LS2 vs LS3
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
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From: Somers NY
LS2 vs LS3
Can someone please tell me if there is a "LOT" of difference between the LS2 & LS3 engines.. I know the LS3 has a few more cubic inches.. but its the same stroke.. only a bigger bore... Are there any other "SIGNIFICANT" changes... I understand there may be a little change in the cam and valve size.. but other than that what are, or are there any "major" changes?
Thanks....
Thanks....
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...008gmpls3.html
and
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ls3_page1.html
If you dig through the model center, you can find more info, such as cam specs, port shape, etc..
and
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ls3_page1.html
If you dig through the model center, you can find more info, such as cam specs, port shape, etc..
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 4
From: Cheektowaga NY
St. Jude Donor '08
LS2 364 cubic inch
LS3 376 cubic inch
Different cam`s between the two aslo.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
Like the block design, the Gen 3 SBV8 head was of interest to Chrysler when it was designing its Hemi. While it has different combustion chamber a second spark plug, a Hemi's head borrows from the LS1 casting.
The high-performance, L92 version debuted in 2007 GMC Yukon XLs and Denalis (380hp) and Cadillac Escalades (403hp) and was the source of the casting used for the LS3 head assembly. It's key improvement over the LS1 and LS2/LS6 heads is revision of the intake and exhaust port shapes, volumes and locations. Those changes were influenced by the '06 Z06. In fact, the L92 head was the "first" LS7 head. Part way through development, when the goal was raised to 500hp, that head was set aside and development began on a second, more aggressive design which eventually went on the C6Z's engine. "
aka allbottle¬hrottle
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 13,759
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From: Brooklyn New York The DVL and the chicken sleep with the fishes....
St. Jude Donor '08
Define "alot" ??
I had an 07 LS2 ( Z51 ) , ran it stock for a week , then put a Procharger on it for two years . Pulled it off before I got rid of the car and I was so miserable I wanted to cry . Got an 09 LS3 ( also Z51 )
The LS3 makes me a little happier . Its a much smoother engine that LOVES to rev .
To me , it feels like it has less grunt down low ( under 3 grand ) then the LS2 did , but it SCREAMS on the top end . Its much faster in the high triple digets then the LS2 was ( which would start to wheeze at about 140 MPH ) .
Just my subjective feeling after having driven both engines VERY hard .
Is the LS3 life changing ? NO .
But its a nice , noticable bump in power , and more importantly , the power delivery is a lot more fun .
I had an 07 LS2 ( Z51 ) , ran it stock for a week , then put a Procharger on it for two years . Pulled it off before I got rid of the car and I was so miserable I wanted to cry . Got an 09 LS3 ( also Z51 )
The LS3 makes me a little happier . Its a much smoother engine that LOVES to rev .
To me , it feels like it has less grunt down low ( under 3 grand ) then the LS2 did , but it SCREAMS on the top end . Its much faster in the high triple digets then the LS2 was ( which would start to wheeze at about 140 MPH ) .
Just my subjective feeling after having driven both engines VERY hard .
Is the LS3 life changing ? NO .
But its a nice , noticable bump in power , and more importantly , the power delivery is a lot more fun .
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 4
From: Cheektowaga NY
St. Jude Donor '08
Not the same heads as a LS7, "If there's anything GM Powertrain knows well, it's cylinder heads and air flow. GMPT's "ruthless pursuit of power" has paid-off in four different Vette heads since MY97: the original LS1 head, those for LS2 and LS6, the super-trick LS7 head and, now, the LS3.
Like the block design, the Gen 3 SBV8 head was of interest to Chrysler when it was designing its Hemi. While it has different combustion chamber a second spark plug, a Hemi's head borrows from the LS1 casting.
