Quote:
Originally Posted by TrackClub
Would you include LT1 in this ("best") category as well?
Seems like an incredibly capable engine from what I've read thus far, with torque being very close to LS7's. Thanks.
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From what I know the LT1 is an awesome engine. But I have "love" for the LS7
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LS3 is an awesome engine.
At some point the debate can go to whether or not a OHV or OHC makes a better engine.
Looking at all the hardware in the LS7, I'm not sure there is much better out there. I think that within the bounds of all the requirements it's about as good as GM can do with a large displacement V8 and very little cost pressure.
With CAFE there dictating the future and global business pressures, will we see an evolution of the LS7 engine? An L"T"7? I would very much be interested to see that.
But within "mass production" guidelines and cost structures, I think 450 HP V8s (LT1 and Ford's Coyote) may be the pinnacle of affordable HP in performance cars.
I don't think we are going to see a loss of performance like we did in the early 70s and again in the early 80s due to emissions and FE pressure. But I think we will see changes in the "propulsion system" in our performance cars. Now it remains completely possible that GM will find a way through this. They did starting in the mid to late 90s through today. But in 10 or 20 years, we may see electrons doing more of the work.
I remember the C5 Z06 popping over the 400 HP line and that was a big deal. Now we see the LT1 putting out 450 HP, getting pretty incredible FE numbers in the Corvette and setting a new standard.