eagle-co94

I'm looking at 1st Gen CTS-V's and see that the LS6 and LS2 are rated the same. Is there any preference between the two motors? Which would you go for and why? I'd love an '09+ but the $$ just isn't there right now.

rand49er

In stock form, you'd be hard pressed to detect much of a difference ... both are GREAT motors.

Modded, the LS2 might give you just a bit more performance because of the increased displacement, but one can always be made to one-up the other depending on how much money you're willing to plunk down.

My $0.02.

jeffrey james

I have an 07 and even though many don't like the LS2 (claimed Truck motor) it is the Gen 4 design that allows the LS3 Heads be upgraded to. The Gen 3 motors (LS1/6) have tremendous potential but are limited in Airflow characteristics. For a Blown application they are just fine though. The 07 (at least mine) also had the latest version of the rear end that seems to be more forgiving of abuse than the early ones. Any of these in a low mileage find are excellent and you won't regret it. IMO, the only thing better than mine would be a new one!!!!!

DarkCharisma

Both are great engines.

MN_V

iTrader: (5)

Both are going to go equally fast when getting on it, the LS2 has more TQ in the lower rpms. I haven't driven an LS6 so I can't say how much different it feels, but looking at dyno graphs I think the LS2 is up 20hp or so in the lower/mid rpms

93hatch

iTrader: (9)

more bore>less bore

shadyLS6

which ever you get a better deal on. if its a DD

Alvin@PCMofNC

Both motors will be close, so I would just shop based on the overall vehicle, not just which motor it has. Whichever is the best bang for the buck!

NIKDSC5

iTrader: (10)

You can do SOOO.....much more with the ls2 IMO. Head options, displacement options...etc. ls6 383 is the max. Everything that you can do to the 6 you can do to the 2 and then some they share almost everything.

OneSlowV

iTrader: (2)

Been in both cars. Stock i feel that the ls6 is faster. But with bolt ons the ls2 is gonna put down more hp

kciaccio

Funny, I have been in both also and LS2 definitely had a better torque through the entire range.

mariojmoe

iTrader: (14)

Im gunna chime in here and ask a related question. My ls6 04 V has 115k miles is stock for now (minus cai) and is perfect. I bought a 05 corvette parts car for the body parts and wound up with an extra 33k mile ls2. I was thinking about slapping on some l92 heads and ls3 top end cam etc and tossing that in my v. This is my dd (going to be) would there be a substantial difference between this and a cammed/bolt on ls6? Im all ears thanks.

MN_V

iTrader: (5)

I think the LS6 will feel faster because it has more of a top end rush compared to its midrange. LS2 is going to be more even pulling, more sneaky fast. I notice the same thing on some motorcycles, some will feel faster than others, then you line them up and my low-revving torquey 1300 walks away easily.

OneSlowV

iTrader: (2)

To me the ls6 has more top end ls2 more bottom end grunt. From a roll i could see a ls6 pulling. And i own a ls2 btw.

ravenls6v

This^^^^^

odthetruth

iTrader: (4)

How'd you come to this conclusion?
LS2 is known to put more power down, even stock for stock, across the entire band. Both engines are nasty and put the same hp and tq figures, just that the LS2 puts it a tiny bit stronger across the entire band.

[edit]
And what I'm saying is... it would come down to being a driver's race, obv... but how would the LS6 pull an LS2?

silverz28camaro

iTrader: (20)

I went from 11.56 @ 117 with heads cam ls1(same disp. as ls6)

to a 10.89 @123 with the same heads cam with just a stock block ls2 swap

LS2 if you can all the way... and as far as that dyno comparison up top the ls2 has a smaller .525 lift cam in it I think and the ls6 should have the .550 cam if i remember right. Put that same .550 cam in the ls2 and it should have the 5.7 beat all the way.

Oh I also want to add i went from 21 mpg to 22 mpg with the ls2 swap, my data log showed I was 6% less TPS at 70mph...less load helped MPGs I'm thinking

OneSlowV

iTrader: (2)

The ls6 i test drove might not of been stock. But it moved out quicker than my ls2 up top it felt snappier also. To me my ls2 feels lazy but moves out now since i did longtubes still haven't tuned it yet though.

kciaccio

That is complete opposite to my experiences. But there are more tired LS6's out there than LS2's. The LS2 you have might be tired. How many miles does yours have? Right now I have 43K. I bought mine with 32K little over a year ago.

The 04's and 05's I have driven are usually between 60k and 80k and definitely were no match for my car. They felt tired.

mhhamrhead

iTrader: (4)

I'll add this just to make your decision even more dfficult.


I've owned an '05 and now an '04 - both LS6 cars. Both reasonably low-mile stock cars.

I'd swear the '04 pulls harder.

Every car is a bit different.