Hey guys, I poked my head around here a few summers ago, and was given opinions on buying a c5 or c6 at 24 years old.

I had a lot of people chime in, and I am actually glad of this because it really helped me decide. At the time I just bought a house, sold my G37 and wanted a vette. I realize now, if I had bought the vette it would of just stayed inside. I needed a truck, and that's exactly what I got, 2011 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab Z71 4x4 LT. Previously I stated I was looking, and going to buy a C6, but that is off the table. I have plans for a C5.

Now! I am a bit older, my 27th bday is tomorrow, and I am getting heavily into looking for my C5 corvette.

Ideally, this is what me and my wife are looking for:

C5 2000-2004 model, White Exterior, Tan interior or any exterior, but only interested in a coupe hardtop, no verts, no hatchs. If I can get tan interior with black exterior, I will buy.

Can anyone link a few really good build threads to me on the C5? I am looking to do exterior powertrain, and a few minor bolt ons before I start building a crate LS3.

I do plan to build the engine, but I am looking at a crate LS3 to start with instead of the LS1 plus I want to do the motor build slowly, and want to make sure I have everything ready for the swap so when I bolt on i'm around 600-700 NA. Looking to build for a Pro Charger addition.

I am looking for an individual to work with on the vette, if a seller see's this thread please contact me if you have a C5 corvette under 70,000 miles will consider more miles, years 2000-2004, white or black exterior but tan interior is a MUST, and coupe is a MUST z06 is not preferred but will consider it.

 

All you will really need to do is search around on the builds -

Remember when you buy a LS3 it will "NOT" just be a drop in and go project - the reluctor wheel needs to be changed to the C5 and you will need a few adapters also to make it work and extension harnesses - Can look at Racetronix for these!

Any set of headers and hiflow cats and x-pipe will work fantastic for breathing! and a Dyno Tune for the bolt ons!

However IMHO I would do a LS1/6 and slap a A&A Supercharger on it and be done - you will have a very, very tame streetable like stock running Vette and make way more at the RW's than the LS3 and it will be a lot cheaper and easier! (550+ RWHP on a safe tune) and retain stock drive-ability and manners!

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...004-c5-m6.html

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...on-thread.html (List below taken from this thread)
List of items unique to LS3 install in a C5 - I will list what I used and any alternatives that I know of in paranthesis afterwards:

1. Unique lifter trays from LS3 or L92
2. Unique intake rockers, these are offset for the revised pushrod location on LS3 heads. You can reuse your exhaust rockers.
3. Unique rocker stands for the LS3 heads.
4. Different front timing cover as the cam sensor will be located here as opposed to in the back of the engine.
5. Unique LS3 valley cover. Knock sensors do NOT mount here.
6. Wiring harness from Casper electronics for knock sensors and cam sensor. This plugs into the stock plugs towards the rear of the engine and allows you to connect to the LS2/3 cam sensor (either 2x or 4x, depending on what you want to use. I don't think they're interchangeable - I will cover this in 7 and 8). Part number is 1 x Knock/Cam Harrness LS1 to LS2/LS7 (109081) = $54.95
7. LS2 or LS3 cam sensor... to my knowledge they are different depending on whether a 2x or 4x cam gear is used. Early LS2 engines used a 2x cam sensor, the same as your stock LS1/6 cam sensor. Later LS2 and LS3 engines used a 4x cam sensor and gear. If you use the 2X sensor you must use the 24x reluctor wheel on your crank, if you use the 4X sensor you must use the 58x reluctor wheel on your crank. Unfortunately, your stock Gen 3 computer is only capable of reading the 24x/2x combination. If you choose the 58x/4x (for example, if you get a crate engine with this already installed) Lingenfelter sells a conversion box to allow use of the 58x/4x combination with your gen 3 computer.
8. LS6 crank with stock 24x reluctor wheel (you can use LS2 crank, LS3 crank, whatever you want as long as the stroke is right for the rod/piston combination and you choose your cam sensor and buy a conversion box or not as needed).
9. LS3 intake manifold with LS3 injectors and fuel rail (you can use an L76 intake and other rails if you like, but you will need spacers and what not for other injectors and rails, Katech sells some of this stuff. Also, the L76 intake will be easier to use with your LS1/6 MAP sensor as it has a clip to hold it down. I had to fabricate a bracket to hold my MAP sensor down to the LS3 intake and use some silicone to seal it up). I had to modify the LS3 intake a bit on the rear to drill a hole in a plugged port in the rear to connect my vacuum line at the rear of the intake.
10. Injector harness adapters. LS3 injectors use a different connector type.. I got my adapter kit from Casper's, part number 8 x Injector Adapter EV6 to EV1 (109077) = $63.60
11. MAP sensor extension harness. Since the MAP is located in front of the engine, you will need part number 1 x LS1 MAP Extension 26" (109080) = $33.95 from Casper's electronics.
12. Throttle body adapter harness for LS2/LS3 type throttle body, I bought this a long time ago and don't know the part number but you can get it from Casper's.
13. LS7 lifters. You can reuse your stockers but the height of the LS7 lifter body is different, and you will need to measure for pushrods. In my case, I used 7.350" pushrods for a preload of .080" with LS7 lifters, block decked .006", and heads milled .040". Your results may vary.
14. I had to install my LS1/6 knock sensors on the sides of the LS3 block. To do this I had to drill and tap two holes slightly larger than they were, I want to say they were M10 x 1 but I could be wrong.
15. You will have to clearance one of your motor mounts, I want to say it's the passenger side. There is a boss on the block which interferes with the C5 motor mount. Not a big deal, take your time and trim it a bit for clearance.

Thanks,Matt

 

Sorry forgot this one!

