LS6 conversion...worth it?
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Launching!
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Georgia
LS6 conversion...worth it? Hi I recently bought a 2001 trans am with about 75,000 miles. I am considering doing an LS6 conversion. Now I know since I already have an LS6 intake, with enough bolt-ons I can get well over 405 horses. So do any of you think an LS6 conversion kit is worth the money and the labor? Thanks.
Are you talking 405 HP to the wheels or crank? Your not going to sniff 405 to the wheels with stock internals and stock cast heads. My build is a BUDGET build since I'm in college and I dont really make alot of money at all. What I have is your heads (241's) Ported and Polished, bigger valves and a TR224 and am 8 HP shy of 400 to the wheels through a built AUTOMATIC with a stall. Total investment in heads and cam ~ $1000.
I've considered doing the LS6 conversion time and time again. Yeah, I've heard you can get custom heads and cam for cheaper and with more power, but what counts to me is that the LS6 can be maintained by someone much easier. I'd like to have something that's similar to stock but without having to go to great lengths to have it serviced. I'd like to be able to take it to my local dealership (where I get discounts on work done) and have them take a look at an LS6 instead of a custom heads and cam swap.
I had the almost exact same question but mine is more centered around mileage. Will an LS6 in an M6 SS get the same gas mileage as an LS1? IF gas mileage is my main concern, what head and cam package will give the best power with practicly no drop in mileage(1mpg is acceptable)?
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Launching!
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Georgia
I Agree with 98redm6 I'm considering the LS6 kit cause to me with aftermarket parts there are to many things to factor into a swap and I'm new to LS1's. With the LS6 kit I know it will all "mesh" well plus I can trust it cause hey...its GM. The question for me is should I leave the internals alone and just go with bolt-ons or is the kit going to help a fair deal.
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The LS6 conversion package will get you a good 50 flywheel hp, but there are better options for cheaper. I understand the "GM makes it so it must be quality" thing. Many aftermarket things are just as good quality. A setup like 'Trust' mentioned is cheaper, will produce more power, and still gets good gas mileage.
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On The Tree
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Okay that was kind of a smartass reply sorry about that... I have considered the same thing actually. One might ask though if it's really worth it, a H/C setup that only really produces about 50-60 hp more over stock, since we know our cars, being underrated, are really about 340-350 hp stock, $2,000 to go up to 405 hp with the LS6 is really not that cost effective I think... but that's just my opinion I guess.
You also have to remeber that if you want to do a true LS6 conversion, you need to get the LS6 block, just heads, intake and cam is not enough to call it an LS6 even though you have all the aspects that aid in power, if all you want to gain is 50 HP and do the LS6 stuff then you could probably find some untouched LS6 heads for 5-600 bucks, an LS6 cam for $200, springs for another $90, LS6 Intake, pipes, etc for around $380 and put it all on yourself (keeping in mind you'll need about $250 for gaskets and bolt kits etc.) and you'll hvae that extra 50hp, still being on an LS1 block. Or you could just buy the CheaTR cam, longtubes (which I hope you'd buy with the LS6 stuff aswell), LS6 intake, and supporting springs and make more power, idle just like stock (nobody would be able to tell it was cammed) and get the same MPG as stock.
there are also a set of ls6 cnc ported heads for 1300 from gm that are supposed to support 500+ hp. i was considering it because i can get an employee discount but i still did not think it was a bad idea. althought i would go with an aftermarket cam.
If you are going to do the LS6 conversion. Spend your money on the Katech Torquer cam. The lobes are the exact same as the LS6, but your car will pick up 40 ft-lbs over the standerd LS6 cam.
And don't get those GM heads, they are way to big for the cam and are only going to make spark knock more prevelant in your car. Trust me, I have done testing on this stuff.
And don't get those GM heads, they are way to big for the cam and are only going to make spark knock more prevelant in your car. Trust me, I have done testing on this stuff.
The LS6 intake is a must have for 99-00 cars. Seeing you have an 01, you are ahead of the game as you already have that. LS6 heads are great, but not even close to what is available. Gains from your 241 heads to 243 heads is small, but will up your compression from 10.0 to 10.5. You can get ported LS6 heads for around $1K now. The ls6 cam is kind of a joke. It is way too small for decent power.
Originally Posted by CNVRTmyZ
dont you have a shitload of miles on that trans am "trust"
(Although I literally got it out of the shop 2 days ago from putting a new shortblock in, the other one, mechanically, was fine, but it was porous in one spot and leaking oil so I had to get rid of it... I want to know how long it would have lasted) 
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Miami, FL
Originally Posted by davered00ss
The LS6 intake is a must have for 99-00 cars. Seeing you have an 01, you are ahead of the game as you already have that. LS6 heads are great, but not even close to what is available. Gains from your 241 heads to 243 heads is small, but will up your compression from 10.0 to 10.5. You can get ported LS6 heads for around $1K now. The ls6 cam is kind of a joke. It is way too small for decent power.
I'd say the thread owner should get full exhaust and bolt-ons (especially underdrive pulley which seems to help gas mileage the most.) Then a decent mail order tune. The car will sound great, it won't lose gas mileage (my guess is it would actually gain 1-2 mpgs.) And it should be at around 330 rwhp. Using 15% in the calculation it works out to about 385-390 horsepower.
If it's an automatic a torque convertor would really bring the car to life, but the owner might lose an mpg or so in city driving. If it's a manual- then stop bitching about gas mileage becuase if you can get anything over 25 highway in a ~380 horsepower car, you should be ecstatic.
Originally Posted by Whisper
I had the almost exact same question but mine is more centered around mileage. Will an LS6 in an M6 SS get the same gas mileage as an LS1? IF gas mileage is my main concern, what head and cam package will give the best power with practicly no drop in mileage(1mpg is acceptable)?
I know this sounds freakin retarted but when i did my swap from stock ls1 goodies to a ms3 and tsps ls6 heads and ls6 intake, i went from doin 23 mpg highway stock, to 27 on the highway after the swap. I cant really tell you what it gets in the city because I cant keep my foot out of it.