive! This is completed due to an aluminum body that weighed solely 136 kilos, which was not as sturdy because the metal base mannequin however weighed a 3rd much less. A set-cast magnesium roof and engine cradle helped the Z06 chassis stay inflexible. Carbon-fiber entrance fenders, liners, and floorboards helped full the trick.

Aside from what have to be a loopy power-to-weight ratio, the C6 Z06 weighed less than the all-aluminum Ferrari F430 and only a pound more than Porsche’s carbon-fiber Carrera GT. Perhaps it goes with out saying that the latter are six-figure automobiles straightforward, whereas the Z06 was beneath $70,000 new. With a six-speed guide solely, the Z06 additionally will get over 25 mpg on the freeway.

2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

Given the spectacular efficiency specs for a naturally aspirated manufacturing automotive, the C6 Z06 remains relevant to this day. You’d be hard-pressed then to discover a higher automotive for the cash, and that is still true even now. Average prices for a C6 Z06 sit at $50,864 according to classic.com.

It’s actually extra attainable than the C6 ZR1, and the C6 Z06 could be pushed every day too, however it is a automotive that lapped the Nürburgring in 7:43. Heck, you can spend a whole lot of 1000’s extra on a Ferrari or Porsche, and never essentially have a better-performing automotive.

Also Installed In 2014-2015 Z/28

The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 returned in a giant means, serving to bookend a profitable run for the reborn muscle automotive. The slash is significant, as the car harkened back to the 1969 Camaro and the original Z/28. The fifth-generation Camaro, a automotive that arose from hibernation in 2010 after 2002’s shutdown on the earlier gen’s finish, truly outsold the Mustang of the time and the current sixth-generation Camaro.

The LS7 Breathes Life Into The Camaro

Originally powered by Chevy’s sole 302 cubic-inch V-8 in 1969, seeing the Z/28 arrive with an engine such because the LS7 was music to our ears. It was undoubtedly a automotive worthy of the slash, which with years in between of diminished energy and no slash within the trim all through the generations, meant the automotive was made extra worthy of the observe once more. Coming commonplace with Recaro racing seats, this was just the start of what the Z/28 dropped at the desk.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Specs

(Source: Chevrolet)

The fifth era Z/28 was a heavier and greater automotive than the C6 Z06, given the basic variations between a sports activities automotive and a muscle automotive. Still, as the 2 Chevy rides have all the time shared tech, these two had the LS7 in frequent. Both additionally solely featured a six-speed guide, with the Z/28 providing a Tremec.

This car ran a 7:37.47 Nürburgring lap, besting the C6 Z06, in addition to the fifth-generation Camaro ZL1. The latter is blown with a better energy output, however the Z/28 was lighter, due to a stripped-out inside. The Z/28 solely had one speaker, a fundamental stereo, diminished sound-deadening supplies, with a rear seat delete choice, and the A/C was non-compulsory as nicely.

Also, the Z/28 featured a stiffer observe suspension and carbon ceramic brakes, giving it superior stopping energy, however a harsh journey. Meanwhile, the ZL1 has a magnetic journey suspension. Perhaps the ZL1 is the higher every day, and extra livable as such, however make no mistake the Z/28 is a pure driver’s automotive. Average costs for a used Z28 hover at $64,112 in accordance with Classic.com.

LS7 Based Crate Engine Gets A Power Bump

The excellent news for LS7 followers is that GM produced a crate engine that was LS7-based, however got here with an influence output enhance. You could have seen that the Z/28 has extra torque than the Z06, however horsepower stays unchanged. This will not be the case with this new crate engine that GM produced afterward.

The LS427/570 Crate Engine

As the title implies, the LS427/570 being LS7 primarily based, was a 427 cubic-inch engine. It additionally got here with 570 horsepower, and together with that, 540 pound-feet of torque. This is a major achieve over the manufacturing LS7s within the Corvette and Camaro, with peak output coming at 6,200 and 4,800 rpm respectively. Notably, this engine makes use of a wet-sump oil system, ditching the distant oil tank reservoir and the dry-sump setup of the manufacturing LS7.

The Complete Line of LS7 Engines Are Discontinued

Unfortunately for LS7 followers, simply because the C6 Z06 and fifth-gen Z/28 manufacturing has ceased, so has production of the LS427/570 crate engine. There could also be examples of the engine left for buy, however a potential purchaser would want to inquire with their supplier on availability. Other than that, the one choices for getting ahold of a used LS7 are to search out the C6 Z06 or the ultimate iteration of the Z/28.

LS7 Swaps & Things To Know

Like many or all LS-based engines, the LS7 could also be a preferred selection as a swap into any automotive. With the LS7, this could possibly be a tough set up because of the dry-sump oiling system. Along with the ability bump, that is most likely what led GM to provide the LS427/570 crate engine, as it’s cheaper and simpler to put in.

The LS7 May Have Increased Reliability Issues When Modified

It’s no secret that if you add issues like increase to an engine, by way of superchargers or turbos, for instance, different issues would require modifications. This is as a result of parts inside to the engine and different elements of the car will should be tweaked to deal with the ability enhance. After all, it appears as quickly as you modify one factor, you typically have to alter one thing else to make it work proper. The LS7 appears to work finest when saved in inventory configuration, and never revved to the redline, because the max energy is out there earlier than then.

Take It With A Grain Of Salt When Building

On the flip aspect, though issues typically appear to work finest when unmolested from a manufacturing facility, it does not imply issues cannot be modified. Surely, respected retailers are on the market with the data and expertise to construct a badass automotive utilizing the LS7. One simply has to remember what one modification results in, by way of additional mods, and that there’s a higher likelihood reliability takes a success.

After all, aftermarket corporations are fast to level out efficiency positive aspects, however store warranties are in fact restricted. Still, with manufacturing of the LS7 discontinued, this can be principally a moot level anyhow. Nevertheless, anybody would most probably be proud of a C6 Z06, Z/28, or LS427/570 resto-mod traditional, all with an LS7 at coronary heart.