So i'm looking at swapping to an LS6 Intake Manifold.

Installing it to a 1997 C5.

1) What year manifolds can i get?

2) Are some years more/less problematic that others?

3) What modifications (if any) will i need to do for this?

4) What extra parts besides an intake will i need? (Bolts, gaskets, etc.)

5) Is there a write up with details and pictures on this?

6) I've got full exhaust already to let air out, and am now working on letting more air into the engine, before i do a cam Swap. So, beside replacing the Intake Manifold, should i replace the stock air bridge? Or is port/polish my TB enough?


Thanks
Dan

 

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=5

 

So regardless of what year 2001+ LS1/LS6 Intake Manifold i get, I will only ever need:

- 1x 2001+ front coolant pipe - #12568478
- 2x 2001+ rear coolant plugs - #12562788 (Note, you can use a 2nd coolant pipe in place of these plugs if necessary)

What does it mean "(Note, you can use a 2nd coolant pipe in place of these plugs if necessary)" ? Is one option better than the other? What would i be 'plugging' if i didn't use those pipes?


Thanks,
Dan

 

Sill curious - if i found a 2002 BASE Corvette and bought the Intake Manifold from it - would that be the same Intake i'd see on a Z06 model?

Thanks,
Dan

 

 

Yes, 2001 & up LS1 motors get the LS6 style manifold.
Just buy the two plugs for the rear and don't screw around with modifying a coolent pipe, much cleaner that way. Some people have modifyed the bottom of the LS6 manifold with a dremel tool or such so the old style coolent pipe fits under the manifold. While your in there upgrade to the LS6 vally cover and pcv setup. Just follow the ls1howto link posted by NOTDADYS_98, you can't go wrong.

 

Do not take those cooling lines off.

It was proven by GM race engineering that it was a big mistake to remove them for those cooling lines help draw heat away from the end cylinders and reduce chance of deforming pistons like # 7

It is real easy to just grind off the little mold ribs on the bottom of intake and it will fit with existing cooling lines

 

So it's actually better to keep the stock coolant line instead of converting to the LS6 one??

 

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=5

So following this is a bad idea?

In the beginning of the instructions it mentions 2 plugs - but when it gets down to it he says:

"Due to parts availability, I chose to use 2 front intake pipes off a 2001 car, rather than 1 pipe and 2 plugs."

"Since I needed to run 2 *FRONT* coolant pipes it meant I needed to block off the unnecessary rubber line that I'd have on the back pipe. To do this, I found a perfectly sized bolt that only had threads half way up, covered it in Ultra Copper RTV sealant and plugged it in the back of the hose. The picture to the left shows the bolt half way out before we coated it with gasket sealant. Once the bolt was totally inserted in the hole, I used 2 hose clamps to tighten it down. This bolt is NOT coming out "

Is what that guy is doing wrong? I just bought a '02 LS6 Intake Manifold, and i want to make sure i have all my ducks in a row before i start tearnig into my engine. (When i do this, i'll also be adding LS6 Cylinder Heads, and a 224 cam)

Details, Writeups, 1st hand experience, and facts only please.




Dan

 

It sounds like a lot of work to plug off the old lines with rubber and old bolts (not to mention prone to failure), but maybe it does help with cooling end cylinders. However, I think it would be real hard to tell if that was the case. If you really want to feel safe, grind a path for the old coolant lines.

I just used the plugs, and I'm only a novice HPDE driver, I haven't noticed any issues. Other than the Vette running better than with the LS1 intake

The LS1HOWto.com write up is good, but its for a F-body. Some of the photos and instructions on the oil pressure sensor replacement on the C5 make a little more sense, together they are pretty complete.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=958008

And don't worry too much about it, its pretty easy to do and most likely it will not be the last time you have the intake off

 

[QUOTE=MattB]It sounds like a lot of work to plug off the old lines with rubber and old bolts (not to mention prone to failure), but maybe it does help with cooling end cylinders. However, I think it would be real hard to tell if that was the case. If you really want to feel safe, grind a path for the old coolant lines.

QUOTE]

That's what I'm saying, not only is it Mickey Mouse using two front coolant lines by plugging one of line's on the rear, it would not make me sleep better at night knowing I had that arrangement under the manifold. Now, boosted_z06 makes a good point, I've heard a couple people say by using the old LS1 “X” type coolant pipe it helps cool the rear cylinders by removing trapped air. I don’t know. But doesn’t the Z06 use only the front coolant pipe and plug the rear ports? Seems to me it would only make a real big difference in a C5R full on racecar. Not to mention thousands of people have converted the pre 2001 LS1 to a LS6 intake and I’ve yet heard someone say they toasted #7 hole due to eliminating the back coolant line. I guess it all depends on your comfort level, my self, I just used the plugs, but after having done the swap I can see where it would not be that hard to modify the underside of the LS6 manifold to accept the “X” type coolant line. Plus you’d be saving a few bucks to boot.

 

This be good info for when I make my LS6 manifold swap! I believe at this juncture of the discussion all points to keeping the stock LS1 coolant line in operation and just doing a little grinding on the bottom of the new LS6 manifold or better yet buy one from someone who has done it already(wouldn't that be sweet!) IMHO!

Thanks,Matt

 

FWIW, I noticed about 8-10 more degrees in my oil temp and water temp when I went to the LS6 coolant lines. I swapped to the LS6 intake and plugged the rear collant holes and used the front LS6 coolant line and my temp went up.

I'm thinking about grinding down the LS6 intake so I can use my LS1 "X" style coolant line.

I'm also going to use swap out the oil valley to the LS6 style and run a catch can.

Has anyone else noticed an increase in water and or oil temps??

My car went from 195 or so to 205 on average! Both oil and water temp.