LS7 problems?

[Galaxy_Stranger]

Just curious - the LS7 in the Z28 has been around for a while now. Have any issues cropped up with the LS7 like the Z06 has been having?

I don't own one, I'm just curious as the LS7 looks to be a great naturally aspirated choice for a build.

While we're on the subject, I know the LS7 wasn't designed with super charging in mind, but would that be a feasible thing? I'm not getting greedy, I'm just interested in finding how how different that would be when compared to something built as intended such as the LSA.

[yonex]

There has been some issues with the valve guides on the exhaust side because of too much play.

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/140...xhaust-valves/

Lots of places have successfully supercharged or ran a turbo setup on the LS7 successfully.

Take Hennessey for example:

http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/...arged-upgrade/

[Zslash28]

Originally Posted by yonex

There has been some issues with the valve guides on the exhaust side because of too much play.

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/140...xhaust-valves/

Lots of places have successfully supercharged or ran a turbo setup on the LS7 successfully.

Take Hennessey for example:

http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/...arged-upgrade/

In short, no engine failures have been reported here, relating to valvetrain wear. And we have seen only one engine failure due to an unknown reason while in the breakin period.
.
The article posted covers valvetrain stability, but doesnt cover the valve guide wear, which was the issue Z06 owners were experiencing. To date, no one on this forum has posted about their engine being lost due to valve guide wear, or posted about valve wiggle. I have logged in this forum enough since before the first Z/28 was delivered, I would have seen the thread.
.
So, where does that leave us? There could be issues out there we just dont know about, though if it were engine related, social media would be blowing up, and it very well would make it on this forum.
There are a number of professional tuners who supercharge or turbo the LS7, but IMO, ising the LSA or LS9 would be the smarter choice.

[68camaroz28]

Originally Posted by Galaxy_Stranger

Just curious - the LS7 in the Z28 has been around for a while now. Have any issues cropped up with the LS7 like the Z06 has been having?

I don't own one, I'm just curious as the LS7 looks to be a great naturally aspirated choice for a build.

While we're on the subject, I know the LS7 wasn't designed with super charging in mind, but would that be a feasible thing? I'm not getting greedy, I'm just interested in finding how how different that would be when compared to something built as intended such as the LSA.

Yes it is a great naturally aspirated engine and it had some GM upgrades which make it even a better engine but IMO not a great choice for a build when considering cost.

[I4toV8]

22k miles on mine and no problems yet.. headers, intake manifold, intake and tune for the last 6k miles and thankfully it is still going strong..

[4 FN 27]

Originally Posted by Zslash28

In short, no engine failures have been reported here, relating to valvetrain wear. And we have seen only one engine failure due to an unknown reason while in the breakin period.
.

It was Valvetrain failure based on my educated first hand look inside my expired LS7. Now with that said I believe all the motors in the Z28's are as good as they are going to get and well past the issues of the LS7 in the earlier Vettes (which I have one of those too and it has had no problems). My issue was an anomaly but related to Valvetrain.

Wish I could get the intel on what they found when they got the motor back.

Still even after that, the Z28 is hands down the best car I have ever driven on the street.

[Zslash28]

Originally Posted by 4 FN 27

It was Valvetrain failure based on my educated first hand look inside my expired LS7. Now with that said I believe all the motors in the Z28's are as good as they are going to get and well past the issues of the LS7 in the earlier Vettes (which I have one of those too and it has had no problems). My issue was an anomaly but related to Valvetrain.

Wish I could get the intel on what they found when they got the motor back.

Still even after that, the Z28 is hands down the best car I have ever driven on the street.

Thanks for chiming in. I wonder if there is any way for you to get the tear down analysis on what went wrong. Glad they made you whole and you kept the car. Many people would have jumped ship.

[AZ Charlie]

Mine is supercharged, etc and runs great with zero issues but had the right company do the build and with no timing being pulled so super reliable!

[4 FN 27]

Originally Posted by Zslash28

Thanks for chiming in. I wonder if there is any way for you to get the tear down analysis on what went wrong. Glad they made you whole and you kept the car. Many people would have jumped ship.

I wish I could. But I doubt they want that can of worms opened.

I would never jump ship after an engine coming apart. After 20+ years of Drag Racing. Unscheduled high speed disassembly just goes with the territory.

"God had them bolted together so we can fix them. Otherwise He would of had them welded together."

[Mac-427]

The durability of the LS7 has been debated to death on Corvette Forums. I had a 2013 427 Corvette Vert with no problems at all. This engine has been around since at least 2006 in Corvette Z cars and has improved every year. I had a personal discussion with the Corvette plant manager about this motor. Accordingly, he said there have been a very small number of failures but nothing like the number discussed over and over in forums. Sometimes the echo chamber of the internet magnifies problems until they become huge so I look at some of what I read with a healthy amount of scepticism.

[Galaxy_Stranger]

Originally Posted by AZ Charlie

Mine is supercharged, etc and runs great with zero issues but had the right company do the build and with no timing being pulled so super reliable!

When you super-charged it, what did it do to the drive? Did you just get more horsepower at all rpms or did you lose low-end torque? I imagine you red-line higher?

[JUSTIFIED]

Originally Posted by Mac-427

The durability of the LS7 has been debated to death on Corvette Forums. I had a 2013 427 Corvette Vert with no problems at all. This engine has been around since at least 2006 in Corvette Z cars and has improved every year. I had a personal discussion with the Corvette plant manager about this motor. Accordingly, he said there have been a very small number of failures but nothing like the number discussed over and over in forums. Sometimes the echo chamber of the internet magnifies problems until they become huge so I look at some of what I read with a healthy amount of scepticism.

Yeah and over in those forums not everyone discloses just exactly what they were doing when the engine failure occurred. The other day I was perusing another forum (a competitor to our beloved Z/28) and a guy told everyone his engine "just blew up". Another forum member who knew people at the dealership called him out saying that he missed 4th and downshifted into 2nd at well over the rev limit.

[Galaxy_Stranger]

HAH.

[hollywdv]

Originally Posted by JUSTIFIED

...he missed 4th and downshifted into 2nd at well over the rev limit.

yup, that'll do it especially if you don't catch it. sucks to lose a motor.