LS2 vs LS3
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
From: southern Ct
The Z06 stock puts about 455rwhp to the ground. My 2005 is putting 704rwhp down not including a small nitrous shot. The Z06 is 70k and a used 2005-2007 is in the 30k-38k range. My car is a 2005 and has 300 more rwhp than a Z06 and will easily outhandle one too. I still havent crossed the 60k line let alone 70k. I also have a level 4 transmission and 2 hardned output shafts in my 4.10 C5 differential (which by the way hasnt shattered with lots of power and wheel hop early on to boot). No stock Z06 will touch even a simple H/C Ls2.
The roof doesnt come off a Z06 and you cant re-gear one. That matters to some people.
You're entitled to your opinion, but I'll take a forged 2005 with a blower and nitrous over a stock cast-piston Ls7 anyday. That motor too needs some serious mods done to it to get to the level I am at. A forged Ls7 still costs thousands to build it up. Any way you look at it a stock car even at 455rwhp isnt the pinnacle of performance. Lastly if you blow up a Ls2 or Ls3 the engine blosk is far less than a thin walled Ls7 block. The Z06 isnt the be-all. If it was, I can easily afford one....but I bought what I wanted, a removeable roof corvette that has the power to run a 9 seocnd pass if the driver could learn to shift it well enough.
The roof doesnt come off a Z06 and you cant re-gear one. That matters to some people.
You're entitled to your opinion, but I'll take a forged 2005 with a blower and nitrous over a stock cast-piston Ls7 anyday. That motor too needs some serious mods done to it to get to the level I am at. A forged Ls7 still costs thousands to build it up. Any way you look at it a stock car even at 455rwhp isnt the pinnacle of performance. Lastly if you blow up a Ls2 or Ls3 the engine blosk is far less than a thin walled Ls7 block. The Z06 isnt the be-all. If it was, I can easily afford one....but I bought what I wanted, a removeable roof corvette that has the power to run a 9 seocnd pass if the driver could learn to shift it well enough.
I'm not even considering a z06, and for those reasons exactly..with 60k you could make an ls2 or ls3 car that would send the zo6 packin with its tail betwen its legs..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 3
From: Goleta California
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Doing it yourself is another story and closes the debate forever. My DIY H/C job was $1700 making 471/435 through 4.10's ($3100 to swap to a C5 rear and cartek installed it). The Z is 455rwhp and cant regear. I never once lost to a Z06. Used Z: 50k.....my car is likely 30k plus 5k to pass the level of the Z. I disagree and say that 60k is state of the art performance and all the work could be done by a tuner and still come in uder 60k. A forged stock displacement motor with L92 heads and an S/C is 15k total installed. Add headers and gears installed and you are still under 60k having a tuner install it all.
Nitrous:$1300. S/C kits are $5200. Wheels and tires to make it all hook: 1400 for the rear only. Lev4 trans: $1400.00 Shocks: 300. 60k-50k? I'm not even close. When I add a forged shortblock at 3600 I'm still under 15k in mods and way faster than any Z06 unless it mods too....but then its more money to the Z's cost and opens the cost allowed to what i can do to get it all faster yet.
If the Z06 came with parts that you dont have to swap out to mod then I would say the 50k for a used one is worth it. The fact is that I'd rather have a forged 416 LS3 than a stock LS7. Its a far better engine. The Z's wheels are 19 in the rear and require them to be swapped out for race tires or street drag radials. To me the Z is a set of fenders. The motor means nothing and the roof doesnt come off due to a weak frame.
Want to know what I will install on any customer's car for 20k? I promise 700rwhp on a forged, reliable stock displacement motor with a new clutch and gears....supercharged and ready to go without wondering about the thin and weak cast LS7 pistons breaking+ Clutch 1200 + S/C: 6500 + Alky injection+tune+labor:20k
Last edited by SpinMonster; Nov 24, 2008 at 11:44 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 6
From: Makena, Maui & NM
for the piano glossy black faux carbon console with those added
chrome rings. If I got an LS3 the first thing I would do is to change out
the console for an '07 console. I also dont like the mandatory OnStar with that big "thingie" on the passenger side windshield either. On the other hand, I did like the new looking door buttons and A6 shift ****. I put those in my 2007
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
From: southern Ct
Dollar for dollar they are not comparable.