The high-performance, L92 version debuted in 2007 GMC Yukon XLs and Denalis (380hp) and Cadillac Escalades (403hp) and was the source of the casting used for the LS3 head assembly. It's key improvement over the LS1 and LS2/LS6 heads is revision of the intake and exhaust port shapes, volumes and locations. Those changes were influenced by the '06 Z06. In fact, the L92 head was the "first" LS7 head. Part way through development, when the goal was raised to 500hp, that head was set aside and development began on a second, more aggressive design which eventually went on the C6Z's engine. "
Like the block design, the Gen 3 SBV8 head was of interest to Chrysler when it was designing its Hemi. While it has different combustion chamber a second spark plug, a Hemi's head borrows from the LS1 casting.
The high-performance, L92 version debuted in 2007 GMC Yukon XLs and Denalis (380hp) and Cadillac Escalades (403hp) and was the source of the casting used for the LS3 head assembly. It's key improvement over the LS1 and LS2/LS6 heads is revision of the intake and exhaust port shapes, volumes and locations. Those changes were influenced by the '06 Z06. In fact, the L92 head was the "first" LS7 head. Part way through development, when the goal was raised to 500hp, that head was set aside and development began on a second, more aggressive design which eventually went on the C6Z's engine. "
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Not the same heads as a LS7, "If there's anything GM Powertrain knows well, it's cylinder heads and air flow. GMPT's "ruthless pursuit of power" has paid-off in four different Vette heads since MY97: the original LS1 head, those for LS2 and LS6, the super-trick LS7 head and, now, the LS3.Like the block design, the Gen 3 SBV8 head was of interest to Chrysler when it was designing its Hemi. While it has different combustion chamber a second spark plug, a Hemi's head borrows from the LS1 casting.The high-performance, L92 version debuted in 2007 GMC Yukon XLs and Denalis (380hp) and Cadillac Escalades (403hp) and was the source of the casting used for the LS3 head assembly. It's key improvement over the LS1 and LS2/LS6 heads is revision of the intake and exhaust port shapes, volumes and locations. Those changes were influenced by the '06 Z06. In fact, the L92 head was the "first" LS7 head. Part way through development, when the goal was raised to 500hp, that head was set aside and development began on a second, more aggressive design which eventually went on the C6Z's engine. "
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Doesn't the LS2 have the LS6 (243 )heads except with SS valves. The LS3 has different heads with bigger valves ?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 45
From: Atlanta, GA.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
Define "alot" ??
I had an 07 LS2 ( Z51 ) , ran it stock for a week , then put a Procharger on it for two years . Pulled it off before I got rid of the car and I was so miserable I wanted to cry . Got an 09 LS3 ( also Z51 )
The LS3 makes me a little happier . Its a much smoother engine that LOVES to rev .
To me , it feels like it has less grunt down low ( under 3 grand ) then the LS2 did , but it SCREAMS on the top end . Its much faster in the high triple digets then the LS2 was ( which would start to wheeze at about 140 MPH ) .
Just my subjective feeling after having driven both engines VERY hard .
Is the LS3 life changing ? NO .
But its a nice , noticable bump in power , and more importantly , the power delivery is a lot more fun .
I had an 07 LS2 ( Z51 ) , ran it stock for a week , then put a Procharger on it for two years . Pulled it off before I got rid of the car and I was so miserable I wanted to cry . Got an 09 LS3 ( also Z51 )
The LS3 makes me a little happier . Its a much smoother engine that LOVES to rev .
To me , it feels like it has less grunt down low ( under 3 grand ) then the LS2 did , but it SCREAMS on the top end . Its much faster in the high triple digets then the LS2 was ( which would start to wheeze at about 140 MPH ) .
Just my subjective feeling after having driven both engines VERY hard .
Is the LS3 life changing ? NO .
But its a nice , noticable bump in power , and more importantly , the power delivery is a lot more fun .
But to address the above post, I have a dyno overlay between the LS3 I had, and a LS2. These were both from MTI in Houston, and Jayson told me the LS2 graph he pulled for comparison was a typical LS2. I do agree with your comments. I had two LS2, then the LS3. The LS3 really does feel a lot stronger to me as the RPM's build. I loved that engine!
The two graphs were right on top of each other until 3500rpm. Then the LS3 kept pulling harder while the LS2 flattened out. The LS3 only feels weeker down low because of the way it comes alive at 3500.
Here - I just found it...
