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2002 LQ9 heads/cam SBE. What RPM would you set the rev limiter at? My tuner is suggesting 6200-6300.
I thought it should be ok to spin it up to 6600-6700. Input please
The difference between 6300 and 6600 is NEGLIGIBLE. Especially if you instruct your driver to either drive THROUGH the "limiter" and THEN shift, or to shift at the first HINT of the limiter. Driver instruction is more important than "set".
I'm assuming your driver follows your instructions to the letter?
Mine was set at 6600 rpm on a cam only stock 98 ls1 shortblock by the tuner. Not sure about the lq4 differences. I never once hit the rev limiter when driving it hard but someone told me the ls1 tach reads either 200 rpm slow or fast i think.
My absolutely bone stock 5.7 ls1 2004 engine started bending pushrods when I bumped the rev limit to 6700rpm. Take that 1 data point for what it is worth.
My absolutely bone stock 5.7 ls1 2004 engine started bending pushrods when I bumped the rev limit to 6700rpm. Take that 1 data point for what it is worth.
The stock pushrods are garbage, a $100 set of pushrods from any sponsor on this site should be able to handle that.
Shift point and rev limit should be two different settings. My rev limit is set at 7200 and my shift points are set from 6800 to 7000 depending on which gear it is shifting. Your shift points will depend on the cam, heads and valve train that you have. Dyno graph will tell you where your shift points should be. Rev limit is a safety setting not a shift point.
With plastic oem intakes, most LS engines will peak at around 63-6400 and usually shifting 4-500 rpm upwards before power falls of a cliff. However low gearing and big converters can cause command shift delays. Will take some playing around and a dyno graph will help determine shift point. Personally I have my rev limiter of 7100 rpm with forged pistons, gen 3 rods with arp rod bolts and stock crank in a gen 3 6.0. Just my 2 cents for consideration.
6,800 rpm works as a nice rev limiter set point if you're shifting around ~6,300 to 6,500 rpm. That's where I had my 99 LS1 set. Had no issues for 15 years and 130,000 + miles, with that rev limiter set point.
As for max rpm, some live at ~7,500+ rpm for a while, luck factor
2002 LQ9 heads/cam SBE. What RPM would you set the rev limiter at? My tuner is suggesting 6200-6300.
I thought it should be ok to spin it up to 6600-6700. Input please
I have an 06" junkyard LQ9, heads have never been off. Again cam specs will probably dictate at what point more RPM stops making sense but they are really tough engines, I take a little extra lifter preload, maybe more than most and I set My Rev limiter at 7500 without worry and let me tell you I hit it or nearly touch it on every pass with my 4:10 gear and 26" tires
Great responses all! Thank you.
OK my camshaft is a Smallwood Race Development Martin Smallwood designed cam. Martin told me when at the track I should be shifting @6800 with my combination.
The heads are LS2 243's redone by Total Engine Airflow milled to 63.5cc
LQ9 with 243's milled to 63.5cc's and this cam the car runs good. The vehicle is a '71 RS Camaro 3450lbs. with me in it. Have not had it to the track yet, and doubt I will have it dyno'd. I had it tuned but I feel like the limiter needs to be set higher. I think the tuner set it @ 6300.
I know it's always a crap shoot...but honestly is setting the limiter at 6700 or so taking too much risk of destroying stuff? How many of you have hurt your LS's by RPM
Thanks again!
01-15-2022, 09:45 PM
Ok... max rpm 
