Blown engine
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
Er..um..
GM tests each production car with the motor it designed to have in it (and the power levels it had designed). any variation will subject parts to threshold levels above what was initially anticipated.
Adding more power to a car is more involved than just adding power to the motor if you want to keep the same reliability.. things down stream tend to get stressed.. been through this on a few of my drag cars and my old stroker motor cars.. for ease of maintenance and reliability its tough to beat the work that many..many engineers did over the course of several years..
the LS6 is plenty fast already!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 3
From: Winter Park FL
and when I said something my posts got deleted. Not all "specialty" shops are created equal. Luckly Cartek was able to fix the time bomb I got.I would be carefuly who you buy a motor from. Some of those places are just pumping them out as fast as they can build them. Quality control costs them money I guess.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Uncasville CT
Er..um..
GM tests each production car with the motor it designed to have in it (and the power levels it had designed). any variation will subject parts to threshold levels above what was initially anticipated.
Adding more power to a car is more involved than just adding power to the motor if you want to keep the same reliability.. things down stream tend to get stressed.. been through this on a few of my drag cars and my old stroker motor cars.. for ease of maintenance and reliability its tough to beat the work that many..many engineers did over the course of several years..
the LS6 is plenty fast already!
GM tests each production car with the motor it designed to have in it (and the power levels it had designed). any variation will subject parts to threshold levels above what was initially anticipated.
Adding more power to a car is more involved than just adding power to the motor if you want to keep the same reliability.. things down stream tend to get stressed.. been through this on a few of my drag cars and my old stroker motor cars.. for ease of maintenance and reliability its tough to beat the work that many..many engineers did over the course of several years..
the LS6 is plenty fast already!
As for maintenance and reliability... how are stronger pistons going to negatively effect the work of many..many Engineers? Sure, throw 1000hp at a stock drivetrain and things will not last but if you are going threw the trouble of rebuilding the engine why not use better parts?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I don't think is fair to say that the dealerships arn't the place to go, The GM shop here is Reno has a great service shop and the Vette mechanic Walt is top notch. I have had great service from the dealer with all my dealings. I am sure there are some that don't have a clue, But that is true with any shop.
If it were me I would get the LS6 replaced with the same, It is nice knowing you have a warranty.
JMO.
Bill K
If it were me I would get the LS6 replaced with the same, It is nice knowing you have a warranty.
JMO.
Bill K
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,112
Likes: 668
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
I don't think is fair to say that the dealerships arn't the place to go, The GM shop here is Reno has a great service shop and the Vette mechanic Walt is top notch. I have had great service from the dealer with all my dealings. I am sure there are some that don't have a clue, But that is true with any shop.
If it were me I would get the LS6 replaced with the same, It is nice knowing you have a warranty.
JMO.
Bill K
If it were me I would get the LS6 replaced with the same, It is nice knowing you have a warranty.
JMO.
Bill K
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 946
Likes: 2
Er..um..
GM tests each production car with the motor it designed to have in it (and the power levels it had designed). any variation will subject parts to threshold levels above what was initially anticipated.
Adding more power to a car is more involved than just adding power to the motor if you want to keep the same reliability.. things down stream tend to get stressed.. been through this on a few of my drag cars and my old stroker motor cars.. for ease of maintenance and reliability its tough to beat the work that many..many engineers did over the course of several years..
the LS6 is plenty fast already!
GM tests each production car with the motor it designed to have in it (and the power levels it had designed). any variation will subject parts to threshold levels above what was initially anticipated.
Adding more power to a car is more involved than just adding power to the motor if you want to keep the same reliability.. things down stream tend to get stressed.. been through this on a few of my drag cars and my old stroker motor cars.. for ease of maintenance and reliability its tough to beat the work that many..many engineers did over the course of several years..
the LS6 is plenty fast already!
LS2 = 390-400 hp
03 LS6 = 405 hp
LS3 = 430 hp
I think the GM engineers won't object if the OP chooses a non-LS6 power plant
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
LS3 FTW! Easier to make power and still makes more power than the LS6 if you're not modding. The GM hot-cam for the LS3 makes 480HP. I'd go with the LS3 with a hot cam if I were the OP unless the LS6 is rebuildable.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,890
Likes: 0
From: FL
I read all your posts. I would go with a used ls6 engine from a trusted forum member such as the one that posted here. You will save a ton of money, and have either GM or a high performance shop install it and warranty their install work at least until you see everything is running right. You should have no problem with a low mile good used engine, as long as it has lower miles than your car you are fine and that way it wont be a problem when you go to sell it. These engines commonly are fine without anything but oil changes up to 150k miles so yours was a fluke unless the last owner modded it or beat on it without telling you
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 17,103
Likes: 39
From: stop the fun suckers
Usually when people sawp in motors other than stock, they swap in more HP which exceeds the initial design specifications of the remaining components. I've never heard of someone swapping in a non-stock motor that has less HP unless it was some beater...
its very easy if your paying big $$ for forged and upgraded internals to do things like.. "ahh what the hell.. throw a little bit bigger cam in there, and bump the compression up a bit"..etc..etc.. and thats fine.. I've done it plenty of times on many cars.. but for the OP.. the most predictable thing (and reliable) is going with the stock motor.. which is a beast already..
then there is the whole resale issue to consider.. etc..etc..
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Blocks normally do not crack and rods don't punch holes through them without a real cause and so on. No, not saying a rod went through it. May I inquire as to how its been driven? Mods? Obviously something real bad happened. Had a guy here at the complex where I live, Chev. Beretta, his crankshaft broke in half! Crap happens but not usually on the LS series of motors.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
I'm going to have to agree with replacing this thing with a stock LS6. Its much easier to sell and a custom block will probably only be warrantied by that particular builder. I still find it suspicious that the dealer can't tell you where its leaking.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 946
Likes: 2
its very easy if your paying big $$ for forged and upgraded internals to do things like.. "ahh what the hell.. throw a little bit bigger cam in there, and bump the compression up a bit"..etc..etc.. and thats fine.. I've done it plenty of times on many cars.. {snip}
then there is the whole resale issue to consider.. etc..etc..
then there is the whole resale issue to consider.. etc..etc..
