LS2 or LS3 C6??
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
I'm well aware of that - 2001 only due to a new, and short lived ring design. I owned one. The reality is that it did not effect durability at all, just left the back of the car a little bit of a mess and they'd go through about a quart every 1000 miles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,886
Likes: 371
From: Cape Coral FL
Could you pm me where you got that deal? Thank you
The LS3 is a definite improvement, but the LS2 is a strong motor in it's own right. Hell, it was improvement over the LS1 and that was a great motor back in the day.
That said, I got my '08 Vette coupe brand new with 2LT, Z51, and comp gray wheels for $43.4k. If you're going to pay $38k for a used one, you might as well cough up a few grand more and get one brand new. JMHO.
That said, I got my '08 Vette coupe brand new with 2LT, Z51, and comp gray wheels for $43.4k. If you're going to pay $38k for a used one, you might as well cough up a few grand more and get one brand new. JMHO.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: TN
That's funny, I knew a bunch of GTO owners who had the same issues in 2005 and 2006 with their LS2 engines. I owned one.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 906
Likes: 0
From: Skippack PA
This is my second car with an LS2, 19000 miles on the first, not a single issue, and now 8000 miles on the second, no issues. Doesn't mean one won't develop later on, it can happen to anyone. But it would be nice if you had some actual numbers and data to back up your statement that implies there is something wrong with the LS2.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,734
Likes: 15
From: SC
Out of curiosity, what is a "significant number of LS2 engines"? Do you have percentages or exact numbers? If you do, where did you get the data?
This is my second car with an LS2, 19000 miles on the first, not a single issue, and now 8000 miles on the second, no issues. Doesn't mean one won't develop later on, it can happen to anyone. But it would be nice if you had some actual numbers and data to back up your statement that implies there is something wrong with the LS2.
This is my second car with an LS2, 19000 miles on the first, not a single issue, and now 8000 miles on the second, no issues. Doesn't mean one won't develop later on, it can happen to anyone. But it would be nice if you had some actual numbers and data to back up your statement that implies there is something wrong with the LS2.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 36
From: RI
St. Jude Donor '14-'15, '17, '19
I got a oil comsumption warning for GM regarding my LS2 GTO. It just said that running the engine at high RPMs or agressive driving that a quart of oil would probably have to be added every thousand miles. Pontic said this was normal.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
San
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Midland Texas
I bought my LS2 for 26k and I'm pretty sure if dropped 12k in it I could out run a few LS3.
Just a thought. You should be able to find an LS2 for the low 30's with very low mileage if you really look. Mine only had 29k miles on it, but I did have to travel 1200 miles to get it.
Just a thought. You should be able to find an LS2 for the low 30's with very low mileage if you really look. Mine only had 29k miles on it, but I did have to travel 1200 miles to get it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 36
From: RI
St. Jude Donor '14-'15, '17, '19
I just looked at the Pontiac letter and it applies to standary tranny cars only. I think the whole purpose was a CYA thing for folks that drive very agressivly. The only real intent for the letter was to tell you to check your oil if you drive like a animal all the time. I have not had a problem with oil comsumption with my M12 LS2 and it is a very strong engine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,109
Likes: 334
From: Chicago IL
I have plenty of seat time in the LS2 and LS3, really couldnt tell much of a difference at all. The LS3 was introduced for cost efficiant reasons as the LS9 usues allot of it components. If you are going to spend , low to mid 40's , I say forget both and get a low mile used Z06 for 42-45k C5 Z06's are still quicker than both LS3 and LS2, and as for the LS7 forget it, not even close.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,647
Likes: 1
From: Objects in your mirror are losing , Long Island, NY
St. Jude Donor '08
?
J/K
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 277
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Is the LS3 not pretty much just a plain old LS2 with different heads? If so (which I think it is) just buy it and swap the heads out at a later time for around $1200.00..... also, what year did they add the 100,000 powertrain warranty, 06 or 07, dont remember, but either way if you are looking for reliabilty, you will get it with either motor.
Last edited by Excind; Jun 24, 2009 at 06:48 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 26,900
Likes: 2
From: Bann Camp & N.Y.C.
St. Jude Donor '08
=========LS2
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 281
Likes: 4
From: Houston TX
For the price of a Z06 you can get a LS3 and put a blower on it.
But then again what do you do when the Z06 puts a blower on his car? I'd start crying or start spending more money.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 36
From: RI
St. Jude Donor '14-'15, '17, '19
Lets keep this stock to stock. No apples verses oranges. As to what you do when a ZO6 puts a blower on, watch his cylinder walls blow out. ZR1 didn't use the 427 b/c the cylinder walls were not thick enough to stand up to FI.
