In 2019, Chevrolet released the final version of the historic Corvette C7, bearing the fear-inducing nomenclature 'Vette fans know and love - the ZR1. At the time, Chevy was well aware that the C7 was going to be the last front-engined Corvette before the current mid-engined C8 and 2023 C8 Z06, finally marking the end of a legendary era.

As the C7’s final breath, Chevrolet made sure to send the model off with a glorious roar, which is why it manufactured the LT5 engine - one of the most powerful production supercharged V8s in existence. Based on the LT4 from the C7 Z06 and the sixth-generation Camaro ZL1, the new LT5 V8 received plenty of mechanical enhancements that made the C7 ZR1 an outright menace, able to compete comfortably against the likes of the Ferrari 488 and Lamborghini Huracán.

While the 2019 Corvette C7 ZR1 owes its insanity to more than just its engine - also boasting impressive chassis specs and gorgeous styling, the LT5 supercharged V8 is undeniably the heart and soul behind its widowmaker reputation. Let’s get into the details.

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How Chevy Made The Legendary Supercharged LT5

via theblock.com
via theblock.com

Let’s get things straight, the LT4 6.2-liter supercharged V8 found in the C7 Z06 was already incredible in its own right. It came with a 1.7-liter Eaton supercharger that could spin up to 20,000 rpm to provide north of 9 psi of boost, which allowed it to produce 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. While the vehicle’s transmission, weight, and grip, all have a role when it comes to acceleration, the LT4 and its incredible power were mainly responsible for the C7 Z06’s ability to blast from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds.

To get even more power out of the LT4, Chevy implemented a number of enhancements during the production of the subsequent LT5, which resulted in a huge jump in power and performance. To manage this, the LT5 received a larger throttle body, a more durable crankshaft, and dual fuel injection. The LT4 relied solely upon direct fuel injection, while the LT5 used direct fuel injection as the primary supply and port injection as the secondary supply. Chevy also removed Active Fuel Management technology from the LT5, which is a system found in the LT4 that deactivates half of the engine’s cylinders when possible in order to maximize fuel efficiency and the overall durability of the engine. While useful, AFM inevitably somewhat reduces the engine’s performance, which is why Chevy removed it for the LT5.

Without a doubt, the most important upgrade to the LT5 engine is its significantly larger supercharger. It’s based on the four-lobe configuration from the LT4 and LS9 superchargers but is 64% larger in what makes for a total displacement of 2.65 liters. This comes from larger and longer compressor rotors, which also have a tighter helical twist than the supercharger from the LT4. It provides up to 14 psi of total boost and produces 105 horsepower and 65 pound-feet more than its predecessor. The LT5 produces a total power output of 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque, and the Corvette C7 ZR1 to which it's mated can speed from 0-60 blindingly fast in just 2.85 seconds, a time that's still widely impressive today.

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The C7 ZR1’s LT5 Engine Uses Top-Notch Materials

Chevrolet Supercharged 6.2-Liter LT5 Engine
Via: Chevy

While performance specs are what most people care about, we know there are also plenty of engineering gearheads that would love to know how GM optimized the LT5’s construction for maximum performance. Cast aluminum was the material of choice for the LT5’s engine block and cylinder head, while the bearing caps feature a tri-metal mix of nickel, copper alloy, and steel. The crankshaft uses forged alloy steel and the camshaft opts for billet steel. Lastly, the engine’s connecting rods adopt forged powder metal.

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GM Sold The LT5 As A Crate Engine

2019-Chevrolet-Corvette-C7-ZR1-Supercharged-6.2-Liter-LT5-Engine 
via Chevrolet

In terms of production vehicles, GM only ever fitted the ultra-powerful LT5 V8 to the Corvette C7 ZR1. However, as has become a commonality with the manufacturer’s high-performance engines, GM also sold the LT5 independently as a crate engine until 2021. With a price of around $19,000, it wasn’t cheap by any means, but the hefty price tag was more than justified considering its capabilities. Even though production is no longer taking place, there might still be a few LT5 crates lying around for the right price, so anyone interested should keep their eyes peeled.

Boiling things down, the monstrous LT5 6.2-liter supercharged V8 is nothing short of a masterpiece, and GM was right on the money with its sendoff of the front-engined Corvette. With engine downsizing becoming a general commonality these days, we might never see anything like the LT5 again.