tune, but not everybody has access to a savvy tuner. So LS Classic ships
its complete systems with Holley’s Dominator ECU. “It’s much more user
friendly; more people can tune it.”
LS Classic offers the manifolds in several configurations, including
finish-machined castings to use on existing engines. But the one of
particular interest to us is part of a whole turnkey system based on
the LS3 crate engine.
The program starts with a brand-new crate delivered from Chevrolet
Performance. “We take the engine out of the crate and replace the injec-
tion system with ours,” Elio says. Then comes the critical part: “We run
the engine in and tune it. It goes back
into the crate and to its new owner. Give
it fuel and terminate four wires and it’s
ready to go. “It’ll fire and actually drive,”
Elio says. “But it still needs tuning for
your car’s weight, gear ratio, tire diameter
and so forth. So we just say that it’ll drive
onto a trailer for you to take it for tuning.”
Which, of course, is straightforward
due to the accessibility of the Dominator
ECU system.
“A lot of companies work hard to make
something look cool, but they don’t take
that extra step and make it work right,”
Elio observes. “For us, drive quality was at
the top of the list, the main thing that had
to be right.” Case in point, LS Classic uses
the 495-horse version of the LS3, which is
basically the 430-horse version that came
in the C6 but with the hot cam. “It has the
right idle but it’s really easy to drive,” he
notes. The 525-horse version obviously
makes more power, but only up top and at
the expense of bottom end. “People don’t
want to fight with a finicky engine. Our
goal was driveability and reliability.”
LS Classic makes a host of comple-
mentary components like a valley cover
that accommodates an early oil fill tube,
Corvette-style rocker covers and even a
serpentine system that relocates com-
ponents to improve fit in early Corvettes.
This level of detail gives the systems
huge appeal. Among the engines they’ve
delivered, a few went to Steve Legens,
including one for George Poteet’s ’58
Chevy where they adapted a factory air
filter to the throttle body. Most recently,
Steve Moal took delivery for another unit
destined for another Poteet project.
Admittedly, LS Classic’s fuelie-style
LS induction systems and crate engines
aren’t for everyone. But if the appearance
of a Rochester system with the perfor-
mance and reliability of a 21st century LS
engine is what you’re after then they’re
probably just the ticket for you.VETTE
VETTEWEB.COM 2312
Though designed to fit the LS, including by its
mounting points, the rocker covers are dead-ringers
for 1959-’67 pieces, all the way down to the seven fins.Corvette America has been helping owners restore their
Corvettes for more than 40 years. Our tradition of quality
& service continues with our expanded inventory
of C7 and performance products.REQUEST A
FREE CATALOG!
800-458-3475
CorvetteAmerica.com