I have been thinking of starting on my truck now. I have run across a stock ls7 from a friend that dropped a valve at 6000 rpm. Only needs piston sleeve and head casting. I was told I only need a dry sump oiling system and my intake will bolt up getting around any wiring issues. What all will transfer over? It is pretty much just a longblock. Will my stuff on the outside bolt up? What else am I missing? AC, powersteering ... etc. Truck is an 05 silverado ss awd 6.0

 

The truck intake WILL NOT mount to the LS7 heads and I believe even the exhaust ports are slightly different somehow which will require new (and custom) headers. All external stuff will indeed mount up but you will have the same issues with interference between the alternator bracket and the intake/TB. The truck TB will not mount to the LS7 intake (3bolts vs 4 bolts AND 78mm vs 90mm) so you will be need to either run an aftermarket TB or convert to the LS7 TB (which will require some kind of interface for the controller if you are drive by wire). That sleeve is going to cost quite a bit to replace (I would think). LS7 heads are what really make the LS7 worth something so without them, it's not going to build the same power.

What I would (and DID) do is keep the truck AC compressor/bracket but convert to the F-body water pump, alternator bracket, and PS pump bracket. You keep the truck crank pulley and then space out the f-body accessories to be inline with the crank. I have been running my truck like this for over 5 years/80K miles now without any issue.

 

I think that the ls7 is a cool idea, but needing a new head casting, piston, sleeve and the possible interface problems with the drive by wire... But I have no idea how much you are going to have tied up in it after its fixed you might come out cheaper doing a forged rotating assembly for your 6.0 and throw some nitrous at it.

 

Dry sump oil system is $$$ unless your gettin it for free it will be a very expensive adventure

 

... other issues that would need to be addressed is that the reluctor wheel on the crank would have to be replaced along with changing the cam sprocket over to an old style 1X LS2 variety coupled with an LS2 front cover. You would also need to reuse all your old sensors.
Regarding the accessory drive. You can convert the LS7 back over to wet sump. But the crank snout is longer than other GenIII/IV engines. So, you would need to fashion a spacer type sleeve to go over the crank snout once you have the truck harmonic balancer on... and have it sized in such a way that the crank bolt will provide the necessary clamping force against the harmonic balancer. I have never heard of any feedback regarding issues with adapting an LS7 into a truck with truck accessory drive regarding intake manifold... not to say there are issues. I can't see this being any different than swapping in an LS1/LS6 intake regarding fitment around the accessory drive, as that's done all the time, but maybe I'm wrong here. I think running an F-Body/Corvette water pump is pretty much a given, no? There are cable throttlebody's out there that will fit the LS7 intake aren't there? Go that route and don't worrry about drive by wire.
I would look into 1 7/8" primary headers for an LS7... you'll be choking it with anything less... dual 3" rounding out the rest of the exhaust would certainly help the LS7 breathe better.
Good luck on resleeving the LS7. Oh, and even though some may have reused the rod bolts... I would not. These special bolts are availble... just look around.

 

An LS7 may not run off your computer without swapping ALL the sensors, etc.

Just buy an LSX block and build a 427 with the right crank All you have to do is extend your cam sensor harness (unless your truck already has an LS2 front cover and valley cover). You can use any head / intake combo you want (e.g. truck cathedral heads and any of the cath port intakes). Plus, all the headers will fit, no need to do the costly dry sump conversion.

There is a box LPE sells for converting the reluctor signal if you still decide to move forward with the LS7.

 

sounds like alot of $$$$$ to me

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Looks like the ls7 might be too much $$

 

LSX is a better swap.

 

That was a whole lot of people saying NO!!