So you have a '10 LS3 V-8-powered Camaro and would like to increase the power but can't decide what power-adder to choose: Blower? Turbo? Cam/heads/headers? Nitrous? The choices are endless. Well now you'll need to add swapping in an LS7 crate engine to the list, as we are going to show you how easy it is to stuff a 500-plus-horsepower wet-sump LS7 in a Camaro to create a head-snapping, crowd-stopping ride. (Check out "The Wet-Sump LS7" in the Mar. '10 issue to see how to convert the LS7 to a wet-sump oiling system engine.) We followed along as Livernois Motorsports in Dearborn, Michigan, added more than 130 hp at the wheels of a Camaro with its LS7 swap.
It's just like swinging in an engine in the old days, only better. This one is the famed 505hp LS7, and it's going in a '10 Camaro.
Factory Power
In case you don't know, the 427ci LS7 V-8 has powered the spectacular Z06 Corvette since 2006, is handbuilt in GM's Wixom Performance Center, and is a high-tech bargain as a crate engine from GM Performance Parts-even at its $13,000 list price. With a few changes, it can be converted to a wet-sump engine and bolted into a '10 Camaro with no mechanical changes to the vehicle (oh, there is one electrical connector that needs to be swapped) and provide a massive leap up in street cred over the stock LS3 V-8.
Too Costly?
So you might be thinking, Come on, there are less expensive ways to add 100-plus horsepower to my Camaro. There probably are, but lift the hood at a car show with an LS7 bolted in and people in the crowd will stop in their tracks with their mouths agape (we saw that firsthand at the '09 Woodward Dream Cruise). Everyone knows the LS7 engine, but seeing it looking like a factory installation in a new Camaro is almost too much for most. And the fact that the newfound power makes the Camaro feel about 800 pounds lighter (the LS7 and LS3 are practically the same weight) as you squirt from stoplight to stoplight is just icing on the cake. So we'll let you decide whether this upgrade is worth the money. We say it is because the car runs like hell with all the positive manners of a stocker, and when you pull in somewhere and pop the hood to chill, the crowd goes nuts.
See More Online
If you want more details, check out the step-by-step guide to follow when performing an engine R&R (remove and reinstall) on a '10-and-later Camaro at www.ls7camaro.com. This info will help you whether you are installing an LS7 or R&R'ing a tuned-up LS3.
Data Drawings For Guidance
Livernois found a neat reference when researching the LS7 Camaro swap. Dan Millen says, "We wanted to check if there were any exterior differences between the LS3 and LS7-we heard there were. After some searching on the Web, we found dimensioned drawings of the engines at www.datadrawings.com and ordered a set. The drawings showed there was only one difference: The vertical distance between the exhaust bolts and exhaust port openings were different between the two engines-the LS7 ports are raised 0.1125 inch taller."
The Datadrawings.com products are pretty cool: 36x48-inch, life-size representations of all kinds of parts (engines, transmissions, and so on) in specific views. For example, you can order an LS7 in six different views with various components installed or removed and even with the LS3 Camaro front accessory drive and support components bolted to the engine. Each drawing represents a modification that can be performed on the product and comes with a plethora of dimensions listed all over the drawing. Obviously, the Datadrawings.com products quickly paid for themselves-and they looked cool hung on the wall after the Livernois team was done referring to them.
Stage 1A Cam Upgrade
The Livernois Motorsports team has developed a series of camshafts for the LS7 that unleashes power while keeping the streetworthy nature of this engine intact. For this LS7 Camaro, we chose a Livernois Stage 1A camshaft and valvespring kit, which bumped the peak power output by almost 40 hp and boosted the midrange power an average of about 25 hp above the entire power curve. Livernois co-owner Dan Millen says, "We do a lot of work to find power without resorting to worn-out tricks that make an engine peaky and idle rough. I won't tell you everything, but one of the things we do is change around the lobe shape to work with a narrower lobe separation on the cam. That seems to help make power with almost no impact on idle quality."
Kooks Headers
When putting this package together, the Livernois team felt the stock Camaro exhaust system would overly restrict the LS7. To test that theory, the team installed a set of beautiful (and somewhat expensive-but worth the power output) Kooks long-tube headers and high-flow catalytic converters on the stock after-cat exhaust of the LS7 Camaro, and they were good for another 45 hp. Idle noise is nearly stock, and we had fun spanking unassuming victims in the stoplight grand prix. We say, whatever engine you have, save your money and install these headers and cats-they are worth the investment.
Parts Required To Install A Wet-Sump LS7 Description PN LS7 crate engine converted to wet-sump SDPC Parts, Livernois-built LS7 MAF sensor connector pigtail 88987997 LS7 valve cover dress covers 1257619-20 Insulator (4) 12586893 Grommet (4) 12594875 Studs (4) 11589406 Hose relocation kit from TechAFX TX201010 Sensors/brackets/accessory drive off original LS3 engine in vehicle Optional: Kooks long-tube headers, stainless 6511 Kooks high-flow catalytic converters 6513-OEMC
Chassis Dyno Comparison
Shown here are the rear-tire power curves of the following engine packages: stock LS3, wet-sump LS7 with Stage 1A Livernois camshaft and valvesprings, and wet-sump Stage 1A LS7 with Kooks headers and high-flow catalytic converters. All testing was performed with the vehicle accelerating up from idle to the maximum rpm limit for the engine in Fourth gear.
MPH
LS3 Camaro (Stock)
Stage 1A LS7 Camaro
Livernois Stage 1A LS7
With Kooks Headers
HP
HP
HP
55
147
145
-
60
162
180
187
65
175
198
207
70
188
216
228
75
203
237
252
80
220
248
275
85
243
267
296
90
267
286
316
95
282
307
337
100
304
331
360
105
324
343
381
110
343
373
403
115
350
389
425
120
364
406
443
125
368
422
460
130
374
436
476
135
376
446
487
140
378
447
496
145
375
454
501
150
369
457
502
155
365
455
500
160
-
452
494
165
-
445
483
170
-
-
325
