bp944

iTrader: (4)

I was wondering how much easier/cheaper would it be for a aluminum ls2 to reach my 500hp goal than a ls1/ls6. I'd like to build up the engine, top and bottom. My main reason for a ls2 being cheaper is the heads. There is a difference between the cost of the blocks but since a ls2 can run stock L92 with much better flow than even a set of nicely ported 243's. The price difference of the heads is about $1500.

What would it take to reach 500hp at the crank with a ls2? I am also not stroking the engine. NO STROKING, so please don't bring it up. I'm road racing and the transaxle won't take a whole lot more.

Red99TA

iTrader: (11)

If you just want 500 at the crank it can be easily done in either an LS1/6 or an LS2. I would say it could be a little easier in an LS2 just b/c of the extra displacement but in reality you can do it in an LS1 with just a cam and other bolt-ons - I mean if you assume 15% drivetrain losses then you're at 425 RWHP which can even be done with stock heads. I made 427 RWHP with a cam, fast 90 intake/Tb, headers, UD pulley, and exhaust. Even if you assume only 12% loss then you need 440RWHP which is easily achieved with a heads/cam combo.

garygnu

l92 heads and a fast 102mm intake,and a Patrick-G cam.

Fb0dy0nly

iTrader: (10)

Id think about your goals for a min first and what you just said. When road racing you obviously want the power in the mid range and low end for best use on the course. Your not going to be seeing 7krpm all that often I would imagine so having a head/cam combo that is just for peak power is not going to help you for **** on a road course. Those ported 243's would have great midrange power and you could have them ported for just that. You could def get the job done with a Ls1/6 block, with an ls6 block you get the 243's on top and then send them out to be ported by a company that knows what they are doing like AI or TEA and tell them what your goals are. They can spec you a cam as well to match that setup and you can easily reach 450hp at the rear wheels and have great power down low and mid range and even good power up top too for the straights. Sure you could use an ls2 block with 243's as well but you'll lose out on some down low grunt with the extra cubes and big 92's.

JustAnotherLS2

Both have the ability to make 500, plain and simple. Main advantage to the LS2 is the budget L92 setup.

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

What rpm range are you using?

Some (like me) associate road racing with high rpm operation using primarily the 4,500 to 6,500 rpm range. Others here however, keep talking about low end torque, which is presumably useless outside of the pit area. All that counts here of course, is your requirements.

bp944

iTrader: (4)

It'll double as a daily driver so I can't have the atmospheric rpm's that would be lovely for road racing. But I would like something with a higher rpm range. Low end torque is nearly useless in this situation. So losing the low end torque with the L92's isn't so bad.

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

If it were me, I would start with the LS2 block. It has more displacement, which comes from increased bore rather than increased stroke, which is more rpm-friendly. And unless, I am missing something, anything you can do with an LS1/LS6 block you can do with the LS2 block, but not vice versa.