Author Topic: Well, I think I'm going to do it. LS1 to LS6 mod. (Read 963 times)

DiabloTX · « **on:** December 24, 2007, 01:47:11 PM »

Since my '02 Z28 basically has a de-tuned LS6 in it I can't think of not getting it back to LS6 specs. It seems all that is needed is a set of heads and a cam. I'll make this my project for '08 and see how it goes. Should be a relatively inexpensive way of going from 310hp to 400hp and still stay close to "stock".

Any thoughts?

DYNAMITE · « **Reply #1 on:** December 24, 2007, 01:58:19 PM »

Sounds great

And it also sounds like a much better idea then what I would have to do squeeze out more juice from my 4 banger. (2007 GTI 2.0T) It puts out 200bhp, stock, but I don't like the idea of chipping it... i prefer mechanical mods (computers scare me

) Besides, much more power would be wasted as I'm FWD.

Your car however, is scream'n for this "little" swap. I say go for it, and keep us posted

eagl · « **Reply #2 on:** December 24, 2007, 05:27:34 PM »

You'll end up swapping out an awful lot more than heads and a cam... You'll need a new throttle body, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, y-pipe, and of course the rest of the exhaust.

Then you'll get to tinkering with the airbox, remove the bellows between the filter and throttle body... Basically everything the f-body LS1 has tacked on it that restricts the engine's breathing.

It can be fun and there are ways to do it without breaking the bank, but don't kid yourself that it's just heads and a cam.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #3 on:** December 24, 2007, 05:43:40 PM »

Eagl, you do realise that the 01 & 02 LS1's already come with an LS6 intake, injectors, and even sometimes the engine block? For those engines all they did was put in a smaller grind cam from a truck and this deleted the AIR on earlier LS1's.

I've been researching it for a while now and, especially on LS1Tech.com, if you have an 01 or 02 engine it boils down to heads and a cam. As for the exhaust the stock manifolds already flow as good as mid-length headers and I've already installed a Magnaflow cat-back (high flow rate for a cat-back). I'm not looking to make this a drag racing engine, just something to juice up the LS1 and still keep it "stock".

Plus, guys are now after all of the LS3 parts so LS6 parts are getting into the market cheap. Well, cheaper than before.

tapakeg · « **Reply #4 on:** December 24, 2007, 09:54:38 PM »

DUDE !!!!

I am already getting ready to purchase an 01-02 firebird with LS1 and WS6 package.

I like the firebirds because they look more aggressive. Even the LS1 camaro's look like they have V6's.

I know it is two years or so away, but I am looking at all the aftermarket bolt-on attachments I am going to throw on.

This will be a very lengthy project and I am willing to have a "hanger queen" for a while.

Let me know how the project goes.

Tap

SteveBailey · « **Reply #5 on:** December 24, 2007, 10:46:07 PM »

More horsepower=good. Keep us posted.

eagl · « **Reply #6 on:** December 24, 2007, 11:30:48 PM »

Diablo,

Just make sure you dyno it before you start changing things. A good before and after dyno is the only way to know for sure.

I need to get my car to a dyno before the engine blows up... My car performed better in autox than a 99 z28 with a tweaked suspension that also weighed about 300 lbs less, so I've wondered if I got one of those early '98s where they pretty much dropped in a vette engine minus the cam, intake, and exhaust. I don't think I do, but I still wonder what it will do on the dyno after so many miles and years.

My bet would be 280-290 hp at the wheels... New f-bodies would get anywhere from 290 to 305 at the rear wheels so I'll be happy if I get 280 with a tired motor.

