l8_apexer

Given that the new Grand Sport has a dry sump system on the LS#, is it possible to upgrade an 08 LS3 to the dry sump system?

Wish I had known about this weakness with the motor BEFORE I sold the Porsche to buy the Vette.....

davidfarmer

LS engines have run strong at the track for over 10 years now, so don't fret.

Based on some comments by Jason of Katech in another thread, you'd need a different crankshaft to adapt the dual-stage pump assembly. I find it hard to believe that GS engines have a different crankshaft than normal LS3's, but that was his statement.

I haven't seen a cutaway of the dry-sump LS3 to verify this, but he is usually good with this stuff.

GrantB

FWIW, I'm going with an Aviaid dry sump setup. Two-stage scavenge pumps mounted on the passenger's head (using the serpentine belt with a Katech tensioner). So you can keep A/C with a multi-stage dry sump setup. It uses the factory pressure pump, which is nice (so if the belt comes off, you've got plenty of time to shut the car down before the engine starts to starve).

Katech is evidently overstocked in ARE dry sump pans, so now is a good time to pick one up.
http://store.katechengines.com/share...CS=katech&All=

EvilBoffin

David -

CF member ' Eaglei ' is an engine assembler at the Wixom Performance Build Center, where they build the Z06/ZR1 engines. He has confirmed that the LS3 dry sump engines will indeed be hand-built there alongside the LS7/LS9's, specifically because of the dry sump's unique requirements for a different crankshaft, oil pan and oil/scavenger pumps. Those LS3's will use the LS7 clutch assembly, too.

Apparently, they have already built some of the initial batch of production LS3 DS motors there at Wixom. The non-dry sump LS3's will be built at the standard production facility.

Check out his comments on this thread :

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-gmpt-hdq.html


Keep in mind that the ONLY LS3-equipped model to get the dry sump setup in 2010 will be the Grand Sport Manual Coupe - no automatics, no verts...
.

davidfarmer

wow, more wastefull GM spending. They could have developed a dual stage pump that would bolt onto ANY LS engine, but instead have to build multiple crankshafts for the exact same engine.....

Just like the 4 "fender" options they offer, development money down the drain......

mgarfias

They could have, but how do you know that didn't exceed the projected cost of the new cranks for only the LS3 motors going into a grandsport with the manual? My guess is they ran the numbers, and decided a small run of cranks with very little engineering work to be done was cheaper than even a small development program.

Slalom4me

Thanks for the link.

Eaglei had some interesting comments to share. Curious that this
one hasn't elicited some kind of response. Am I the only one to
think that co-building the engine for my/a car would be a special
treat ...

.

AU N EGL

LS3s in the GS autos are production built

the GS with UPGRADED LS3, dry sump, oil cooler, trans cooler does have a hefty up charge to it as well

EvilBoffin

You are by NO means the only one that thinks this is a terrific concept (I think it's just an awesome idea)!

But it is surprising that in these dark days of GM, they would even consider such a unique and special program, especially when it will only apply to a very small community of buyers.

Even if I don't get to 'build' my own engine, my interest in buying a GS manual coupe in a few months certainly increased when I found Eaglei's post about the LS3 DS engines being hand-built at Wixom...

davidfarmer

you guys enjoy the Kool-Aid!

99BlackZ51

ARE makes a dry-sump setup specifically for LS3's that do not require a special crank. They are being run by T1 LS3's and seem to work very well.
Scott