• Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.

C5 427 forged motor?

Rich Z

Rich Z

Internet Sanitation Engineer
Staff member
If you were going to go with a 427 forged motor (in my case, in a C5 Z06), what would you consider as the best route to take?

I'm thinking that if I can't find the C6 Z06 I want for a price I can swallow, then I may just go ahead and get a 427 motor put into my C5Z. My current motor has over 85K miles on it, but it's still running real strong. But just something about that "427" number applied to a motor seems *magic* to me.

I would want to be able to tweak up the boost on my STS turbos quite a bit, so the motor has to be able to handle that. Of course, I'm expecting I will need the rest of the drivetrain beefed up a bit. Not planning on taking it to the track or beating up on it, but I just don't want anything to break that I may be able to prevent with a little bit of pre-emptive upgrades.

So throw some ideas at me.... :brick2:
 
I don't know about motors, but there's a real nice Z06 for sale on this forum. Jim in St Pete has a C6 Z06 for sale. He is trying to get rid of one of his 2 Z06's.... Both low miles and very well kept.
 
Well one of my requirements is that it have the 3LZ interior. I'll be honest, I'm not all that crazy about the standard interior in a C6. Looks like more plastic then anything and just doesn't look like what I would hope for in a Corvette.

I came close to finding one from a guy out in Ohio that was Cyber Gray with the 3LZ package, but he had the old style wheels and I want the chromed aluminum spider design. Car had 3500 miles on it, and honestly the price he wanted was too high for a used car and not having exactly what I want. So close, but no banana.

The local dealer here in Tallahassee has one I would like, but they apparently aren't interested in coming off of their price. Soooo, I can live without a new Z06, and am checking out a PLAN B. I sold a lot of my guns, but unfortunately a good chunk of that money is going to have to go into a garage. I can't see buying another new expensive car just to have to battle the rodents over it. So the money I have to spend on a car is the money I got from selling my guns MINUS what I need to spend on a new garage. That particular bottom line is non negotiable, unfortunately.... With me planning on selling my business and retiring this year, I'm just not going to dip into my savings for my toys.

So, that's where I am at right now........ :shrug01:
 
people seem to go ape sh!t over the Warhawk block. I have no real world experience with them just stuff I have read...

good luck with plan B :thumbsup:
 
Yeah, I've heard some people really like the LSX block, but it's cast iron and I want aluminum because of the weight difference.
 
Rich, There is an ebay site that has remanufactured/rebuilt 427 blocks, complete up to the fuel delivery system, with a warranty for around $2500.
 
Problem with those 2500$ blocks is they arent forged. Youll spend about that much or more just on forged parts.

I used to follow all the C6Z guys doing the auto swap/1k+ hp drag monster and majority of them all used Warhawk motors as mentioned before. Some of them were full street trim, and daily driven which is scary haha.

Think the only thing you might have to tweak after the motor are heavy duty clutch and strong differential.
 
LS2POWA said:
Problem with those 2500$ blocks is they arent forged. Youll spend about that much or more just on forged parts.

I used to follow all the C6Z guys doing the auto swap/1k+ hp drag monster and majority of them all used Warhawk motors as mentioned before. Some of them were full street trim, and daily driven which is scary haha.

Think the only thing you might have to tweak after the motor are heavy duty clutch and strong differential.
Click to expand...

Been doing some reading on those Warhawk blocks. :thumbsup: They sound like the way to go...........

Anyone know how much boost the STS turbos will produce without pressure blowoff valves? :hehehe:
 
You can get BOV's that dont emit a loud sound. If it were my car, I would go for the loudest, specially with a nasty turbo spool...its a show of dominance lol.
 
Erik at HKE does some amazing builds on blocks also. don't count him out. There are a bunch of decent 06 z06's out there for the low 40's. You may not get exactly what you want, but after you sell your car you will have money to make it exactly what you want. You are in a good position, there are alot of people who need to get rid of there cars due to money problems. Take advantage and pic you up a gem. my .02
 
03blackZ06 said:
Erik at HKE does some amazing builds on blocks also. don't count him out. There are a bunch of decent 06 z06's out there for the low 40's. You may not get exactly what you want, but after you sell your car you will have money to make it exactly what you want. You are in a good position, there are alot of people who need to get rid of there cars due to money problems. Take advantage and pic you up a gem. my .02
Click to expand...

Sell my car? Whatever gave you that idea? Even if I do get a new Z06, I'm still keeing the C5Z.

But I've got some time to look around, as I need to get a garage built first. But that isn't going real well either...... :banghead:
 
I sent you a pm with Steve Leonard's phone number. He has built many bad azz 427s. He is a great guy and knows his stuff.

Good Luck
 
Rich Z said:
Thanks! Does he have a website, by any chance?
Click to expand...