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...6-2-liter.html

If you do a LS1/6 Forged bottom end with H/C and the blower you will easilly meet you goal of 600-700 RWHP - I am at 734 RWHP on my LS1 on a A4 tranny and 3.42 rear gears! with a very mild cam and only 15 lb.s of Boost!

Thanks,Matt

 

Hey Matt, thanks for the quick reply. After reading, maybe I should try to find a used Z06 LS6? Do a complete tear down and rebuild? Really wanted to go with the LS3 but also want to save as I will have the motor professionally built and installed. Small things can be done by me, such as bolt ons.

Which would be more plug and play?

I want to go 500-700 Range, prefer 600 range on NA before Pro Charger. I want to add the procharger for the minimal amount of boost, with a small gain. I am not looking to over boost or blow the motor apart. I just want it to look sound/good.

 

LS6 will be way more plug and play and an awesome choice due to the metals in the LS6 block, it is a better composition over the LS1 Blocks, either however will be good and work fine!

Believe ne it takes a lot to blow these motors apart -Not enough fuel and too much air = a Lean condition and will detonate any motor, that is what blows motors apart, improper fueling! (Fuel pump, injectors etc.)

You can build a LS6 on the cheap and make some real good RWHP on it, 600 RWHP on a LS motor NA will be pretty nasty sounding (Unless you are speaking of it at the crank)

500+ RWHP can be done and it will be pretty choppy, the main thing will be the compression, you will more than likely be in the 11.0+ range, which can be done on these motors -

But if you want to supercharge after you will need to stay at low Boost with that much compression -

However, on a LS6 that comes with 10.5:1 compression and a Procharger or A&A Vortech Supercharger at 8 PSI of Boost you will be in the 600+ RWHP on a safe and driveable set-up!

Thanks,Matt

 

Curious, any side effects, or oil consumption issues on the LS6 over the LS3?

Dry sumps confuse, excite, and worry me also. I understand most build packages come with a dry sump, but that additional oil reservoir makes me think a lot of blow by

Is this the case and can I avoid that with the LS6?

Does the requirement for immediate technical knowledge increase as you go into the higher LS motor's or is it still under the same conditions as the LS1/LS3. I want to purchase a motor once it's fixed that I can work on mainly. I know a good bit about engines, and powertrains but I am not an expert.

Thanks

 

LS series motors are pretty much spot on with a few varying things, example: LS1/6 have the Knock sensors under the manifold in the center of the blockand the LS2/3/7 are located on the sides of the motors - again adapter harnesses are needed!

LS1/2/6 heads and manifolds all interchange, if using a LS2 manifold you will need to use the LS2 Up fuel rails -

LS3/7 heads and manifolds will interchange with each other but "NOT" with the LS1/2/6

LS1/6 fuel rails will interchange with each other but "NOT" with the LS2/3/7

You will still be able to work on your motor on pretty much any LS series motor you get -

OIL CONSUMPTION: Do not worry about it, all you need to do is run it through a Catch Can (recommended on any motor) to catch vapor and oil mist - No need to run a Dry Sump and a dry sump system is very hard to squeeze into the C5 Corvette, it will have to run a custom dry sump set-up (PITA if you ask me)

Bottom line: No matter which motor you go with just make sure your engine builder knows what your GOALS are and build accordingly!

Thanks,Matt

 

You're out of luck with the C5 then they didn't offer tan interior with the hardtop bodytyle only black in the FRC and black or black/red in the z06.

 

I personally don't like tan interior in a corvette anyway(too boring and not sporty enough) but of course if you're set on tan and a C5 hardtop you can always change the color would be expensive though unless you got real lucky and found someone willing to swap

 

Many corvette "people" will recommend the 2001 - 2004 models as GM made many improvements starting with the 2001 year.

You said no verts or hatchbacks, that only leaves the Z06 (2001 - 2004) and no tan interior unless you convert. Also manual transmission only.

I would have liked a Z06 for the extra performance. Auto or manual both have thier merits IMO. For daily driving (and I do) auto is preferable to me. I'm getting older, 48 this year, and the fun factor of a manual is fading. I would only have considered a manual if a Z06, the deciding factor for "must have" was that my wife also wanted to drive and enjoy the car and a manual transmission was not in the cards for her.

I purchased a 2001 coupe (hatchback) with auto and mods to get to Z06 performance.

The level of performance modification you are looking to do suggests you should go for the Z06 as it would make a better starting platform. Doing a custom black/tan two-tone interior should easily be doable and would look great. Will your wife also be fine with a manual transmission? Stick with the LS6 engine, it will indeed get you where you want to be peformance wise with far fewer headaches and less $$.

Just my .5 cent worth

 

Matt thanks again!!

I was looking at the threads you linked, and was worried about the Dry Sump. I will be sure to add the catch can, but would like to limit all blow by. I know that is almost entirely impossible under WOT conditions.

I am considering the crate motors Lingenfelter has to offer. Some are complete LS3 systems, but no complete LS6 systems. They do offer some block LS1/LS6 crate, and I may end up purchasing both the top portion and bottom portion from this company, possibly adding some sleeved, honed, and stroked portions to it.

@Russ
Yes I am finding the white bodies but without the Tan interior's. I've only seen 1 so far. Thanks for the insight!!!

 

Awesome -

You should be able to talk and order a LS3 with the C5 Corvette provisions (ex. correct Reluctor wheel etc.) from Lingenfelter.

You sound like you know exactly what you want and that will help, especially when you talk with Lingenfelter - or any other company you research!

Also look at Scoggin Dickey - https://sdparts.com/

Texas Speed - http://www.texas-speed.com/

Thanks,Matt