Hi
- Thread starter Chevy2005
- Start date
Definitely.
It does suffer from head gasket issues, overheating and lower power (and now FICM availability) then the LBZ
eh, headgaskets will blow 125-200k then you stud it and put new gaskets and it will be good to go for another 125-200k miles under normal use. The overheating can be fixed with 180* thermostats and increasing airflow on the intake piping. the lower power can easily be solved by any respectable tuner and can be bumped up to at least 400hp easily. and I have never worried about the FICM as a rarely see them fail
I almost voted for LB7. But under the valve cover injectors kinda soured it for me. Even with the newer SAC injectors, you still have to pull the covers to get to them. And their solenoids have failed me several times which SAC doesn't solve. But so close. The tuning and simplicity of the package gives it a lot though
I can do LMM as an alternative to LBZ. Sure the DPF can be a pain sometimes. But way better then the DEF trucks.
If you do as I did and put V band clamps on the DPF so you can easily turn it around once every few years you'll never have ash build up. Plus having smoke free acceleration is kinda nice. Regens are still a little weird with the slightly different engine and transmission behavior. But tolerable
Back in 07/08 time frame I partially cracked a crank and split #2/#4 main webs 1/2-3/4 way up cylinder wall on a LB7 due to injector failure, GM replaced the injectors but not the rest of the engine.
It held 40psi of oil while spilling diesel out the crank case breathers
01 / 02 Chevy body with LBZ engine. Honestly I'd love the LMM platform if GM just skipped to the 2015 body. I like my LLY and it hadn't let me down until the FICM roasted, but I'd rather have an LBZ drive train
The relative simplicity of the LB7 is very desirable. Minimal or no emissions equipment. No turbo vanes to jamb up or restrict exhaust, Tuning is pretty straightforward with less tables and tweaks needed to get good power. Arguably the best MPG.
So, despite it's flaws it's quite a good engine
Really? My vote isnt surprising considering how far I took mine.
Would I love an LBZ? Sure. But is it happening? Nope.
02 LB7 will always be my fave. The option/finding a roadrunner ecm to tune on the fly is awesome. Simplistic tuning. Runs cooler than later models even when tuned (this can be argued though). Best looking body imho. Simple electronics (very very little CAN unlike 03+). No vgt (lack of turbo brake kinda sucks but fixable). No emissions bs if federal emission.
And any part of its “dislikes” can be changed to the better/newer style. I know, been there done that
And any part of its “dislikes” can be changed to the better/newer style. I know, been there done that
LB7 got my vote, specifically 01-02 due to body styling are my favorite. They're simple pre-emissions trucks (federal) that simply do what they're told. They don't really suffer from any dumb failures outside of early common rail injection tech that has been remedied by SAC nozzles in my opinion.