WWhiskey · « **Reply #7 on:** December 25, 2007, 06:59:10 AM »

you should get an LS-7 lol (yea im old)
original LS-6 was cast iron 454 11.5 compression about 450 horse
----------LS-7 was an aluminium version of the same. but 12.5 comp. with very small amount of work, out of the crate would make 750 hp EZ it was the forerunner to the 502 and 572 crate motors of today! i just wish G.M. would quit useing the same numbers for new engine packages. it gets us old folk kinda confused

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #8 on:** December 25, 2007, 07:56:58 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by WWhiskey
you should get an LS-7 lol (yea im old)
original LS-6 was cast iron 454 11.5 compression about 450 horse
----------LS-7 was an aluminium version of the same. but 12.5 comp. with very small amount of work, out of the crate would make 750 hp EZ it was the forerunner to the 502 and 572 crate motors of today! i just wish G.M. would quit useing the same numbers for new engine packages. it gets us old folk kinda confused

Actually, the LS-7 was an all iron 12.7:1 open chamber 454 with what was close to a ZL-1 camshaft and intake.

The ZL-1 was an aluminum version of the 427 L-88. I'm building one ZL-1 and one L-88 for NHRA Stock Eliminator. According to some recent documentation we got from GM (we've got a small GMPP sponsorship, they supply a few parts) we've found that the ZL-1 had a slightly larger camshaft in the last of the engines GM built.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #9 on:** December 25, 2007, 08:02:44 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by eagl
Diablo,

Just make sure you dyno it before you start changing things. A good before and after dyno is the only way to know for sure.

I need to get my car to a dyno before the engine blows up... My car performed better in autox than a 99 z28 with a tweaked suspension that also weighed about 300 lbs less, so I've wondered if I got one of those early '98s where they pretty much dropped in a vette engine minus the cam, intake, and exhaust. I don't think I do, but I still wonder what it will do on the dyno after so many miles and years.

My bet would be 280-290 hp at the wheels... New f-bodies would get anywhere from 290 to 305 at the rear wheels so I'll be happy if I get 280 with a tired motor.

The '98 Trans Am put down more HP to the rw's than the '98 Corvette due to the 'vette's IRS.

eagl · « **Reply #10 on:** December 25, 2007, 01:34:44 PM »

Yea, I'd heard that. My understanding was that the f-body drivetrain is unusually efficient due to the geometry and setup.

A vette will still put that power down on the ground better, so with identical engines a vette is still faster both in a straight line and when turning than an f-body. For the drag racing crowd however, the f-body is probably easier/cheaper to mod so if you're chasing tenths down the 1/4 mile, you can get a lot faster for less $$$ if you start with an f-body. Likewise, no amount of money spent on a camaro will get it to turn like a vette.

wooley · « **Reply #11 on:** December 26, 2007, 12:02:13 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by DYNAMITE
Sounds great

And it also sounds like a much better idea then what I would have to do squeeze out more juice from my 4 banger. (2007 GTI 2.0T) It puts out 200bhp, stock, but I don't like the idea of chipping it... i prefer mechanical mods (computers scare me ) Besides, much more power would be wasted as I'm FWD.

VW produce a version of the 2.0T with 260 hp for the Euro-spec Audi S3. I'm guessing modding your GTi to something like that would be relatively easy. There's a raft of front-drive European hatchbacks producing in the region of 240hp. Electronics and advances in suspension are making it possible to put more and more power through the front wheels. I'm guessing the Golf GTi would handle it quite easilly - its a sweet handling car.

eagl · « **Reply #12 on:** December 26, 2007, 12:14:19 AM »

Now if I could figure out how to give my wife's civic an extra 20-30 hp, I'd be happy. We bought the car about 6 months before Honda started offering the more powerful Si engine in the 4-door sedan. I don't regret buying the car and it usually has "enough" power, but sometimes it would be nice if it had a little extra get up and go. Not nice enough to get me to trade it in on a newer model, but still...

BigGun · « **Reply #13 on:** December 26, 2007, 11:08:43 AM »

I am thinkin of buying a 70 GTO from my brother in Idaho. He just completed building a new house & it seems to have depleted his resources a bit.

rpm · « **Reply #14 on:** December 26, 2007, 12:29:15 PM »

I was just talking with my Brother-in-law last night about restoring his 67 Camaro. It's going to be a frame up matching numbers restoration. The only modification is he's going with a 396 instead of a 350. He's always wanted a big block.

He's been planning this for several years and is finally getting started. I'll grab some pics next time I go over.