Can you increase rev limiter on an LS1??
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: West "By God" Virginia
CI 7-8-9-10 Veteran
Can you increase rev limiter on an LS1??
I know the Z's rev to 6500, can you do this with the ls1 with tuning(hp tuner or ls1edit)? Any advantages/dis's to doing so? Let me know. Thanks. 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,777
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From: West "By God" Virginia
CI 7-8-9-10 Veteran
Originally Posted by Shylor
Yes you can adjust the range of the rev limiter, if you want to blow your engine.
"AlohaC5" Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,562
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From: Madison, AL
Absolutely - using LS1Edit. However, its only recommended once you have upgraded your valvetrain, i.e., better valve springs, hardened pushrods, titanium retainers, valves, etc. as well as a higher performance cam that allows you to realize continued performance gains as you increase your rev limits - such as reving up to 6,600. If you check various cam specs you will see where there powerband is, i.e., 2500 to 6400 RPMs. I hope this helps. The cam is really the determining factor. For example - if you cams powerband ends at 6200 and you increase your rev limiter to 6500 - I don't believe you're getting any benefits from the increased limit.
Originally Posted by cmb396
I know the Z's rev to 6500, can you do this with the ls1 with tuning(hp tuner or ls1edit)? Any advantages/dis's to doing so? Let me know. Thanks.
Last edited by Gray Ghost GS; Aug 3, 2004 at 10:33 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,291
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From: Shavertown PA
You can change it, and never hit the rev limiter and it can last forever. But if you want to use those few 100 rpm's upgrade that valvetrain. Dual springs at a minimum. Got mine at 6800 with a shift light that goes off at 6500. Bang the limter all the time and no worries.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
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From: Cape Coral FL
Mine is set to 6400, on stock valve train. I just recently installed moly pushrods which were much lighter than the stock ones. I have had no issues. Upgrading to a full blown h/c package soon. If you have a pre-late 2001 LS1 I would also be afraid of the weak rod bolts. I wouldn't go any higher than 6400, and then only for shifts, and only quickly.
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Forked River New Jersey
I asked my tuner the same question, as it seemed my car had more than the limiter was allowing. 
Most tuners feel you should check your dyno runs to see what rpm your hp is peeking at. No sense in going that much more beyond that number. My .02 
Most tuners feel you should check your dyno runs to see what rpm your hp is peeking at. No sense in going that much more beyond that number. My .02
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Clarksburg MD
I would recommend new valve springs, which is a pretty cheap upgrade. I asked about push rods (since doing a blower cam) with Chris @ ECS and he said no need to upgrade. My A4 shift points will be set to about 6400. Car is @ ECS now as we speak!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I think Z06 has 6500 redline due to LS6 making power up to 6500. I had H/C, intake, headers, exaust done and raised the limit to 6500 but rarely rev to 6500. My peak power levels off @ 6000 so I shift @ 6K.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
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I have a healthy cam with 560+ lift and 224/228 with CNC LS6 heads with the sdoium valves. My original redline was set to 6500-but I raised with my tuners support and consent to 6800.
The cam makes power to 6200 and levels off-however, I was getting there so fast in first, that my gear changes at 6500 felt like they were coming too close to the limiter. The extra 300 rpms' let me shift at about 66-6700 w/o hitting the limiter, and put me in a real fat power spot for second gear
2/3/4 shifts are around 6200.
Apparently, the LS6 sodium valves are so light, they have much less wear tear-and overall bearing on the GM factory springs, my big cam, and 6500+ rpm shift points...
The cam makes power to 6200 and levels off-however, I was getting there so fast in first, that my gear changes at 6500 felt like they were coming too close to the limiter. The extra 300 rpms' let me shift at about 66-6700 w/o hitting the limiter, and put me in a real fat power spot for second gear
2/3/4 shifts are around 6200.Apparently, the LS6 sodium valves are so light, they have much less wear tear-and overall bearing on the GM factory springs, my big cam, and 6500+ rpm shift points...
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
i dont think a stock c5 needs to rev anywhere near that. I make peak HP at 5300 and peak torque at 4600
On an A4; you have 3 gears for drag racing and they are widely spaced; especially between 2nd and 3rd gear. So to keep the car from bogging down right after the shift, you should take the RPM up to the redline between shifts.
Espcecially on the 2 to 3 shift.
Last edited by Mike Mercury; Aug 5, 2004 at 08:01 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
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From: San Bruno Ca
Yes you can raise your redline with any of the two programs that you mentioned, but with a stock engine why would you want to? The only reason that you should raise the RPM limit is if the engine could make more HPs without power dropping off. If you must insist on raising the RPM limit, the very least you should install Z06 valve springs.
My RPM limit is set at 6,800, but I hardly ever shift higher than 6,500. When I dynoed my car, it was still pulling hard at 6,500, but my car has lighter Z06 two piece sodium filled valves with titanium retainers and hardened pushrods and stiffer springs.
If you decide to do a LS-1 edit to your car, do something good like lower the temp that the fans turn on for the radiator.
My RPM limit is set at 6,800, but I hardly ever shift higher than 6,500. When I dynoed my car, it was still pulling hard at 6,500, but my car has lighter Z06 two piece sodium filled valves with titanium retainers and hardened pushrods and stiffer springs.
If you decide to do a LS-1 edit to your car, do something good like lower the temp that the fans turn on for the radiator.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I used the Hypertech to reset the limiter to 6500 rpm on my 97. The extra rpms didn't really help since the HP falls off quite rapidly in that area and its actually better to shift around 6K rpm.
Bill
Bill
Safety Car
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From: Indianapolis Indiana
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Cruise-In IV Veteran
Originally Posted by Mike Mercury
I know what you mean, but you'll need to shift to another gear at some point. If you shift just at the peak, then the next gears RPM falls too low... too far away from the power band. I read once that when racing it's best to shift 10% beyond the HP peak RPM so the next gear doesn't fall below the "power zone".
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: West "By God" Virginia
CI 7-8-9-10 Veteran
Originally Posted by Scubanme
Yes you can raise your redline with any of the two programs that you mentioned, but with a stock engine why would you want to? The only reason that you should raise the RPM limit is if the engine could make more HPs without power dropping off. If you must insist on raising the RPM limit, the very least you should install Z06 valve springs.
Thanks fellas!