Hello everyone, I've had my share fare of LS in the past but it has been a while since I've jumped back to these platforms. Had an 01 LS1 Z28, 01 C5 Vette, 02 WS6 TA, and they where all extremely capable cars. Those where molded but now I'm looking at a different direction, I want to get a Tahoe 4wd and I know they mostly come with the LMG 5.3 motors which seems to be the reliable iron blocks with a AFM I believe but there is only 1 year, 2009 Tahoe LTZ that came with the L92 6.2 engine. Now, I'm going to turn this into an overlanding/off-road vehicle, so I need the most reliable engine I can get and I'm trying to debate if I should get the rare L92 or the LMG that is standard on all Tahoe's with 4wd. 09-up also come with the 6l80 and ditch the 4l60e that we know are problematic and that will be my focus. So my question to all you gearheads, what direction should I go? If anyone has also off-roaded a Tahoe let me know your experience

 

bump.

 

They're so close in family and architecture I'm not sure I could choose one over the other in terms of reliability. The AFM will be an issue at some point so I would plan on deleting that right away no matter what. After that it just comes down to what characteristics you're looking for in a motor. Personally because you're talking about putting this in a heavy Tahoe and using it off road, I would go with the bigger cubes and tq of the 6.2 LS3 based motor.

 

I've just heard that the L92 is not very reliable with failed valves and also since its aluminum block, I believe the bottom end is less reliable

 

If you go L92 motor, replace the springs at a min. The heavy solid intake valves can drop at any time. Any . If you are replacing the cam, you'll need springs and PR anyways. Just be sure to get proper springs with the heavier (VS. ls3 HOLLOWSTEMS) You can replace the valves for a pc. of mind. roughly $225 for the set

 

What do CYLINDER (NOT PISTON) walls have to do with valves? Besides that, aluminum blocks have iron liners, and are just as reliable as iron blocks.
Who's BS are you listening to??
IF valves fail, it is due to DOD/AFM.
You might want to read up on LS engines, and engines in general.....

 

shoot I put piston instead of cylinder wall sorry my bad on that one, and what I meant is I believe the aluminum block might be weaker than an iron block just in general, I've read people making crazy amounts of boost on iron blocks and can't really say the same about the aluminum counterpart at least on the bottom end

Based on this list
https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-in...end-lsx-s.html

 

Unless you are planning well over 1k HP, I would not worry over the difference between iron and aluminum. For 95% of us LS users, aluminum is by far sufficient for the job.