I read here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C5_Z06) that the LS6 pistons are different from the LS1 pistons in that they're stronger. Is this true and how much stronger?

I know that the LS1 pistons are pretty much the weak link in the chain and was told not to push the LS1 pistons beyond 540WHP or I'm tempting fate. LOL

If the LS6 pistons are stronger, what kind of power can they handle?

The reason I'm asking is because tomorrow I'm likely to pick up a 2002 Z06 with very low miles on it. The car is pretty much mint. I was thinking of putting a blower on it (been looking at the techco that fits under the stock hood). Obviously, I can put a bigger pulley on it to prevent it from pushing the motor too hard, but how hard is too hard on an LS6?

Thanks in advance.

 

First off, neither piston is built for boost but..

The LS6 has a higher compression ratio, that may offest the extra strength.
My car has been running for a few years and I push 13PSI at the track, running 9's. No issues ever. Get a good tune and you should be fine. I'd limit my boost to 7-8 PSI on the street as I do, the extra power is not useable anyway. Even 7-8 PSI will be a handful.

Why would you go with an unproven blower when there are thousands of cars running with every day blowers? Seems to me if you want to be safe, you should go with something you know works, and works well.

 

13Psi on a stock LS6, are you running c16 and meth?

 

Unless you run into a lean condition or something like that the piston isn't what you should be worried about. The rings on these cars are what seems to be the week point. Some guys run them for a long time some don't when they boost an engine.

 

Yep, stock LS6, with meth and 93 octane...
I do run 104 at the track though.

Its all in the tune. Get a good tune and scan tool. You'll have nothing to worry about.

 

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking about the techco because it fits under the stock hood. I can't say that the techco is proven or unproven since they've been using the same design for Ford motors and Dodge motors already for a while. Funny, though, that when I mention "Techco" to Chevy guys, they're like "Who?!"

If I go with a blower, it's either Techco or Vortech because I want the stock hood and stock look. The other option is just to get a mild cam and do bolt-ons and tune. I'm not going to daily drive the car. Worst case scenario, I'll just do bolt-ons and tune and call it a day. I'd like the car to be reliable.

 

What about procharger? it fits under stock hoods. Mine makes 650 rwhp and 585 rtq on my stock ls6 with cam. 9lbs of boost and a good tune , plus fuel and meth

 

My pistons did not last very long at 12 psi with a KB 2.8L

 

my 03 z06 has 90k miles running heads,cam and 100 shot nos over 580rwhp no issues!

 

Yeah. I think I'm going to stick with a mild cam and bolt-ons. I may do a full port on the heads (or trade 'em for a set of PRC 2.5s). We'll see.

It's been a while since I've had a decently fast car, so I'm going to drive the car for a few months and get used to having power again and then I'll start throwing stuff on it. (That also gives me some time to save up some cash. )

I'm not going to daily drive the car, but it'd be nice if I can. So streetability is important.

I was thinking about either the TSP 228R cam or the TSP 233/239 cam. I've read that those are both streetable. I'm not looking to make monster power. Maybe 410-420 to the ground. I think the 228R cam with bolt-ons and a good tune should be enough to reach my goal.

 

you can do a fast 90 intake, headers,a custom grind cam 232/238/112lsa .600 .600 and a dyno tune and make 415rwhp just change springs in your heads! Add heads to the car and make 450rwhp! I run AFR heads nice deck and built solid!

 

Oh Mike, your car is such a woos!

Just kidding buddy! It's going to be even "Nastier" after your build.

 

The 05 LS6 block I was using made 787rwhp with no shortblock internal issues. Alot has to be said for the tune, which is a critical key to success. ABove mentioned was on 93 octane, 11.5psi, and 12 degrees of timing not going past 5800-6000 due to loss of fuel pressure.

I you can set the car up to make 620-680rwhp i''d say you've got a stout street car with more power then mostly anyone on the planet could even think of trying to harness. Invest in a fuel system,highly recommend OVERKILL on the fuel. Always,....

