Although the LS9 generation is the most powerful of the bunch, it is GM’s LS7 engine that is the most desirable. Packing race-bred internals and a fiery attitude, the 7.0-liter small-block V8 is a true engineering gem. It has a ton of power (505 horsepower). It revs freely to the 7,100 rpm redline. It’s lightweight at 454 pounds (206 kilograms). Everything you’d want in a performance motor turned to eleven. This is the engine you’ll take to a track day, push it to its limits, and enjoy it on the way home.
But that is hardly surprising. Chevrolet infused the LS7 with advanced technologies it developed in racing, and that is precisely the experience you’ll get from this engine. It features high-flow, CNC-ported, square port, cylinder heads and exhaust manifold, titanium intake valves, and a high-lift camshaft with a long duration for high-rpm power. Meanwhile, down in the block, it has a forged steel crankshaft, titanium connecting rods, and a high-capacity dry sump oiling system.
However, the LS7 is not just about power. Frankly, there are better options if all you want is straight-line speed. The LS7 is all about the driving experience. As such, it can’t be paired with just about any car. To enjoy its full potential, you will need to try it in the lightweight C6 Corvette Z06 or the track-focused, fifth-gen Camaro Z/28. Sure, the LS7 is expensive, and availability is scarce, but let’s enjoy it for what it is — one heck of an engine. On lists like this, that is enough to warrant the highest place on the pedestal.
