The news hit the internet recently when a Reddit user posted the depressing news that GM has discontinued both the LS7 and its wet-sumped, hot-cammed variant, the 570-horsepower LS427/570 crate engines from its lineup. Many surmised the reasoning behind GM doing such a thing to our beloved late-model V8s, citing the lack of direct injection and other gizmos such as variable valve timing means the architecture was dated at best. A powerhouse, albeit a dated one, isn’t much use to an automaker constantly looking forward to the next great thing.

That lack of current tech didn’t fare well for any hopes of seeing it ever show up in another Camaro as well. Currently, the DOHC LT6 has the best chance at wowing Camaro owners back into showrooms anytime soon. Combine that high-revving engine with the historic Z/28 moniker and we believe the car would be an instant hit. That is if the automaker cares to give Camaro one last shove of internal combustion fun before it succumbs to battery-power, or slips silently into the dark night. It remains to be seen which outcome would be the lesser of the two.

2014 “LS7” 7.0L V-8 (LS7) for Chevrolet Camaro Z28

Not all was rose-colored in the late-model 427 world before this news befell us. The LS7 was quite the runner, with 505 horsepower on tap, but it also had a nasty habit of dropping valves, which really do a job on things when the squish gets going. Valves don’t do well crossed up in an 11:1 compressed world.

Chevrolet Performance’s LS427/570 crate engine is based on the LS7 and uses a unique camshaft to help produce 570 hp. The LS427/570 assembly includes an F-body wet-sump oil pan and Z/28 exhaust manifolds.

Reports state that GM intends to fill all remaining orders for the engines, but ways to purchase them were removed from Chevrolet Performance’s website so don’t plan on sneaking an order in under the radar. There will likely be several engines floating around in dealerships for a while and of course, you could always build your own, but as far as saving your pennies to get one someday— that 427-cubed ship has sailed. The LS7 is dead. Long live the LS7!