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My 442ci LS7 build

15K views 52 replies 24 participants last post by  Drag Radial King  
#1 ·
I’ve decided to finally start a build thread now that I have a pretty solid game plan laid out. I’ve had a real basic, dreamy idea of how and what I’ve wanted to build ever since I got the car, and it’s finally starting to come together.

So for the last few months, I've been savin my pennies, picking 'em up when I see 'em on the ground and living off of bread and water, with a ramen noodle here 'n there. Sometimes I'll splurge on beans and rice and tortillas. I've been researchin the living hell out of stuff for-fkn-ever now, talkin auto guru's ears off, and have finally came up with a pretty solid parts / build list which I've been gathering little by little. My plan right now is to get the short block together and use my current stock cube H/C/I/E combo, get it back on the road and then begin round after round of upgrade, continue researching, talk more ears off and tediously document and dyno every change and upgrade, as well as tracking the car.

My goal is to leave absolutely no stone unturned, extract every singe last feasible, conceivable, imaginable ounce of horsepower from this thing while still being able to cruise the hell out of this thing. It'll get drivin to and from the track, Laredo, RGV, Houston, work, all over the damn place. I'm building one of the baddest, most unique NA / N2O LS7's out there. NA, we're shooting for a LEGIT 650+ rwhp from this thing, which I thing is doable, with the backing and support from my wife and Volatile Performance.

Here's what I have so far.
-Wiseco forged pistons, which will be fully coated.
-Callies Dragon Slayer 4.125 stroke crank
-Callies Billet rods
-ARP main studs
-Monster twin disc clutch rated for 1,000+ hp

The short block is pretty much ready to go back together, though I may send the block out to be sleeved first. I don't need to, but I kind of figure why not at this point lol. Motor will end up at 442ci. Planning on high SC / DC on 93 with race fuel for the nitrous stand alone.

Future plans are :
-Aviaid custom stage 3 dry sump
-Katech blue oil pump
-Shaft rockers. Probably Crower, or Jesel maybe
-F.A.S.T. 102 combo, ported by Volatile Performance
-Custom fuel system : when needed
-Induction Solutions Direct Port
-Custom N2O standalone tank
-Volatile Performance custom cam. I plan on getting pretty aggressive with it, along with helping with the design process. Maybe solid roller
-Possibly stepping up to 2" headers also, that would get coated. My 1 7/8's will be coated this go around.
-Custom ported LS7 heads. From the research I've done so far, people I've talked to, I haven't seen any stellar, super amazing, gotta fkn have 'em! results from builds that have used MAST or All Pro heads.
-Stronger DS, MGW, trans / diff bracing, motor / trans mounts / Penske coil overs
-Custom 6pt cage / Kirkeys / 'chute
-Meziere ele. water pump
-I'm also going to look into makin a custom ovalized side exit exhaust like CMS did, that'll exit under the rear break duct thru the rocker panel.

That's about all I can think to post for now. Here's some pictures of the rods, crank and a mockup of parts.







 
#2 · (Edited)
This type of build is my favorite, and I have been around a couple that are very similar. I think you are on the right path but are going to fall short of your goal if you plan to stay with the FAST manifold. It seems like they are just done at 600-620whp... but maybe someone has them figured out. One note from past experience, two iterations of a build that made 680+ SAE both times, first version had Mast heads and the other had Allpros. Lol. Not saying they are the right head for you or the best (OE LS7 casting is more than capable in the right hands), but was a funny coincidence.
 
#3 ·
Thanks man! I won't be all butt hurt if it doesn't make 650ish, I know it's possible and that we'll at least be damn close. If it doesn't, it's not anything fudging dyno settings couldn't take care of. Haha totally joking.

Also, I made a Facebook page that I'll be able to update more regularly if any of you care to like it. I'll still be updating this thread as much as possible though.
Here's the link. https://www.facebook.com/themexicutionerz06
 
#7 ·
Not that I can recall no, sorry.


Thanks man! I've though about running a single plane intake and cutting the hood, but the only I'd do that is if I was going to go forced induction. Which I'd like to do some day, but not in the foreseeable future lol
Very cool stuff brother. Can't wait to see how it turns out, and I'd ditch the FAST also.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Two of my friends have had issues with jesels on stock LS7 castings. They rip the roof of the port right out. These were both done by reputable LS shops. You machine the head for a flat area for the flat bar to bolt to, the roof getd very thin where the bolt that holds it down. It also gets drilled out to 7/16 too. Good luck with the build sounds bad ass!
 
