LS2 Upgrade or Not
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Teching In
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LS2 Upgrade or Not I recently picked up a low mileage LS2 from a Trailblazer SS. Since I have to buy a new intake for it to swap into a Porsche 944, would I be better served swapping to LS3 heads,cam, and intake for more power? I am reading a lot of conflicting posts on the LS3 upper swap. This car will be used as a track car. Not racing, just having fun on the track. Also, what should I upgrade to make it more bulletproof? It is stock now. Any advice is appreciated.
Depending on exactly what it was installed in the 6.0l 10.9:1 LS2 makes 400hp with a crap intake and 90mm TB.
The LS6 at 5.7l and 10.5:1 compression with the same cam made 385hp, 75mm TB
The LS3 at 6.2l a similar cam and 10.9:1 makes 415hp(since we are not comparing dual mode exhaust setups), 90mm TB
The LS6 made 405 later years with larger cam and still just 10.5:1 and 5.7l.
When I look at that it looks to me like a LS6 intake would be a meaningful upgrade to a LS2, the LS2 having more compression and displacement than the LS6, same cam and just saddled with a crap intake.
I would do an intake and cam on the LS2, intake could even just mean fixing the LS2 one if you are ambitious or a FAST if you have the cash, or simply a LS6.
The LS6 at 5.7l and 10.5:1 compression with the same cam made 385hp, 75mm TB
The LS3 at 6.2l a similar cam and 10.9:1 makes 415hp(since we are not comparing dual mode exhaust setups), 90mm TB
The LS6 made 405 later years with larger cam and still just 10.5:1 and 5.7l.
When I look at that it looks to me like a LS6 intake would be a meaningful upgrade to a LS2, the LS2 having more compression and displacement than the LS6, same cam and just saddled with a crap intake.
I would do an intake and cam on the LS2, intake could even just mean fixing the LS2 one if you are ambitious or a FAST if you have the cash, or simply a LS6.
KW
I think the rockers are more of an issue for the LS3 being offset, stick to cathederal and some sort of trunnion upgrade and stock is great.
Realistically by the year the TBSS was offered the stock trunnions were decent. Most of the cathederal head trunnion issues were earlier.
Realistically by the year the TBSS was offered the stock trunnions were decent. Most of the cathederal head trunnion issues were earlier.
I think the rockers are more of an issue for the LS3 being offset, stick to cathederal and some sort of trunnion upgrade and stock is great.
Realistically by the year the TBSS was offered the stock trunnions were decent. Most of the cathederal head trunnion issues were earlier.
Realistically by the year the TBSS was offered the stock trunnions were decent. Most of the cathederal head trunnion issues were earlier.
We're essentially talking about a road racer that's to be bullet-proofed.....I'm looking at shaft-mounts.
Just my train of thought.
KW
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Thread Starter
Teching In
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Thank you for the replies. Trying to sort out the electronics, do I lose anything converting to a LS1 harness and 24x reluctor so that I can drive by cable? Or should I stick with the 58x reluctor and drive by wire? I picked up a LS6 intake. I do not have coil packs right now, so are the OEM's fine or would it pay to upgrade? Also, MAF and Throttle body recommendations would be helpful.
Thanks
Lee
Thanks
Lee
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As far as the coil packs, OEM units will be more than enough, definitely not worth it to get aftermarket. LS2 coils are slightly better than LS1 coils. MAF and throttle body depend more on your power goals. But since you're using a LS6 intake, the OEM throttle body is sufficient due to the TB and intake mouth openings being the same 75mm diameter. You could get the OEM throttle body and LS6 intake ported for a small increase. An OEM 85mm MAF (LS2, LS6 or some truck MAF's for example) is sufficient with the use of the LS6 intake. Any larger MAF than the OEM 85mm isn't going to make much of any difference using a 75mm throttle body. For what its worth, an 85mm MAF will basically have absolutely no air restriction on a stock(ish) LS2.