Engines deserve their own Hall of Fame, and MotorTrend has stepped in to help. Recently, the publication has proclaimed a list of 16 inaugural Engine Hall of Fame inductees, one of which is the 7.0-liter LS7 V8. And let’s be honest, if you’re going to create such a thing as the Engine Hall of Fame, you’d have to include LS7. The 427-cubic-inch powerplant is the head honcho of the LS-engine lineage. The LeBron James of Chevy engines, if you will. It’s the biggest and strongest, and while it might not be the best thing in the history of the game, it’s undeniably iconic.
“…we love this motor because of what happens when you bury your right foot. It’s explosive, it’s addicting, it absolutely roars. GM’s big 7.0-liter is America, and we love it.”
Yes. A hundred times yes. Every review of the fifth-gen Camaro Z/28Â (or any LS7-powered vehicle really) gives credence to its raw power and ability to give the driver a sensation of sheer glee. The moderate balance of advanced technology and tried-and-true components is something that we also find appealing, then again, there isn’t much about the brute-force engine that we don’t like.
Here at GM Authority we wonder if there’s any other General Motors engine worthy of induction. The LT5 from the C4 Corvette ZR1 comes to mind. With that said, we ask: which GM engine would you nominate? You know the drill, sound off in the comment section below.
Comments
Finest engine I ever had the privilege to drive/own. Fantastic choice!
3800/3.8L/231ci V6. That engine was bulletproof, and surprisingly quick and fuel efficient.
The LS7 is a machine. My favorite of the Corporate GM V8’s. It’s not a Chevy engine though. The Chevrolet Motor Division was closed I believe around 1984 or thereabouts. As were all of their companies/divisions (now just marketing brands only). By then GM took what Chevrolet had for V8’s and stuck them in tons of non Chevrolet’s.. As is done with the corporate LS & new LT engines now. The 3800 was a Buick Motor Division engine. Also assumed by GM for Corporate use across the board of their auto brands. My favorite modern corporate GM engine is really the 2.0.. It’s like a 4 cylinder SBC. Just bulletproof reliable and it takes whatever is thrown at it (within reason of course).
My favorite engines from old GM held companies are Chevrolet Motor Division’s Mark IV Big Block and Cadillac Motor Division’s 474/500. I do love Chevrolet’s original Small Block as well.
If I may play devil’s advocate here and while I agree with your statement as a whole. It could be argued that this particular motor although based on the LS corporate block, could be considered a modern Small Block Chevy. It is hand assembled unlike the other LS’s and I believe the LS7 only made it between the fenders of the Corvette and Camaro. As far as mass production vehicles go it wasn’t shared with any other GM entity. Still GM out did themselves with this jewel. One of the most buttery smooth but quick and vicious sounding stock engines I have ever had the privilege of planting my foot into.
L72/L78 of the old days
Having owned vehicles with most of Chevy’s V-8’s, the might LS-7 is the tops. I value its performance, power, response, reliability and awesome sound! It can’t get any better than that. Anything less than a V-8 in factory production cars is not performance but utility. By the way, I have owned a few 4 and 6 bangers. So I am not anti-four or six cylinder engines.
the 302 that were in the 68-69 Z/28s
whats the difference from a LS7 corvette engine and a LS7 camaro engine???
The exhaust manifolds.
Nothing that I know of?
409 and L88
LS7 , Awesome engine , The 5.7 C4B is another milestone engine !
Has GM fixed the valve guide problem in the LS7???
Not sure, I thought I remember there was a lawsuit from Corvette owners on engine failures.