#10 ·
Just for some numbers, I own a ls7 that I built for my jet boat but is in my Buddy's car right now for a local class. Its the same cubes as yours with factory heads with good valve job and minor bowl work. They go 375@.650 then fall like crazy. Ex is like 220@.650 also. Hydraulic roller 262-273@.050 113 LSA on 111CL. It has a mast single 4 with carb. It over 13:1 cause was built for E85. I've made 800,824, and 851 depending on what carb, headers and fuel was in it. I'm running it again tomorrow on the dyno with a .670 solid roller with the stock rockers and heads. We test on Thursday and race on Friday so I'm interested to see what just the solid roller picks us up....
 
#12 ·
Well, I finally have enough momentum behind this thing to post an update.
I got the engine back from the machine shop last week. My LS7 heads are still at Frankenstein Racing getting repaired, cnc ported, and machined for Crower shaft rockers! FRH is also porting and port matching my FAST 102mm. I should have them back by next weekend.
I need to get a set of Kooks headers for the round port exhaust, instead of the factory "D" shape. So I'm selling my Kooks "D" headers.
Compression will be 12.3 - 12.4. ID850's will light the fire, fueled a Walbro 450 or the Aeromotive A1000 drop in kit they make, with plans for flex fuel 93oct / E85.
Martin Smallwood @ Tick Performance will be specing out the solid roller cam. At his request FRH is installing PAC 1208X springs and Ti hardware, which are good for .750 lift. I think I'll be calling this a 3/4 cam haha. I'll be getting some fat 'ole pushrods from Trend and Morel solid lifters.
I'm not planning on having the car back on the road till after TX2K / April.
In the meantime I've got a bunch of small things planned. I'm cleaning and painting all the suspension cause I hate dirty corrosion, and I'll also be correcting the paint thanks to my background in paint and body work.
Here's a few pictures for your viewing pleasure



 
#18 ·
Small update. Frankenstein is finally done with everything, so I'm over here like

Heads, ported FAST 102mm and Crowers should be here early next week. All that is left to get are headers, pushrods, timing chain and lifters.
Heres' a few teaser shots of the head work FRH sent to me.




I'll get more pictures of everything once it all arrives.
Also, my custom plates came in. I think it'll fit the personality of the car perfectly, as well as describe my love of metal and punk music. A couple of tweaks and they'll be perfect.
Before tweak :

After tweak :

Also thinking of adding the Misfits skull / Pantera logo in place of the star and Texas symbol
Until next time...
 
#19 ·
Gm should have carried over the round tail lights to the new vette
 
#24 ·
Yes, they're ported OEM castings. I did consider the RHS heads with one of FRH's programs, but after talking extensively about my goals with them they suggested I go with their port work on my stock casting.


Their reasoning was since I was going to be using a stock style intake, I most likely wouldn't see justifiable gains vs. the higher price of admission for the RHS's, and that the money saved by running my stock casting could be spent elsewhere on the build.
 
#25 ·
Well, not much of an update, but after spending what seems like endless hours researching valvetrain geometry, talking to the people I got my parts from, I'm happy to say my valve train is setup! I get the best geometry angles and wipe pattern using one Crower supplied .045 shim for the rocker base.
Pushrods will come from Manton. Series 5 7/16 x .120 at 8.600 is what they'll be.

Got all my clutch measurements while everything is blown apart also. Everything is golden there as well. I completely disassembled the slave to thoroughly clean it as it been 40k miles with the stock fluid. Yuk. I'll be replacing that shitty little plastic bearing support with Monsters billet piece.

All I need now is to drill and tap the rear steam ports, get a couple gaskets and clearance the heads for the pushrods and it'll drop this bad boy in the car.

Shouldn't be too much longer now!
 
#26 ·
I've finished up all the small tasks finally. The motor is jus about ready to be dropped in. Only thing I need is cover gaskets, billet tob support and the C7R chain.
Clutch / slave measurements are good. Right at .100 or so. I also cleaned and flushed the 40k mile nasty fluid out of the master, slave and lines. This should help minimize any potential issues there.





Next was p/v. I have clearance for days there. It was somewhere .240+ for both. The piston only stick out .375 at bdc.



Clearanced the pushrod holes so I can run 7/16 columns from Manton. Pretty sure I'd have room for 1/2 rods, but that won't be necessary.
Here's some before and afters. Just have to tidy them up a little more.

 
#27 ·
Here's something I found very interesting. The rear steam ports on the LS7 heads are actually riveted closed. When I was getting ready to drill the port out I noticed they looked plugged up. Took a small punch to the under side of the head and knocked the plugs out. Drilled and tapped them for -4.








 
#28 ·
Put the base of the intake on the long block.

Make sure the roof of the intake port doesn't droop into the path of the intake manifold.

The exhaust gaskets might need a little trimming so it doesn't block the very bottom of the exhaust port.

I've done some pretty extensive port work to the FAST intake and made fantastic gains.

PM me if you're interested in any details.