The 7.0-liter LS7 developed for the 2006 C6 Corvette Z06 produced 505 horsepower, a number that MotorTrend calls “pretty conservative,” and 470 lb-ft of torque. Even with the conservative rating, its 505 horsepower made the 2006 Z06 the most powerful Corvette up to that point. The LS7 remained in the Chevrolet engine lineup until 2015, last seeing service in 2014-2015 Camaro Z/28s, 2013 Corvettes, and most recently as a crate engine through Chevrolet’s performance catalog.
Chevrolet’s Gen IV LS7 V8 small block uses a cast aluminum block with cylinder bores 104.8 mm (4.125 inches) in diameter and a typical small block Chevrolet V8 center spacing of 111.76 mm (4.40 inches). The cast aluminum cylinder heads contain two valves per cylinder operated via hydraulic roller lifters and pushrods. The cylinder heads’ combustion chamber, combined with the piston design, delivers an 11.0:1 compression ratio. The completed engine assembly weighs 206 kg (454 pounds).
