Pour one out for the V8…
First, Chevrolet Performance discontinued the LT5 V8 crate engine with its 6.2-liter goodness back in September of last year. Now, it’s giving the mighty LS7 the ax. It’s a sad time to see such a legend put out to pasture and we’re sure people who were planning on throwing this into the perfect build are scrambling to get theirs before they’re gone.
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Sadly, this isn’t a surprise but it’s still disappointing. What’s more shocking is that the wet-sump version, the LS427/570 is also being discontinued. Some thought the less-expensive alternative to the LS7 would be offered to consumers for at least a few more years, but that expectation has been subverted.
We were first introduced to the LS7 in the C6 Corvette Z06 and got to know it even better with the 5th-gen Camaro Z/28. The crate engine became popular with builders since it provides loads of instant power throughout the rev range. Sure, there are smaller engines with forced induction which match or exceed the 505-horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque made by the LS7, but peak power figures aren’t everything.
The LS427/570 promised even more power with 570-hp and 540 lb.-ft. of torque on tap, thanks to a more aggressive cam. It was also easier to install in a build. We’re still not sure why it’s being canceled.
Instead of announcing a replacement for the LS7 and LS427/570, Chevrolet is leaving everyone hanging. It’s possible there will be no replacement as the offerings for V8 crate engines shrink. Sure, Chevy still offers quite an array of options, but one can’t help but wonder if we’ll see them slowly picked off and not replaced, like dinner guests in some mystery movie. Ultimately, it might be part of the push to get everyone on the electrification bandwagon, but we’ll just have to see how things play out.