Doing it yourself is another story and closes the debate forever. My DIY H/C job was $1700 making 471/435 through 4.10's ($3100 to swap to a C5 rear and cartek installed it). The Z is 455rwhp and cant regear. I never once lost to a Z06. Used Z: 50k.....my car is likely 30k plus 5k to pass the level of the Z. I disagree and say that 60k is state of the art performance and all the work could be done by a tuner and still come in uder 60k. A forged stock displacement motor with L92 heads and an S/C is 15k total installed. Add headers and gears installed and you are still under 60k having a tuner install it all.
Nitrous:$1300. S/C kits are $5200. Wheels and tires to make it all hook: 1400 for the rear only. Lev4 trans: $1400.00 Shocks: 300. 60k-50k? I'm not even close. When I add a forged shortblock at 3600 I'm still under 15k in mods and way faster than any Z06 unless it mods too....but then its more money to the Z's cost and opens the cost allowed to what i can do to get it all faster yet.
If the Z06 came with parts that you dont have to swap out to mod then I would say the 50k for a used one is worth it. The fact is that I'd rather have a forged 416 LS3 than a stock LS7. Its a far better engine. The Z's wheels are 19 in the rear and require them to be swapped out for race tires or street drag radials. To me the Z is a set of fenders. The motor means nothing and the roof doesnt come off due to a weak frame.
Want to know what I will install on any customer's car for 20k? I promise 700rwhp on a forged, reliable stock displacement motor with a new clutch and gears....supercharged and ready to go without wondering about the thin and weak cast LS7 pistons breaking+ Clutch 1200 + S/C: 6500 + Alky injection+tune+labor:20k
Doing it yourself is another story and closes the debate forever. My DIY H/C job was $1700 making 471/435 through 4.10's ($3100 to swap to a C5 rear and cartek installed it). The Z is 455rwhp and cant regear. I never once lost to a Z06. Used Z: 50k.....my car is likely 30k plus 5k to pass the level of the Z. I disagree and say that 60k is state of the art performance and all the work could be done by a tuner and still come in uder 60k. A forged stock displacement motor with L92 heads and an S/C is 15k total installed. Add headers and gears installed and you are still under 60k having a tuner install it all.
Nitrous:$1300. S/C kits are $5200. Wheels and tires to make it all hook: 1400 for the rear only. Lev4 trans: $1400.00 Shocks: 300. 60k-50k? I'm not even close. When I add a forged shortblock at 3600 I'm still under 15k in mods and way faster than any Z06 unless it mods too....but then its more money to the Z's cost and opens the cost allowed to what i can do to get it all faster yet.
If the Z06 came with parts that you dont have to swap out to mod then I would say the 50k for a used one is worth it. The fact is that I'd rather have a forged 416 LS3 than a stock LS7. Its a far better engine. The Z's wheels are 19 in the rear and require them to be swapped out for race tires or street drag radials. To me the Z is a set of fenders. The motor means nothing and the roof doesnt come off due to a weak frame.
Want to know what I will install on any customer's car for 20k? I promise 700rwhp on a forged, reliable stock displacement motor with a new clutch and gears....supercharged and ready to go without wondering about the thin and weak cast LS7 pistons breaking+ Clutch 1200 + S/C: 6500 + Alky injection+tune+labor:20k
Thats what I'm talkin about!! I don't know why so many people thing the z06 is some supercar that can't be beat...they are a nice car don't get me wrong..its nice for a guy that wants to buy it and be done, but for guys that want to upgrade, it is deffinatley not the car..Like Spin said- I am looking for a car now, and just found a 2006 manual 6 with 16kmiles for 28,900..If I buy that car and sink $25k into it I am at $53,900 and have 700rwhp, tranny, diff, clutch, etc..even a z06 with full exhaust and a blower would prob have a tough time keepin up...and my motor will be stronger and more reliable.
To each their own...I appreciate all the input on this and love the discussion.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 22
From: Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania
Thats what I'm talkin about!! I don't know why so many people thing the z06 is some supercar that can't be beat...they are a nice car don't get me wrong..its nice for a guy that wants to buy it and be done, but for guys that want to upgrade, it is deffinatley not the car..Like Spin said- I am looking for a car now, and just found a 2006 manual 6 with 16kmiles for 28,900..If I buy that car and sink $25k into it I am at $53,900 and have 700rwhp, tranny, diff, clutch, etc..even a z06 with full exhaust and a blower would prob have a tough time keepin up...and my motor will be stronger and more reliable.
To each their own...I appreciate all the input on this and love the discussion.
Last edited by NormWild; Nov 25, 2008 at 10:18 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 22
From: Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania
Dollar for dollar they are not comparable.
