I've read the numerous LS engine swap threads for the past several days and recall it was mentioned in one of them that some of the LS engine years were better to use than others because of the oil pan or something else...really can't remember the reason for sure.

I'm puting it in a '93 with a 700r4 trans.

Ive been searching for the past couple of hours and have drawn a blank.

Can one of you knowledgable guys enlighten me please?

Thanks!

 

LS-X
all aluminum, take it to 402 cubes and top it with some ported stock heads. it will scream.
my friend has that in his F body and pulls low 10's at the track, no bottle. its quite nasty.

 

Why, a crate LS7 of course...

Silly question

Dry sump, 427 cubes with computer...

 

Youre probably thinking of the early LS1 blocks, most guys avoid them .
LS1 heads are a waste of time, too . Lots and lots of GM and aftermarket support for those motors.

 

Don't know what your budget is but don't forget the truck variants. They are iron blocks which should keep them durable, way cheaper (from trucks), and all the LS stuff will work on them. The T56 trans will even bolt right up. I think the truck motors are called something like LQx. From what I have read the actual LS motors cost twice as much and only save you around 65lbs. Just a thought. Happy hunting!

 

I'll have to look in a reference book or two, but I think there were some oil ventilation (windage) changes in 99. While all LS motors are a great leap forward; of course with a Gen IV motor (LS2, LS3, LQ4, LQ9) you have a larger bore that will support the cheap but great L92 heads and L76 intake.

 

A little info on the truck motors (LQ4 & LQ9)


6000

HO 6000 engine in a 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXTThe Vortec 6000, or LQ4, is a V8 truck engine. It is a bored version of the Vortec 5300. Displacement is 6.0 L (5967 cc) from 101.6 mm bore and 92 mm stroke. It is an iron/aluminum design and produces 300-325 hp (224-242 kW) and 360-370 ft•lbf (488-502 N•m). LQ4s are built in Romulus, Michigan and Silao, Mexico.

LQ4 applications:

Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana
Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Pickup, Crew Cab, and Chassis Cab/GMC Sierra 2500 HD Pickup and Crew Cab, Denali, and 3500 Pickup and Chassis Cab, 1500HD Crew Cab
Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL Denali
Hummer H2 SUT
GMC Yukon Denali

HO 6000
The Vortec HO 6000 or VortecMAX, technically the LQ9, is a special high-output version of the Vortec 6000 V8 truck engine originally designed for Cadillac. This engine was introduced in other truck lines as VortecMAX for 2006. It features high-compression (10:1) flat-top pistons for an extra 10 hp and 10 ft•lbf, bringing output to 345 hp (257 kW) and 380 ft•lbf (515 N•m). LQ9s are built only in Romulus, Michigan.

LQ9 Applications:

2002-2005 Cadillac Escalade
2002-2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
2003-2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV
2003-2005 Chevrolet Silverado SS
2004-2005 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Vortec HO Edition Only [Badging on truck]
2006-2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra VortecMAX Option


6200
The 2007 Cadillac Escalade will debut with a 6.2 L Vortec 6200 (RPO L92) engine. It is an all-aluminum design which, while still a pushrod engine, boasts variable valve timing, a first in a mass-produced non-overhead cam V8 engine. The system adjusts both intake and exhaust timing between two settings. This engine produces 403 hp (301 kW) and 417 ft•lbf (565 N•m) in the Cadillac, but was inexplicably only rated at 380 hp and 415 ft•lbf in the earlier versions of the GMC Denali.

Applications:

2007+ Cadillac Escalade
2007+ GMC Yukon Denali/Denali XL
2007+ GMC Sierra Denali

L92 head info:
The aluminum L92 heads are designed straight from the LS7 head; the same head that offers you 505 horses when installed on the LS7 in the Z06 Corvette. The L92’s are fully assembled Factory GM cylinder heads and will flow over 320cfm straight from GMPP for around $400. The L92 comes with 2.160 / 1.59 valves, 70 CC combustion chambers, and stock springs are good to 0.510'' of valve lift.

L76 intake info:
The L76 intake (around $500) is designed to match up to the wider intake port configuration of theL92 intake, and has physically larger intake runners than the production LS2 intake. The L76 intake comes complete with a 90mm throttle body, fuel rails, and 39 lb/hr fuel injectors.

 

I seem to remember that some of the early swappers found that F-body oil pans and engine accessories were a much better fit in a C4 than the C5 parts. I also seem to recall someone pointing out that a truck pan might work, but the accessories won't.

This is from my increasingly senile memory, so please treat it as such.

 

Get the engine from the Corvette C6-RS. All aluminum, 8.something liters!!!

 

If money is an issue, I would use the iron block 6.0L and put a good cam in it. Better mileage, power and much more aftermarket support than the old LT1 ever dreamed off. If you went with an aluminum block, your F/R weight distribution would be a little off.

 

Wouldn't you still shave a little weight just by changing from the ZF6 to the T56? I thought the T56 was around 30lb lighter? Oh, and more weight saved by no dual mass flywheel?

 

You want to use a 2000 or newer engine, the block and oiling system were redone to provide better strength and better oiling. The 2001 and newer blocks had the larger holes added to the main bearing supports to allow better windage control in the crankcase.

If you have a 1997 to 1999 engine they can still be used but you should limit the build to 500 HP or less.

 

use a Gen IV LS engine.

 

If it were me, I'd get a 6.0L block (iron will work, but aluminum would be nice), put an L92 top end on it, and then a good sized cam. That combo made a tad over 550 crank hp in a magazine test (I know, I know, quoting magazine tests, but it was this looks legit!).

 

Hadn't planned on this but a smoking deal on 03 6.0 motor is likely to influence my decsion.

 

According to the SA LS1/LS6 book, it was 97 - 98 blocks.

 

I researched this pretty deeply and found the folks at "Street & Performance" (no affiliation) offer many accessory configurations if space becomes an issue. http://www.hotrodlane.cc/