January 2012 Chevy High Performance Garage - L.O.T.M.

LS Transplant

I just wanted to share my little piece of heaven I finished back in April. I have been building this RX-7 progressively since 2003 and was a huge rotary engine diehard. Unfortunately, after many engines and continued frustration with the turbo rotaries I decided to go to something with a better reputation. I have been reading your publication for about two years now due to a coworker having a subscription (makes for a great read in the John J). I constantly read your technical articles and was so impressed on the LS platform and how well it reacted to bolt-ons.

After some more research I purchased an ’04 LS1 from a rearended GTO, grabbed an ’02 F-body, low-mile T56, and some top end goodies. It took me about a year to finish the project ad thanks to many other Bow Tie fans, I had a great plethora of info on these type of chassis swaps.

I took her to the chassis dyno at PRC in Spokane, Washington, and my setup yielded 401 rear-wheel horsepower and 393 rear-wheel torque at 2,501 feet, and makes 425 rear-wheel horsepower and 417 rear-wheel torque at sea level. The car weighs 2,717 wet. It is a blast to drive!

I wanted to thank you all for your great articles and coverage of the LSX platforms. I am amazed at how receptive the Chevy community is and how many are willing to give expert advise … got to remember I came from a community where rotary engine secrets are rarely “given” out and there lacks actual credible master techs/enthusiasts in the United States.

Here are some quick specs:

Engine:

Drivetrain:

All work was performed by me. Thanks again guys, and keep up the great work!

Sean Murray
Via email

Plug-and-Play

GM Performance Parts’ (GMPP) new LSX454 completion kit (PN 19244481) is the solution for builders looking to get their LSX454 crate engine running with production-style fuel injection, with a GMPP-engineered custom calibration designed specifically for this application. It is on sale now, carrying an MSRP of $1,197.44.

The LSX454 completion kit includes an LS7 intake manifold—preassembled with the fuel rail, injectors, and throttle body—a calibrated engine controller, wiring harness, and throttle pedal assembly for the electronically controlled throttle. This comprehensive system saves builders the time and money of searching for and purchasing the parts individually, while the calibrated controller eliminates the need for third-party tuning.

“We are always looking for ways to make the installation of our crate engines easier, and the new LSX454 completion kit is a great example,” Dr. Jamie Meyer, product integration manager for GM Performance Parts, says. “By ordering the crate engine, the completion kit and a few other simple parts, you have all the basic components required to install the LSX454 in a vintage car, truck, or street rod and get it running without the need for professional tuning.”

The kit’s wiring harness is designed for easy plug-and-play installation with a controller that was specially calibrated for the LSX454’s displacement and performance parameters. When installed per the kit’s instructions, the harness/controller combination doesn’t require additional tuning or other calibration and delivers the startup, idle, and driving characteristics of a production GM vehicle.

With the kit’s LS7 intake manifold, the LSX454 crate engine (PN 19244611) is rated at 580 hp at 6,200 rpm and 590 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. The manifold matches perfectly with the intake ports of the LSX454’s six-bolt cylinder heads, which are based on production 7.0L LS7 heads. It was originally designed for the high-rpm performance of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and is matched with a 90mm-diameter throttle body—the largest production throttle body from GM—that offers great airflow for the larger-displacement 7.4L crate engine.