Manoli Katakis 
There’s something about a naturally breathing, steaming, beaming V8 engine. Engines like the Voodoo flat-plane V8 as seen in the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, or the upcoming LT6 V8 engine in the C8 Corvette Z06, as first teased in the new C8.R race car. But before these monsters, there was the LS7. It hasn’t been found in a production car for half a decade now, but the engine is still considered by many to be the best V8 of the entire LS-engine family. Perhaps the best GM V8 engine of all time to-date. Currently, the 505 horsepower LS7 is only available as a crate motor from Chevrolet Performance. But today, Chevy announced an even more powerful version of it.
Dubbed the LS427/570 crate engine, the naturally aspirated V8 offers more horsepower, more torque a simpler wet-sump oiling system, allowing for easier installation. The power upgrade is courtesy of a high-lift camshaft developed specifically for this engine, delivering an estimated output of 570 horsepower and 540 lb-ft of torque. That’s a power boost of 65 horsepower and 70 lb-ft over the standard LS7.
The new wet-sump oiling system eliminates the need for the installer to incorporate a separate oil tank, oil lines and other ancillary components to support the production LS7’s dry-sump system. The tradeoff for forgoing the dry sump system could mean oil starving the engine during strong lateral force events (like cornering on a race track). So keep that in mind with regard to what you plan on using the LS427/570 for.
There are other differences as well. Compared to the production LS7 crate engine assembly, the LS427/570 features a GM F-body aluminum oil pan and a unique wet-sump oil pump. The exhaust manifolds are pulled from the LS7 engine found in the fifth-generation Camaro Z/28, compared to the C6 Corvette Z06 unit found on the crate motor variant.
Additional engine highlights include:
- Unique high-lift hydraulic roller camshaft with 0.591-inch intake/0.590-inch exhaust lift;
- 227-degree intake/242-degree exhaust duration;
- and a lobe separation angle of 116 degrees
- Unique high-rate valve springs
- Low-profile LS7 EFI intake manifold with fuel rails, injectors and throttle body installed
- Robust LS7 rotating assembly featuring a forged steel crankshaft and titanium connecting rods
- CNC-ported cylinder heads featuring 2.20-inch titanium intake valves and 1.61-inch sodium-filled exhaust valves
- Fourteen-inch Camaro Z/28 168-tooth manual transmission flywheel
- Must be used with LS427/570 Engine Controller P/N 19420000 (sold separately)
- Chevrolet Performance recommends Mobil 1 15W50 fully synthetic motor oil to be used with the engine
The new LS427/570 is available for immediate ordering through Chevrolet Performance dealers and retailers.
What muscle car, truck or SUV would you drop this cammed LS7 crate engine into? Let us know in the comments below.
