Well here's my dilemma.

My 2000 z28 camaro LS1 motor has 66k on it. The motor gets very bad blowby, and has an oil leak probably at the rear main seal.

Anyways, the motor I've been told doesn't look too healthy.

Here's my problem. I'm looking for a new motor, not right the instant, but just want to start researching now.

What should I look for in a new motor. I've looked at TSP's website and seen 347, 370, 383,402,408,418,427. So many choices, I'm lost on what I want.

What are they advantages of going with the bigger cubes. Of course more cubes more power the no replacement for displacement debate. However, I want a nice setup, that will make power all across the board.

What's the difference between the LS1, LS2, L92, LS7, I guess to fully know what I want I'd need to start there.

I see a lot of people doing the LS2 motors, and with a mild cam, and heads making 500+ to the wheels.

I drive the car probably 10-15k a year, I drive a lot, I want something drivable.

Basically I'm lost on what I want, and my ignorance is the basis of it.

Basically I've been looking at an LS2 block, and see great responses with the L92 heads.

Basically any help is appreciated, and I'm real lost.

Thank for any positive advice, I've tried searching and get even more lost.

Chris

 

I think that your first question is how much do you have to spend? Are there any good machine shops in your area aswell? Second do you have the resoures to pull an engine?
Just some basic questions, Iam in the same boat, just wating to find out if the warranty is going to cover a complete long block?

 

I can pull a motor and put a motor in no problem, I have the resources to do so. My friends father works in a top notch machine shop, and I'm sure he could help me out. Money to spend, like I said not sure now, just weighing out options, and looking around and what I can do. Just really looking for some information

 

ttt....

 

if i was to go with a new motor ide gow with a ls2 block and make it a 402

 

How much power are you looking for? If you want to run a fairly tame cam then id say go big CI and some good heads. Personally id pick the 402 with say a g5x3 cam and some afr 225's. Toss on a fast 90/90, some 1 7/8th headers, and you should be in the neighborhood of 500 rwhp. Any plans for FI with this motor or just N/A?

 

i know what your thinking.my motor has seen better days,and i'm looking at different options for when i get the money to put a new motor in..
for me,i drive my car a lot.it's my DD.hell,i can't hook up now on the street,so a stroker is not really an option for me.but that's just me.. i'm going to go with a 347 shortblock,you can pick one of those up for around 2500.00 or so.LPE is listing their's for 2200.00 with a core.3000.00 without one.and the sponsors on here have good deals as well...

just be honest with yourself as to what your goals are,and how much you want to spend..hope this helps a little.

 

Thanks for some of the responses. Now I have also been looking at a forged shortblock. However, for a little bit more you can go bigger cubes. I would like to attain in the 470-500 range, and I hear of people doing that with tame cams good heads in 05 gto's. Now, the forged 370 block that tsp offers seems to be a good deal, what advantages would I see going with a ls2 402 over the 370 block

 

I'm jumping in just to see what people recommend.

I'd lean towards a l92 with mildly worked heads/dual valve springs and the l76 intake.

I'm not sure about the displacement or the need for forged internals but I think....it probably makes sense to go forged.

Good thread.

 

Yes, I couldn't find any good breakdowns of the motors and comparisons.

No my motor most likely would not have a turbo or supercharger. Maybe 100-150 shot of nitrous

 

l92 is the new 6.2L blocks right?
what is the L76 intake from?

 

Hate to break it to you but the Stock Bottom End LS2 GTO's with a tame cam and good heads is around 430 to 460 rwhp with LT's and intake tweaks.

The LS2 Goats that are at 500 to 515 are very large cam's (for the stock displacement) and all of the supporting mod's.
Edc's Hellion is not ment for everyone and Edc would probably not recommend it for a daily driver if you had alot of stop and go traffic.

A good choice would be either the LS2 block with 402 stroker or the L92 block with a 414 stroker kit. Sponsors on the right hand side have short blocks based off of these blocks with the 24x timing gear and will more then likely have the supporting equipment to go along with the shortblock to make your engine swap a little easier.

Or if you want to spend a little more the LS7 shortblocks are being offered as well with the right crank and oil pump to give you a big block displacement in your 4th gen.

Just remember to upgrade the driveline to go along with the new motor or you'll be back in the shop replacing more components.


The L76 car manifold was first released on the late 06 early 07 Holden Monaro replacing the LS2 from 05/06 for the vehicle (factory production started in 02/06).
Ausie emision restrictions went up and DOD (active fuel management) was needed to keep the Monaro within those spec's. It has a smaller cam and only produces about 380hp -vs- the LS2's 400.
The L76 is a 6.0 block with DOD and L92 heads.
The L76 is similar to a LS2 with the exception that the oil feeds for DOD have been tap'd, it uses the DOD lifters and has a set of dish'd pistons that with the 70cc L92 heads put the compression at around 9.5
Compression drop + smaller cam + better flowing heads = a 20hp loss, lower emissions, & better gas mileage.

 

Thanks for the GREAT help Bring the Noise, I much appreciate the help. I had been researching the 402 blocks a great deal, but still weight other options, and maybe cheaper options to result in the same power output

 

If you want 500 at the wheels your def going to need at least an ls2 402 if you want to go with a fairly tame cam. I believe the 370 most sponsors sell is an iron block built for boost (not positive but I think thats what it is) so I would shy away from the extra weight and maybe go with a 383. Another option would be to buy a forged 346/347, run the current cam you have with some better heads, and then spray a 100 shot on it. That way you will have over 400 rwhp NA and then over 500 rwhp on the spray when you need it.

 

With my g5x2 cam only I have 426 so with a set of heads I would hope to see 460 to the wheels which I think is attainable. The more I research the more I lean towards the 402

 

Personally I would go the 402 route. Your not adding much/if any weight to the front end, your getting over 50 more cubes, you will be able to run a fairly tame cam with a good set of heads and make near 500 rwhp NA, plus if you want to go FI/N20 in the future you will be all set. A 402 with TFS 225's/afr 225's/ETP head and again say a g5x3 will put down plenty of power and have pretty good idle quality, or you could keep your current cam and maybe go with a smaller bore head and up the compression for more power. Either way i think you will be happy with the 402 instead of going with less CI and regret it down the road.

 

This thread has been very helpful to me, I think when the time comes a 402 will be my route. The way my motor looks, looks like it may be sooner than later

 

aprox whats a 402 set up cost

 

The shortblock runs just under $4400 from most places....

 

I just went thru all this last spring when my old motor popped... I ended up going with an ls2 402, and spent the $ on better heads ( ET 240 ) because the heads were gonna make a bigger power differnence then an extra 10 or 15 cubic inches would have, and I spent the $ to buy the absolute best internals I could, again a bigger motor with cheaper parts could have been done, but I wanted to be able to flogg it senseless, spray the hell out of it, all that and not have it break... so better parts with a 402 seemed like a better idea then a cheaper ended 427 would have been.

With the added displacment, it will feel like it's got a TON more power everywhere, so don't get too tied up in dyno #'s... get a shortblock, or whatever you decide to go with built with the beast parts you can afford, and I'm sure you will be happy