Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

raising cranking compression

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 25, 2012 | 08:43 PM
  #1  
3rdCoastPowerSports's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 6
From: Loony Bin
Default raising cranking compression

i have a LS6 with a 234/238 custom spec cam in it (11* of overlap). New head gaskets and heads have been freshened up. warm cranking compression is around 140 psi across the board with no coolant or compression leaks. car is a dog unitll 3500 RPM's then its fucken awesome. I want to raise my compression so the car performs better at the bottom end. I would like to see my cranking compression around 170-180 psi. how much should i mill the heads to accomplish this? heads are 66cc 241 heads with stock thickness gaskets. I have enough PTV clearance to mill .020" without any issues. will this get me there? or should i mill .035" or so and fly cut pistons?
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2012 | 12:13 AM
  #2  
bww3588's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (49)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,139
Likes: 10
From: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Default

.020 should give you right around a 63 cc chamber, good for about 10.75:1 maybe more. You Will need to keep an eye on your dynamic compression ratio as well. I would take 10 off the head and run a .040 gasket to get your quench area down around .035
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2012 | 05:57 AM
  #3  
mark21742's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,481
Likes: 5
From: PA/MD
Default

I agree, but I think I'd go ahead and knock .020" off the heads with the .040" gaskets
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2012 | 07:31 AM
  #4  
bww3588's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (49)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,139
Likes: 10
From: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Default

He can't...he only has enough ptv to go .020. If he takes 20 off the head and goes 11 thinner on the gasket he will start crashing valves.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2012 | 11:47 AM
  #5  
3rdCoastPowerSports's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 6
From: Loony Bin
Default

Originally Posted by bww3588
He can't...he only has enough ptv to go .020. If he takes 20 off the head and goes 11 thinner on the gasket he will start crashing valves.
I could always flycut the pistons but wouldn't the valve reliefs lower my compression = a wash.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2012 | 12:47 PM
  #6  
bww3588's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (49)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,139
Likes: 10
From: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by 3rdCoastPowerSports
I could always flycut the pistons but wouldn't the valve reliefs lower my compression = a wash.
if your going to flycut, make it worth it. flycutting just to take an extra .010 off the head will not be worth it. .010 is about 1.5CC's off the chamber. which translates into about a .1 increase in compression. but when you flycut, your adding roughly .75CC's back to the volume, so in reality, that .010 extra you flycut for gained you about .75CC's less in the chamber resulting in about a .07 increase in compression, which=a wash.

now this is all off the top of my head math from inputting compression ratio calculations in all week at work while i'm bored, so take it for what its worth.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2012 | 01:21 PM
  #7  
mark21742's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,481
Likes: 5
From: PA/MD
Default

Makes sense BMW3588, I did not know the ptv was that close on his setup....I didn't read his first post as well as I should have....so I change my statement and agree with you
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2012 | 01:23 PM
  #8  
bww3588's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (49)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,139
Likes: 10
From: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by mark21742
Makes sense BWW3588, I did not know the orb was that close on his setup....so I change my statement and agree with you
fixed....
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-3

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-7

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 26, 2012 | 02:23 PM
  #9  
mark21742's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,481
Likes: 5
From: PA/MD
Default

Originally Posted by bww3588
fixed....
Sometimes I don't know why they call it "auto correct" lol
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:41 PM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE