Another LS7 lives again.

[cook_dw]

A friend of mine bought this engine back a couple months ago at an auction which was in a 55 gasser in the 70's.  All owner history is there and long story short this thing might have had 100 miles on it.  But unfortunately from it sitting for 35+ years it needed to be pulled down and gone through.  This is the process I am going through to this point.

Here are some original 70's pics of the LS7 after being balanced and blueprinted after receiving the crate engine from GM.







After sitting on an engine stand for 35+ years.

















The only issue that I found was one broken inner spring.

[cook_dw]

The amazing part was this engine was used so little that the only items that were replaced were the timing set and valve springs.

Cleaning process begins.

[cook_dw]

[cook_dw]

After about a month off from the engine due to work and being out of town I was finally able to get the engine on the run stand.  Crappy video but here is a short couple of clips of it.  I am the one running the engine and owner is operating the camera.  I set the timing at 33 degrees total with a mix of 1/3 av gas and 2/3 93.  Throttle response is very crisp with the dominator and idle characteristics are very calm..  I couldnt ask for a easier starting and smooth running engine with that much cam and compression.. 


Video clip 1 

Video clip 2

[ZLP955]

Nice work Darrell, it looked really clean inside.

[bcmiller]

Did you have a chance to check the chamber size on the heads?  The 990s don't seem to vary as much as some others, but they do vary.  I have  set that has been planed a bit and they are 117 cc.

[cook_dw]

Every chamber was around 118-119 IIRC...

[cook_dw]

Just realized I posted the same video twice..   

Heres a little better video..

Video Clip redo..

[OG69Z]

It's great to see another LS7 coming back to life. Darrell, those valve spring dampers were always a problem with breakage.

I have a LS7 454 crate engine I bought new back in the early 70's. It has been stored in my shop for the last 35+ years. I recently opened it up and gave it a freshening. The engine is still standard bore, 100% as Chevrolet built it. Back in the day I street raced it. It did well.

I have decided its time to relive my youth somewhat and get this thing back on the road, but this time racing it only on the track and driving it a bit more conservative when on the street. It will even see some road race time.  I'll be putting it in a road race modified '69 C10 Stepside with 4.1 gears with a Midwest Muncie M23 4 speed. I wonder if the LS7 will be anything as fast as my memory recalls! and the sound of that cam!!

I hope you enjoy yours as much as I anticipate enjoying mine!

[cook_dw]

Great looking engine!  This was not mine but a friend/customers engine.