Have fun.

 

I don't want to make that much power with the car... 450RWHP at the most. Do AFR 205's really make that much difference over LS6 heads? I was going to do the texas speed H/C package with the stage 2.5 LS6 heads and either the 233/239 cam or the 228R cam. I figure that with LTs and a Fast LSx 90 or 92 would get me to my goal. I want something reliable though, so I don't know if I really want a cam that's going to put a lot of stress on the valve train.

This car is going to be mostly for leisure. I also don't want something too powerful or something that cams around a lot because I'll be picking up girls in it. 228R cam is pretty mild and should get me over the 400RW mark with the rest of the bolt ons and should prove pretty reliable.

 

Personally I like watching tittie's(*****/breasts/tata's/moon towers/etc) shaking nice a nice healthy camshaft at stoplights. But thats just me.

Regardless of what any other company makes, AFR's are badass cylinder heads regardless of anything. The 205's are awesome for what you descibed your looking for out of your project.

To me, my cam felt great and streetable. But again, thats my preference, and what is normal to me. It may be mild to some, and it may be dramatic for others.

 

Put a blower on it. Just run it real mild if you don't care about super power.

For your purposes, if it's a totally stock car and you can completely avoid going inside the engine, do so. Plenty of 150-200k-mile LS1/6s out there. All of them GM builds. Once you start messing with the internals, no hot-rod shop, no matter how good, seems to be able to match the reliability and longevity of the GM-built engine.

Also, the blower ends up being cheaper in the long run. Ask any number of Vette guys why I say this.

The biggest factor is that the stock Vette is amazingly civilized. If you like that, don't go changing things aorund, not even headers. Each mod takes away some of the civility and pretty soon you've got a typical ratty hotrod. Great if that's what you want, but something very special and magic is gone forever. Think hard.

The A&A and ECS kits are excellent choices. If you're even halfway close to either one, take it to them directly for the install. They've done it hundreds of times, and won't be guessing or learning, on the install or the tune. If you aren't close, call them and ask who they recommend in your area. Each has installers they work with all over the country. I'd still go to them if at all possible. Take a week's vacation.

Keep it under 6 psi and there's not even any need for meth (just one more mod/hack/chop to the car).

I'd wait on the TechCo. Let some results come in. No C5 kits for awhile, if ever, in any case. A&A and ECS are cheaper, proven, and available now. You can have either of those installed for what TechCo wants for just the kit, with some money left over. I'm not knocking the TechCo, I'm leaning that way myself, but my wallet won't be ready for a year anyways, so that's different.

Again, don't be in a big hurry to toss away the wonderfullness of the factory Z06. Just my advice, having been there and done that.

Best of luck with whatever you do!

 

Awesome. That's pretty much the type of answer I was looking for. I want that "civilized" feeling because I take a lot of trips with girls and I don't want them to feel anything less than in a luxury sports car... Not a hot rod. If I want a hot rod, I'll build one later. LOL

The specs on the car:
2002 Z06. 28K miles on the car. (It was a weekend car for an older couple.)
It's got a short shifter (I think a pro5.0, but not sure. REAL stiff springs)
There's a Vortex Rammer intake on it.
HRE 540R Wheels.
Aside from that, totally stock.

 

i just had heads and a cam and i detonated a little and blew a piston apart. I have seen the same exact damage on 2 LS6's as well. these pistons do not like detonation. If you mod, its all a crap shoot. some hold forever at 600rwhp, some blow up at 400rwhp. never know

 

At that point it's about tuning then. Good tune should prevent detonation.

I think I'll go with a mild blower setup down the line. But for now I'll just leave it stock. I think Gannet is right.

Who knows? By the time I'm ready for a street rod, I may just pick up another Vette.

 

lol....a "weeeknd car"....lol....... with a HURST. Thats a mans powershifting shifter. Doen't get any racerier then that.



(bad tunes holmes). Either that,.a mechanical failure. More then likely a bad tune would be the cause of a failure in a case like that.