travisnd

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...-corvette.html

Price seems a bit high for not having full accessories or manifolds, but these are getting harder to find.

Wish I had bought two crate motors when they were $3k each

sperkins

I've found out that the best way to keep your current engine running is to have another one in the crate ready to go in.

C5ZEE06

I paid 2850 from Superior and the bottom...so 4800 is more than a bit hard to swallow.

C5ZEE06

amen..my 7 litre has got cob webs from waiting on the rack at the shop.

travisnd

When was that? Those deals used to be around, but since GM stopped production on the LS6 those days are long gone. There were a few CTS-V crate motors you could get, but even those got up into the mid $4k range and you ahd to swap the pan and intake manifold etc

C5ZEE06

it was a CTSV motor (#19210918) that I'm referring to....have to look at the paper work but it was during the darkest days for GM when they were down for the count......and looking like they would stay down. I remember thinking that it was a fire sale to raise cash by unloading inventory.

redtopz

I already bought it for $4200. It's a 2001 ls6 so I need to find a 2002-04 cam and order some 02-04 hollow stem valves and springs. The nice thing is it came with the batwing pan and a water pump.

travisnd

Nice... wonder how old it is if it's a 2001 spec motor. I wonder how long they made 385 horse crate motors.

redtopz

Good question. I was told that GM had to keep making them for a while (probably many years) to replace the 2001 ls6's that failed under warranty etc. The 2001 LS6's had less power because they had to run 2 sets of cats for emissions that increased back pressure on the exhaust. In 2002, GM came out with more efficient cats that decreased back pressure so they could upgrade the cam and air flow through the engine for more power. I just read this a couple days ago when I was researching the 01 LS6.

travisnd

Yeah I've had two 2001 Z06s The differences from the factory (vs. 2002-2004 cars) are:

1. Air box lid has a smaller hole (but it was better than the previous air box lids that had no top hole and only drew air in from the sides).

2. The cam was slightly smaller, less lift

3. Valves slightly heavier.

4. Slightly weaker clutch

5. 4 cats (2 pre cats) vs. 2 on the later cars

I think that's about it...

ScaryFast

I've been shopping for weeks now, and am wondering why those of us looking for one don't just buy one of the 1,000 LS1's on the market. For ST2 / PTA purposes, most of us will be doing a cam change, anyway, and 243 heads are all over the place (although they're $500). Or stuff a new valvetrain on the LS1 heads, maybe a port job, and actually have a better top end.

Is it simply the mystique of the LS6? Why are we all stuck on it? I am, too, and I can't figure out why.

geerookie

That is good news....I just picked up a spare LS6 to keep in my garage yesterday! $2800

geerookie

That is exactly what I'm doing to my original 115k mile LS1 for this upcoming season.
'04 243 heads (SPM cast not sand cast) $400
'02 - '04 cam free
LQ4 oil pump $80
Ls2 timing chain $40
Comp cam push rods I replaced in the LS1 years ago still good
LS3 blue springs $55
37lb injectors $70

travisnd

Shut up... don't give away the trade secrets

Pre 2001 LS1s had weaker rod bolts and the block casting didn't have the cylinder to cylinder passages like the 2001+ block.

RX-Ben

I thought this was common knowledge??

geerookie

Actually I don't think they changed the rod bolts until '02 and earlier blocks had the passages to improve bay to bay breathing they just weren't cast into the block until '01.

travisnd

Stronger rod bolts were new for 2001+ with the LS6 shortblock. All C5s had the same shortblock moving forward.

As for the breathing passages I don't know the exact difference from prior castings. However, I do remember the VHS tape that came with my old Z06 mentioned it when going over the LS6 improvements.

'02+ cars got the different cam/intake/valves/springs/piston rings/coated pistons etc.

geerookie

The only difference on the bay to bay breathing was drilled/machined in vs. cast in.

travisnd

Good to know. You sure they didn't imporve upon those passages for 2001+? I let that old tape go when I sold the car, but I swear they had a cut-away '00 LS1 and the new LS6 side by side.

geerookie

Original casting #12550592
In '98 they started drilling a 28.5mm hole in the 2, 3 and 4 bulkheads to improve the bay to bay breathing and made a few other small casting improvements for strength.
Casting #12559846
And then mid year changed the cam bearing material
Casting #12559090

Then late '99 they made another casting improvement to the rear oil passage which improved distribution and flow.
Casting #12559378

You are correct when they released the '01 "LS6" block they were cast in from then on.
Casting #12561168
It is generally accepted that the "late '99" blocks with the drilled holes will work fine up to 600hp. HP Above that the '01 block with cast in windows is preferred.