Mervz

quote from GM release today...


I also heard it first hand, as i was actually AT the Performance Build Center today

ivan111

How is the LS2 built?

Part by hand and part robots?

LongTimer

So Mervs,

Can you confirm anything about the LS7? ... 3 valve heads for sure? ...dry sump? ...DOD? Please don't come back with, "it's a V8 that runs on gas."

Zivnuska

Some believe that because the engine is labeled LS7, that means that the displacement will be the 6.4L (some say 7.0) as per the RPO of a year or so ago (You may have been the one who found that!).

Do you believe this announcement confirms the displacement size and if so, what size?

Sandy S

Here is a link to the release. Says they are hand building special engines for multiple cars/trucks. Total capacity is 15,000 per year in a "flexable mix" so that says something about possible Z06 volume.

One person builds it from start to finish. I would guess that you get a card or signature of something from the builder.

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayS...=74&docid=6373

JLinCA

I don't know about the LS2, but the LS1 was partially built by people. Vette magazine has an article about it several issues ago.

Troy Roberts

Mervz

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=871905

ivan111

I would imagine that both the LS2 and LS6 are built partially by people like the LS1.....

I would have liked to see that article.....

JLinCA

Actually I think it was the last issue of Corvette Magazine that had the article, sorry I get both. I wish I had saved it, it was an interesting article. It wasn't about the LS1, but about the St. Catherines plant in Canada which builds the LS1.

scorp508

And the price.

SteveJ

And also about reliability. Now, understand that much of my opinion is based on some past experience with BMW motorcycles with hand built engines, and some familiarity with airplane engines which are also hand built. I just don't see it as a plus. I have a BMW Z3 with a very sophisticated in line six with four valves per cylinder and overhead cams. Machine built and reliable as an old shoe. Flame away.

70L46Conv4Sp

It was a great article in Corvette Magazine. I thought it was really interesting how they did the rod caps by scoring and breaking them off the rod. I read the article pretty fast and I guess I should reread it about that part at least. It stands to reason that it should be the best way of fitting and balancing the endcap to the rod. I guess before this they were all cast or forged separately then machined to fit. Has this ever been done before by any other manufacturer?

SWCDuke

"Hand built" can mean almost anything. In this case it's probably just marketing BS to catch some attention. Machine built items are generally more consistent and therefore higher overall qualilty. Corvette paint quality took a quantum leap when robots replaced human painters. Modern robots are vastly better than humans at repetitive tasks. They don't get tired or have brain fade on Friday afternoons or Monday morning hangovers.

Chances are that LS7 components will be machined on the normal transfer lines or CNC tools if volume is really low.

The assembly operation will probably not be as automated as the high volume engines. Thus they are tagged as "hand built", but I would prefer as much automation as possible. Once automation is dialed in you get increadibly consistent dimensional tolerance and assembly consistency/quality.

Duke

SWCDuke

Powdered metal cracked cap conn rods have been around since the seventies. I think the Porsche 928 was one of the first use them in production.

Duke

Mervz

drat.. well, i was actually there so there :p:

C6FirstVette

which is a good thing..Mercedes AMG has clearly demostrated that 'one person builds one engine' and having a focus on performance works...I always smile a bit when you look at a AMG engine and see a signature plate of the fellow who built the engine...on my SLK AMG 32 the fellow actually etched his signature on the block...maybe his care produce a slightly better engine since it has been dynoed at 11 hp over advertised crank hp of 349 hp

Troy Roberts

That's why I was able to beat you to posting it! You need to take a wireless laptop along next time.

Hamirvette

Does handbuilt mean that each engine will be signed by one guy like some Mercedes