LSX Block Issues stops production

[BigLSXC5]

To General Motors,

I have been planning my project car (1999 C5) for a couple of years, ever since World Products begin talking about the LS7X block. Every time I called World Products asking about the status and when I could get one, they kept telling me another couple of months. Earlier this year I was informed that GM was coming out with the LSX block. I thought, I might actually be able to start my project, WOW Whoo Raaa!!!

Well that was about more then 6 months ago and I am still waiting.

In the past month I have learned the there are some serious issues with GM's new LSX block, something about having foundry issues and has stopped production.

Listed below are threads from a Corvette Forum with some details.

Will GM correct the foundry issues?
Will GM correct the oil cooler issues?
Will GM correct the A/C bracket issue?


LSX Issues:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1893943&highlight=lsx
They are backordered just about everywhere.
A little birdie told me that there were some issues in the metallurgy -- when they attempted to bore the blocks, they would crumble or otherwise come out unusable. I think the figure I was told was that over 150 LSX blocks had to be scrapped because of this. It's a freakin' shame But I bet the World Products guys are pretty happy as they have probably enjoyed increased sales with one of the big boy blocks out of the way temporarily.

Another LSX Issue:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1835983&highlight=lsx
Hey guys,
I'm posting this mainly for the guys who have an LSx on the way. I've got my 454 in the garage, and I’m almost ready to stab it in my C5. So far, there are 2 things I’ve found that I’ve had to modify over and above my LS1 and LS2.
If there are any more that someone else knows about PLEASE post it and let me know.
1) Previously, I had an oil cooler on my car. I ran an oil cooler adapter on the ports right above the oil filter. Wellllll, I found out today that there is an additional boss that is cast into the block directly above the oil temp sensor housing. This boss, will NOT allow you to run an oil cooler adapter. I called LPE to confirm whether or not they new about it, and they didn’t. They went out and inspected one of their blocks in house, and will be modifying their design in the next month or so. I had to machine quite a bit of material off of the adapter (and a little off the block) in order to make it fit. But it DOES work now. You just cant be afraid to take a grinder to a brand new motor..

2) When I went to install my A/C compressor bracket, I found that (again) there is an additional boss that has been cast into the front of the block. Its directly next to the top bolt hole of the bracket. This boss looks like it was machined there for a different application. The ONLY way I could make the bracket fit, was to take about a 1 1/2" x 1/8" of material off of the A/C bracket. Also, I had to flatten out the corner of the boss. I almost went through into the threaded hole, but it really didn’t matter, cause it does me no good anyways. But in the end, the total amount of material removed between the 2 was a little more than I felt comfortable with.
Just though I'd let you guys know...
Soooooo, is there anything else I need to look forward to??:chug::chug:

Please confirm or deny the issues identified by builders around the country and if GM will be correcting all these issues so Corvette builders can build with confidence using the LSX block.

Thanks you

BigLSXC5

[Joevette]

If you are trying to get this letter to someone at GM this is the wrong place to do that. This is a fan site, not officially associated with GM. No one here will be able to help you with this problem. Email or call someone at GM Performance Parts to get your answers.