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LSx V8 in a Stalker


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I read in a magazine (either Kit Car Builder or Grassroots) that Stalker is now offering their Seven with an LSx engine. They found that the LSx engines were 40 lb lighter than the V6 they were using and their customers were starting to do their own conversions.

 

Looked at the Stalker website and didn't see anything there. Anyone know if this is true?

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I read in a magazine (either Kit Car Builder or Grassroots) that Stalker is now offering their Seven with an LSx engine. They found that the LSx engines were 40 lb lighter than the V6 they were using and their customers were starting to do their own conversions.

 

Looked at the Stalker website and didn't see anything there. Anyone know if this is true?

 

Hi Skip,

 

Yes it is true there are at least 4 or 5 Stalker V6 cars with LS series V8s. Most are LS1s and there is an LS3 in the Chicago area. Dennis is building an LS1 for himself.

So far the LSx V8s have all been owner conversions. I expect options from Brunton will soon include the V8 particulars.

 

On another note...I was hoping you could have made it to the MG V8 Indy meet last week. I was able to join in with the group at ORP and one of the Gasoline Alley tours. Great group of folks with some very interesting conversions.

 

Jack

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Skip, Dennis was at Carlisle with a LSx powered Stalker. It sounded sooo familiar when he fired it up.

 

I did ask him how much the car weighed, and from what I recall it was like 150 lbs lighter than mine, but DO NOT quote me on that as I'm not sure about that number.

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John Meyers changed to a LS3 about a year half ago. As far as I know he was the first one. I know of another stalker guy who is finishing the instillation of an LS7 550hp version complete with dry sump. Stalker is now offering this as an option from my understanding.

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550 hp in a Se7en is absurd. I can have trouble getting on the gas out of turn with 175 hp.

480 feels just fine to me - I bet 550 won't feel much different. You can still go full throttle, just can't jab at it.

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Is anything over 250 hp even really that useable for road use?

 

Well maybe "useable" is not the right word, I was going to say "practical" but that dont work with a 7 either.

How about "useless" ( not in a derogatory way to HP nuts) ,I mean that in the way of "least use" on the road; plus these engines are expensive hey and it seems a bit at odds with a 7 in my opinion.

 

"Overkill", 15 mins later thats the word I was trying to think of, damn, getting old sucks...

and in the immortal words of Cher "is not for cowards".

Edited by BrunnyS1
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I think you will find the LSx engines are quite inexpensive compared to a 260 HP Duratec from Cosworth. A quick Google search shows an LS3 crate engine going for $6,200. It's rated at 430 HP and 428 lb ft.

 

The 260 HP Cosworth Duratec runs around $15k.

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I think you will find the LSx engines are quite inexpensive compared to a 260 HP Duratec from Cosworth. A quick Google search shows an LS3 crate engine going for $6,200. It's rated at 430 HP and 428 lb ft.

 

The 260 HP Cosworth Duratec runs around $15k.

 

I see you skipped over the other points

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I see you skipped over the other points

Nothing to really skip over, you don't have to use all the power all the time but it sure is nice to have it there when you want it.

 

My 1,800 cc engine dyno'd at 295 RWHP and 245 lb ft of torque. I'd like another hundred or so of each but until I can spend a bunch of $$s on a built engine I'll have to live with what I have. I don't consider that over kill.

 

As I said earlier, too much horsepower is just about right.

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....I'd like another hundred or so of each but until I can spend a bunch of $$s on a built engine I'll have to live with what I have....

 

....As I said earlier, too much horsepower is just about right.

 

If I was going to have 100 more of anything, it would be 100 lbs of downforce (instead of lift) on the front end at speed. And I would rather have too much road holding and brakes...

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Is anything over 250 hp even really that useable for road use?

 

Well maybe "useable" is not the right word, I was going to say "practical" but that dont work with a 7 either.

How about "useless" ( not in a derogatory way to HP nuts) ,I mean that in the way of "least use" on the road; plus these engines are expensive hey and it seems a bit at odds with a 7 in my opinion.

 

"Overkill", 15 mins later thats the word I was trying to think of, damn, getting old sucks...

and in the immortal words of Cher "is not for cowards".

 

It really is usable, and more importantly, it really is FUN - that's why I have the car - FUN.

 

If you have 600hp, and still plan on using 7" wide rims in the back, yeah, I can see where it's a problem. Add the right tire package, and the car is completely controllable. I don't have quite that much power, but punching it in 2nd, the tires go into a slow spin as the car accelerates. I don't just smoke the tires in an out of control burnout.

 

There are a few members here who have gotten rides in my car, and a couple who have driven it. I think you will find the consensus is the fun factor is high, and the car can put all the horses to the ground just fine.

 

I admit that given equal drivers and equal tuning time, my car will not be as good in an autox setting as a 200hp Caterham due to its wider stance, but I bet on a road course, it won't even be close - in my favor.

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I think you will find the LSx engines are quite inexpensive compared to a 260 HP Duratec from Cosworth. A quick Google search shows an LS3 crate engine going for $6,200. It's rated at 430 HP and 428 lb ft.

 

The 260 HP Cosworth Duratec runs around $15k.

They're also readily available used. At the time I bought my LS1, LS2 had just come out, so LS1's were still the top dog in the used engine market. Even with that, I only paid $4300 for complete engine (intake, exhaust, mounts, accessories, harness, electronics, and aftermarket chassis mating harness), transmission, driveshaft - and that was a little high because I did it at a one stop shop.

 

LS1 is like $1500 now.

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I'm one of the nuts that Mazda let behind the wheel of Frankn7. It's very streetable, drives down the road as any good 7 should, just has 300 or more hp than most .' Drives like mine till we hit the open highway, then it's not like mine anymore. I gave it half throttle in a 2 gears and WOW. Tears in my eyes from the wind" pre windsheild days". Mazda got it right, that car is nothing but FUN !!! And it would eat alive ANYTHING on a race track !!!

Edited by S1Steve
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John Meyers at Run N Gun was the fastest car there by several seconds. He blew the doors of half the field and it is a very streetable car. Having driven 7evins car in it's 380rwhp mode can say that I found my foot to the floor needing more on a few occasions. His car stops and handles as good as any other 7 I have seen.

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