eBay Find: LS7-Powered Pontiac G8 GXP
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We can (hopefully) all agree that the G8 was the best car to wear the Pontiac badge in, well, ever. In its most powerful GXP trim, the Zeta-based rear-wheel-drive sedan featured a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 — the same engine used in the fifth-generation Camaro SS and sixth-generation Corvette and Corvette Grand Sport. Some of those GXPs were outfitted with 6-speed manual transmissions, making them rather rare and very desirable thanks to the winning powertrain combination. However, the 415 horsepower produced by the system just might not be enough for everyone.
Enter the 7.0 liter LS7 — arguably one of the best engines in the world, except for the purposes of fuel economy. So when it comes to motor swaps, this is the go-to hunk of metal to stick in an engine bay of any kind. It then comes as no surprise that the original owner had his beloved 2009 G8 GXP outfitted with the beastly LS7, and then improved on it even further with ported and polished heads, a forged crankshaft, a custom camshaft, and a Harrop cold air kit, among other things. It dyno’d at 487 whp and 463 wtq, which might be just enough prowess to pick up some groceries.
The owner is asking a swell $50,000 for the car, so if this is your cup of tea, then it may be well worth the price, considering the rare nature of the car and the various upgrades.
Had Pontiac survived another few years, the LS7 could have very well made its way into the G8, possibly as a limited-production top-of-the-line monster. But that’s not to be.
So let’s cross our fingers and hope that the LS7 (or an LT successor) will one day make its way into the Chevy SS Sedan.
Thanks to LSXTV.com for the find!
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Is anyone going to complain about the SS costing $44K now? Here’s something that costs more, has more HP, but a crap interior.
If you wanted anymore proof that large RWD performance cars are never going to be affordable, then you need to build your own LS7 powered G8. Someone already has, but it looks like he doesn’t even want it anymore.
GXPs, when they are for sale (which is rare), can still grab $40k depending. So one that has an LS7 and work done for 50 sin’t THAT out of the question
This person is unloading at the right time, just before the SS shows up and his car tanks in value
Unloading it at the right time. Just before he has to get an emission test so he can register it.
The LS7 was in the HSV W427, a limited edition based on the HSV E-Series 1, which was based on the Holden VE Series 1 Commodore which was exported to North America as the Pontiac G8. LS7 has been done and could be done again. The W427 did 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds. The HSV Gen-F GTS with the LSA engine does it in under 4.5 seconds (we know its faster than the Ford Performance Vehicles’ Falcon GT R-Spec which does 4.5). The HSV Gen-F is based on the Holden VF Commodore which is exported to USA as Chevy SS. Given the LSA is quicker than LS7 and LSA is in the current HSV, I would say a Chevy SS with LSA is way more likely to happen.
I’m pretty sure this car and eBay listing is not legit. The car definitely exists and perhaps it actually has an LS7 in it, but I have read that a dealership now has possession of the car after the owner was arrested for a LONG list of scams that he ran against various car-related businesses.
Besides, a red flag should be the LS7 only generating 487 horses? Really? If it really has an LS7, someone has done something wrong for it to only dyno there. Some people are getting 500+ out of the L76 6.0 in the G8 GTs.
Source: http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78522
487 whp means measured at the rear wheels. Factoring in the typical 15 percent driveline loss that equates to about 560 hp at the crank. The LS7 rates at 505 crank hp stock so that could easily be an LS7.
Fair enough. Like I said, it COULD really have an LS7. However, I still maintain that the whole situation is iffy.
Agree, like most things that sound too good to be true…
Could have swore the g8 gt had a 6.2.
Nope. That was the GXP (6.2L LS3). The GT had the 6.0L L76.
http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Pontiac/G8/GRANDE+PRAIRIE/Alberta/19_8164635_/?showcpo=ShowCPO