I saw the LS7 and LS9 at the PRI show in Orlando.
Both have forged crankshafts and titanium rods.
Sodium cooled exhaust valves and titanium intakes.
They did this to get the red line up to 7000 RPM.
Peak power happens at 6300 RPM.
All this is a first for LSx engines. Crate engine price
is about $15,000 for the LS7 with injectors,
intake and exhaust manifold less computer.
A real bargain but you better buy one while you can still
get them. HP is 500 for the normally aspirated and 600 for the,
unsuitable for aircraft use, supercharged LS9.
(Sucks too much fuel)
Of course the duty cycle is still rather low.
How often are you going to go 200 MPH in a Corvette?
In a quarter mile drag you may hit 500 HP for a fraction of
a second and not make 200 MPH. I have no idea at what HP level
you can run these engines in an aircraft environment and
get 1000 hours TBO let alone 2000 hours typical for AC engines.
If I were guessing the 500 HP normally aspirated engine might
be a good 400 HP aircraft engine for 5 minute take off and cruise at 375 HP
for 1000 hours. Might be a good Reno engine at 500 HP for 15 minutes
but you would still risk blowing it up in the hand grenade mode.
The road racing versions have undisclosed modifications
and are good for a 24 hour race but cost well over $100,000
Weight without gear box is about 400 pounds. No PSRU.
The only Chevy PSRU that I know about that might take 400 HP
on take off but it weighs about 120 pounds. There may be others.
The displacement on this engine is 7 liters. No replacement
for displacement :)
By comparison an all aluminum 5.2 L P-port four rotor would weigh about
220 pounds and put out 690 HP at 9,000 RPM with cast iron rotors. It had
undetectable wear after winning the Le Mans 24 hour race outright. I think one
could build one for less than $15,000. It would be comparable to the racing
version of the LS7 but there is no doubt in my mind it would last
ten times longer. I think the Bell 47 final drive like Doug's would
be OK for the PSRU. It weighs about 47 pounds.
Paul Lamar
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