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2001 vs 2002 LS6

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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 11:47 AM
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Default 2001 vs 2002 LS6

Can anyone tell me how to visually tell the difference between an 01 and an 02 LS6? I am looking at buying an LS6 and I want to make sure it’s an ‘02 because they have significantly more hp.

Thanks for the help
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 12:50 PM
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Look at the vin number, 8th digit counting right to left will be a 2 for 2002 and a 1 for 2001
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 493lszosix
Look at the vin number, 8th digit counting right to left will be a 2 for 2002 and a 1 for 2001
VIN on the motor? I think he's looking at a motor out of a car.
OP?
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 12:58 PM
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Thank you for the help. Is the vin on the engine itself? The engine is separate from the car so I don’t have the car available to verify the vin. So I was hoping there was something I could see on the engine itself to tell the difference.

Thanks again

John
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 01:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Hahnster
Thank you for the help. Is the vin on the engine itself? The engine is separate from the car so I don’t have the car available to verify the vin. So I was hoping there was something I could see on the engine itself to tell the difference.

Thanks again

John
oops I thought you were just looking at a car, I’m not sure as far as just looking at motor
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 01:37 PM
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02-04 will have 243 heads but the previous owner could have just as easily swapped 243 heads onto an 01 block
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 01:39 PM
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The 02 had light weight valves and a slightly bigger cam.
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by neutron82
02-04 will have 243 heads but the previous owner could have just as easily swapped 243 heads onto an 01 block
I thought all LS6 motors including 01 had 243 heads. What casting number were the 01 heads then?
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 05:44 PM
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Originally Posted by grantv
I thought all LS6 motors including 01 had 243 heads. What casting number were the 01 heads then?
243 as well
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 05:54 PM
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Thanks everyone. So far no visual differences it looks like?
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 06:38 PM
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VIN is the only I know of, there is not a major difference between the 2 in my opinion. The factory rated the 02-04 20hp higher, and they also had more free flowing cats, descreened MAF and I believe less restrictive airbox.

The block, heads, intake manifold are all the same casting/parts. The 02-04 gets a slightly bigger cam and lighter valves.

Last edited by 93Polo; Feb 10, 2018 at 12:23 PM.
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 06:52 PM
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I must have had a brain fart, I could have sworn the 01 had a 241 head... if the engine is out of the car maybe you could talk them into letting you pull the rear cover off and check the part # on the cam... if you plan on a cam swap in the future then I wouldn't worry so much about which year it came from

Last edited by StingrayRebel; Feb 9, 2018 at 06:57 PM.
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Old Feb 10, 2018 | 12:20 PM
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I was thinking the cam ID was on the front but it is on the back

http://chevythunder.com/LS1%20components.htm
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Old Feb 11, 2018 | 06:38 AM
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My 01 has 241 heads
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Old Feb 11, 2018 | 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by 93Polo
VIN is the only I know of, there is not a major difference between the 2 in my opinion. The factory rated the 02-04 20hp higher, and they also had more free flowing cats, descreened MAF and I believe less restrictive airbox.

The block, heads, intake manifold are all the same casting/parts. The 02-04 gets a slightly bigger cam and lighter valves.
02 got the higher tension napier rings to control oil, which 01 had issues with and GM was replacing a lot of rings at the dealers. LS6 got these at start of 02 production, LS1 got them two weeks in.

02 definitely got the better coated piston, which was introduced in March 01 (from memory) so some of the late 01's got these as well.

I would definitely try to find the 02 motor if you have a choice.

Last edited by vettenuts; Feb 11, 2018 at 09:45 AM.
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Old Feb 11, 2018 | 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by booger789
my 01 has 241 heads
LS6? (Z06 motor)

Last edited by grantv; Feb 11, 2018 at 10:03 AM.
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Old Feb 11, 2018 | 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Booger789
My 01 has 241 heads
Judging by your avatar pic, you have a coupe... Not a Z06. So you have an LS1 which yes, would come with 241 heads.
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Old Feb 12, 2018 | 02:47 PM
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Just laughing at the "02's have significantly more horsepower" line. 10-15 out of the 20 horsepower came from the better airbox and the deletion of the precats, which would be irrelevant to the actual motor. The cam is hardly a substantial change, and it would be a good idea to go ahead and replace that harmonic balancer while the motor is on a stand anyways since its likely to be wobbling. While you're doing that you could put the holy grail 2002 cam in there, or literally any aftermarket grind and make "significantly more horsepower" than an 02.
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Old Feb 12, 2018 | 10:11 PM
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and I had friends doing the rerings which would tell you many weren't needed and the vast majority of the ones that would need it have been done.
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