Nope. He's just a one man show, very honest and maticulous. He built my 383 and one 427 that i know of for a TampaBay Posse member. He's never in a hurry and makes sure everything is top notch.

Give him a call, he will be glad to speak with you, he's originally from Tennessee and is here in Tampa.
 
Steve built motors for us for several years....one of the better builders around. He dosen't do many now as he is working mainly with the Mazda spec racers and has been planning on a move to AZ.
 
OK, after talking with a few potential candidates to build this 427 motor for me, along with a bunch of other drivetrain upgrades, here's what I am going to get:

  • Warhawk 427 short World Products WARHAWK
    aluminum LS1 block. 9.240" deck height, priority main oiling, billet main caps, 6
    bolt holes per cylinder, pt# 086220. Balanced, blueprinted & assembled
    shortblock. Parts: Callies Compstar 4340 4.0" stroke crankshaft, Callies 6.125" H-I rods w/ ARP 2000 7/16" bolts, Wiseco 4.125" forged turbo duty pistons w/tool steel wrist pins & anti friction coating on skirts, NPR stainless chrome top(for high heat applications)-napier 2nd-3mm oil rings, Clevite MS2199H mains, Clevite CB 663 H rods Dura Bond cam bearings.
  • WARHAWK LS7X 285cc intake runner complete heads for Hyd. roller, 6 bolt holes per cylinder.Parts: Manley 2.200 intake valves, stainless 1.625" exhaust valves, Manley Nex Tek dual valve springs good to .700" lift, Manley titanium
    retainers, Manley machined locks, Manley machined locators, Viton valve seal w/steel jacket.
  • Competition valve job, lap in valve job, blend in valve job to intake & exhaust ports & chambers, measure chamber volume, mill heads to desired chamber volume,measure & set valve guide to stem clearence, set up springs for specific camshaft.
  • Cam Motion Hyd. roller camshaft
  • Manley one piece chromoly push rods Roll master double roller timing set w/ torington bearing & nitrided gears. Rocker arms Jesel Pro Series shaft mounted adj. roller rockers 1.8 1.8 ratio 4 Bolt Kit Warhawk accessory kit: Rear cover &
    gasket, oil galley & water plugs, valley cover, ARP 6 bolt head studs Head gasket Fel Pro MLS head gaskets for Warhawk block Melling LS Melling 10295 high pressure, coated oil pump/ ported LS Vett Power Bond SFI Corvette 10%
    underdrive balancer w/ARP balancer bolt assemble complete longblock ( degree cam, check P to V, install heads, set up valve train)
  • Ported LS7 intake manifiold
  • New water pump.
  • FIDANZA OR SPEC TWIN DISC CLUTCH (1300 HP CAPACITY)
  • NEW SLAVE CYLINDER
  • PFADT POLYEUROTHANE TRANS AXLE BRACE
  • DTE TRANS AND DIFF BRACE
  • PFADT C5 POLYEUROTHANE ENGINE MOUNTS
  • BUILT 342 DIFFERENTIAL 300M HARDENED OUTPUT SHAFT AND BEEFED UP CLUTCH PACK
  • REAR ALUMINUM DRIVE SHAFT COUPLER
  • AEROMOTIVE FUEL SYSTEM (1000 HP CAPACITY) INCLUDES BILLET FUEL RAILS AND STEEL BRAIDED FUEL LINES W/AIRCRAFT FITTINGS AND PRESSURE REGULATOR.
  • FUEL INJECTORS
  • STARTER (LIFETIME WARRANTY)
  • REMOVAL AND INSTALL
  • Custom tuning

All for a lot more than I wanted to spend, but a real bargain, nonetheless, for all the goodies I'll be getting with this package. I'm thinking about adding a new tunnel plate to the list, and maybe other doodads as I think of them while the guts are all out of my C5Z.

And the shop I have chosen to do this job, after careful consideration of all the offers I have received, is (drum roll, please!)

Chris Harwood aka Xtreme MotorSports

I'll be running a check over to him sometime this week and he will start ordering parts and getting everything accumulated for the surgery. That way my car will be down for a minimum amount of time when everything is ready to pull the car into the operating room.

I figure this will be just as much fun (maybe more so) than getting that new C6 Z06 I was looking for. Certainly less money out of my pocket, and I will have enough left over to get that new paint job I've been thinking of. Maybe get a new custom leather interior as well.

Now, hopefully I won't snap mine or Connie's neck when I stomp the accelerator, nor wind up going sideways at 100 mph. I'm certainly going to be cautious about the power this thing should have on tap.

So why am I doing this? Heck, just because I WANT to! Just something about the *427* engine when in a Corvette sends tingles down my spine. So if I am going that route, why not go whole hog with it and get a fire breathing and snorting monster of a motor as well?

Anyway, I'm going to try to get over to Chris's place as much as I can when the build and install is taking place so I can video a lot of all this. That should be a lot of fun as well for me...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top