LS6's in trans am question
 

i was reading around here last night and came across a thread that saif 15% of 01's and 25% of 02's cam with a LS6. not to discredit JRP in anyway but, is this true? if i do have a LS6 what "advantages" do i have with a LS6? any disadvantages? Would my car be more rare with the LS6? i havent had a chance to look yet on my car (since i got it yesterday) and i am also in iraq and not sure if my wife will be able to do it for me. should i be anxcious to see if i have a LS6 or not???

here is the thread i found it on:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....86&postcount=8

It's the block. LS6 block instead of an LS1 block. The heads and cam are still LS1. And no, there aren't any real advantages to having an LS6 block.

why would they use LS6 blocks for some engines in 01-02? did they run out of LS1 blocks or something?

It's cheaper to produce one block instead of two, and since the difference between them were minor, it didn't make sense to make both a LS1 and a LS6 block. Same thing with the intake manifold. Once they started making the LS6, they started using those parts for all the engines they built, and they just used up the existing LS1 stock they had... once depleted, everything became LS6 parts.

And yes, it's defintely true, JRP knows what he's talking about and it was published in GMHTP magazine.

And no, it doesn't make your car more valuable. You just have the LS6 block, not the entire engine.

I couldn't resist posting. I transplanted an '03 ZO6 LS6 into my '00 WS6 and added a few more goodies. WhaHoo!

-JS

Didn't some of the Camaro's get LS6 heads though? I know some people have found 243 castings in their cars that were put there by the factory. It seems to be a pretty rare occurance though.

Jon

First I have heard of it.........doesn't mean it isn't true but why would "normal" Camaros receive those heads (which are worth more power)?

so if i bought stock heads and cam from a ls6 how much more hp would i get. btw i am not looking for a monster car i just want one that is fast (not saying a ls1 isnt fast) and will whip some ass and my wife will also be able to handle.

If you had the '02 Zo6 cam & 243 cstings along with a LS6 intake you would have about 50 more than a stock LS1.

^^^ A waste considering for the same effort and money you could get a bigger cam (more duration/lift) and better & cheaper heads (Patriot cnc ported) and have 120+ extra compared to a stock LS1.

No stock cars came with ls6 heads just the block which has NO POWER gain at all....

However, IIRC, the block itself is more durable/has better cooling or oiling (or something to that effect) so it is nice if you have it but certainly no big deal if not.

Nope. Not better cooling or oiling. The oil and coolant passages are the same.

It has larger windows between each cylinder at the bottom of the bore. It lets air circulate inside the block better at high rpms. The LS6 has larger cast-in windows where the LS1 has a 1" hole drilled from the factory.

And if MTI or other shops are going to bore & stroke a block up to 427 ci they prefer to use an LS1 instead of the LS6 because of more meat (when they cut the block the LS1 is stronger)

Unless he is meaning the ls6 intakes they started putting those on ls1's in 01 and 02 right?

GM used two different foundry to make the blocks, one made the LS1 block and one made the LS6 block. The one that amde the LS6 block has a better process and the blocks tended to be stronger than the LS1 blocks.

GM decieded to use LS6 blocks to run out production. Th eLS6 blocks do have larger crank windows, suppossed to allow for better windage and reduce high rpm drag from when the pistons are moving up and down thru their cycles.

Maybe there is some high hp gains, maybe not. Know that if you have one that you at least have a stronger black than the regular ole LS1 blocks.

Side note, my car had one from the factory and got another one when they replaced my motor under warranty...

Curious, what was the warranty claim about?

The car only had about 20,000 miles and got the dreaded noisy motor clatter. I complained for months and when I moved back to my home state I took it to a dealer and just happend to be a Regional Pontiac rep there who listened to it. they offered me a crate motor or to extend my factory warranty on my motor to 75,000. I took the crate motor option and checked the block before the put it in and compaired the block number to the LS6 block number and found that my stock motor and the crate motor were both LS6 blocks.