Doing it yourself is another story and closes the debate forever. My DIY H/C job was $1700 making 471/435 through 4.10's ($3100 to swap to a C5 rear and cartek installed it). The Z is 455rwhp and cant regear. I never once lost to a Z06. Used Z: 50k.....my car is likely 30k plus 5k to pass the level of the Z. I disagree and say that 60k is state of the art performance and all the work could be done by a tuner and still come in uder 60k. A forged stock displacement motor with L92 heads and an S/C is 15k total installed. Add headers and gears installed and you are still under 60k having a tuner install it all.
Nitrous:$1300. S/C kits are $5200. Wheels and tires to make it all hook: 1400 for the rear only. Lev4 trans: $1400.00 Shocks: 300. 60k-50k? I'm not even close. When I add a forged shortblock at 3600 I'm still under 15k in mods and way faster than any Z06 unless it mods too....but then its more money to the Z's cost and opens the cost allowed to what i can do to get it all faster yet.
If the Z06 came with parts that you dont have to swap out to mod then I would say the 50k for a used one is worth it. The fact is that I'd rather have a forged 416 LS3 than a stock LS7. Its a far better engine. The Z's wheels are 19 in the rear and require them to be swapped out for race tires or street drag radials. To me the Z is a set of fenders. The motor means nothing and the roof doesnt come off due to a weak frame.
Want to know what I will install on any customer's car for 20k? I promise 700rwhp on a forged, reliable stock displacement motor with a new clutch and gears....supercharged and ready to go without wondering about the thin and weak cast LS7 pistons breaking+ Clutch 1200 + S/C: 6500 + Alky injection+tune+labor:20k
Doing it yourself is another story and closes the debate forever. My DIY H/C job was $1700 making 471/435 through 4.10's ($3100 to swap to a C5 rear and cartek installed it). The Z is 455rwhp and cant regear. I never once lost to a Z06. Used Z: 50k.....my car is likely 30k plus 5k to pass the level of the Z. I disagree and say that 60k is state of the art performance and all the work could be done by a tuner and still come in uder 60k. A forged stock displacement motor with L92 heads and an S/C is 15k total installed. Add headers and gears installed and you are still under 60k having a tuner install it all.
Nitrous:$1300. S/C kits are $5200. Wheels and tires to make it all hook: 1400 for the rear only. Lev4 trans: $1400.00 Shocks: 300. 60k-50k? I'm not even close. When I add a forged shortblock at 3600 I'm still under 15k in mods and way faster than any Z06 unless it mods too....but then its more money to the Z's cost and opens the cost allowed to what i can do to get it all faster yet.
If the Z06 came with parts that you dont have to swap out to mod then I would say the 50k for a used one is worth it. The fact is that I'd rather have a forged 416 LS3 than a stock LS7. Its a far better engine. The Z's wheels are 19 in the rear and require them to be swapped out for race tires or street drag radials. To me the Z is a set of fenders. The motor means nothing and the roof doesnt come off due to a weak frame.
Want to know what I will install on any customer's car for 20k? I promise 700rwhp on a forged, reliable stock displacement motor with a new clutch and gears....supercharged and ready to go without wondering about the thin and weak cast LS7 pistons breaking+ Clutch 1200 + S/C: 6500 + Alky injection+tune+labor:20k
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
From: southern Ct
I don't know about the "more reliable" part, but yes indeed you can make an LS2 beast for not a lot of coin. Just remember that a bolt on Z is an absolute animal with 500 whp from just cheap *** bolt ons. I believe the Z really is more of a status thing for most people as you will never realize even close to it's true potential on the street, and of the handfull of people who I know that own them put on less than 1000 miles/yr and rarely go over the speed limit. In fact anything over 500 whp on the street is pretty much useless. I'll be honest, I don't believe anyone who says they wouldn't prefer to have a Z as a starting point, but the reality for me was I simply couldn't afford a $60K used vehicle that sees 5K miles/year and is a weekend toy. A H/C LS2 will get you 90% of the Z performance for a more managable price. As far as going from an LS2 to an LS3, well, I guess that is one thing I will never understand.
More Reliable...Deffinatley. In the respect that the internals/motor/drivetrain will be set up to handle the amount of power that is being put out..I have see new Z with blower..lets just say do an unexpected rebuild.
I agree that the Z06 is a status thing for some. You said you don't believe anyone who says they wouldn't buy the Z06 over the ls2 or ls3...Well I'll tell you what, I can afford to buy a Z06 and it doesn't make sense for what my goals are(and I can save some money while building a better car)..so on that point I call
..Its all in good fun though
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