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,373
Likes: 6
From: Chatsworth California
Not the same heads as a LS7, "If there's anything GM Powertrain knows well, it's cylinder heads and air flow. GMPT's "ruthless pursuit of power" has paid-off in four different Vette heads since MY97: the original LS1 head, those for LS2 and LS6, the super-trick LS7 head and, now, the LS3.
Like the block design, the Gen 3 SBV8 head was of interest to Chrysler when it was designing its Hemi. While it has different combustion chamber a second spark plug, a Hemi's head borrows from the LS1 casting.
The high-performance, L92 version debuted in 2007 GMC Yukon XLs and Denalis (380hp) and Cadillac Escalades (403hp) and was the source of the casting used for the LS3 head assembly. It's key improvement over the LS1 and LS2/LS6 heads is revision of the intake and exhaust port shapes, volumes and locations. Those changes were influenced by the '06 Z06. In fact, the L92 head was the "first" LS7 head. Part way through development, when the goal was raised to 500hp, that head was set aside and development began on a second, more aggressive design which eventually went on the C6Z's engine. "
Like the block design, the Gen 3 SBV8 head was of interest to Chrysler when it was designing its Hemi. While it has different combustion chamber a second spark plug, a Hemi's head borrows from the LS1 casting.
The high-performance, L92 version debuted in 2007 GMC Yukon XLs and Denalis (380hp) and Cadillac Escalades (403hp) and was the source of the casting used for the LS3 head assembly. It's key improvement over the LS1 and LS2/LS6 heads is revision of the intake and exhaust port shapes, volumes and locations. Those changes were influenced by the '06 Z06. In fact, the L92 head was the "first" LS7 head. Part way through development, when the goal was raised to 500hp, that head was set aside and development began on a second, more aggressive design which eventually went on the C6Z's engine. "
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 1,687
From: Southeast TX
Sit a set of LS1,2, or 6 heads side by side with a set of LS3 heads and you can see the diff. Intake ports on these are tall and skinny with a peak at the top. LS3 intake ports are rectangular and just plain bigger. That's where the LS3 gets it's extra HP/torque. A few extra cubes and a much better set of heads.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
There are several changes to the LS3 and I don't remember all of them. I'm pretty sure the injectors are bigger - I think LS7 injectors.
But to address the above post, I have a dyno overlay between the LS3 I had, and a LS2. These were both from MTI in Houston, and Jayson told me the LS2 graph he pulled for comparison was a typical LS2. I do agree with your comments. I had two LS2, then the LS3. The LS3 really does feel a lot stronger to me as the RPM's build. I loved that engine!
The two graphs were right on top of each other until 3500rpm. Then the LS3 kept pulling harder while the LS2 flattened out. The LS3 only feels weeker down low because of the way it comes alive at 3500.
Here - I just found it...
But to address the above post, I have a dyno overlay between the LS3 I had, and a LS2. These were both from MTI in Houston, and Jayson told me the LS2 graph he pulled for comparison was a typical LS2. I do agree with your comments. I had two LS2, then the LS3. The LS3 really does feel a lot stronger to me as the RPM's build. I loved that engine!
The two graphs were right on top of each other until 3500rpm. Then the LS3 kept pulling harder while the LS2 flattened out. The LS3 only feels weeker down low because of the way it comes alive at 3500.
Here - I just found it...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
I had mine on a Dyno on Thursday....it made 355 RWHP and 350 TQ.. only a 160 T Stat... I sure I'll do a few bolt on's LG Headers, etc. and get close to 400 RWHP.. its run 12.52 on Run Flats, just got my Micky Thompson, and will hit the track next week..
Thanks guys...
Thanks guys...
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 2
From: Nassau County, N.Y.
I'm happy with the LS3 so far. I got a 11.94 a couple of weeks ago at E-town's Wednesday night Test and Tune. Was only able to run twice that night. This is with a Vararam and tune. Still running Goodyear run flats and traction control ON. Don't know what to do or how to run it next. Was going to mod my car with things that is working for you John. But, your doing mods faster than I want. 