LS3 Crate Motor
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,067
Likes: 1
From: --- N.E., Pa.
LS3 Crate Motor
Has anyone installed a, new, LS3 Crate Motor into a 05-6-7, C6 ?? - I see that they are advertised for, around, $6K. - If you have, what are the concerns, if any ? -- 
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Its still a cast piston motor and you would be better served getting a 416 stroker and re-using the stock 243 heads. It will still make near 500/500 to the wheels and you save 1000 bucks. Texas speed and Scoggins both have 4700 dollar shortblocks and you add a cam to that and you're done. A small 230 cam will have a 700rpm idle and more power than the LS3. You then have a motor that has upgrade potential. Even that shortblock and a set of L92 heads/intake manifold will be about the same 6k price as the LS3 crate motor and get you far better performance and reliability.
Forget about warraties if you swap it out in an LS2 car. They will never warranty it as original equipment.
Forget about warraties if you swap it out in an LS2 car. They will never warranty it as original equipment.
Last edited by SpinMonster; Dec 26, 2008 at 12:21 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,067
Likes: 1
From: --- N.E., Pa.
Its still a cast piston motor and you would be better served getting a 416 stroker and re-using the stock 243 heads. It will still make near 500/500 to the wheels and you save 1000 bucks. Texas speed and Scoggins both have 4700 dollar shortblocks and you add a cam to that and you're done. A small 230 cam will have a 700rpm idle and more power than the LS3. You then have a motor that has upgrade potential. Even that shortblock and a set of L92 heads/intake manifold will be about the same 6k price as the LS3 crate motor and get you far better performance and reliability.
Forget about warraties if you swap it out in an LS2 car. They will never warranty it as original equipment.
Forget about warraties if you swap it out in an LS2 car. They will never warranty it as original equipment.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
Its still a cast piston motor and you would be better served getting a 416 stroker and re-using the stock 243 heads. It will still make near 500/500 to the wheels and you save 1000 bucks. Texas speed and Scoggins both have 4700 dollar shortblocks and you add a cam to that and you're done. A small 230 cam will have a 700rpm idle and more power than the LS3. You then have a motor that has upgrade potential. Even that shortblock and a set of L92 heads/intake manifold will be about the same 6k price as the LS3 crate motor and get you far better performance and reliability.
Forget about warraties if you swap it out in an LS2 car. They will never warranty it as original equipment.
Forget about warraties if you swap it out in an LS2 car. They will never warranty it as original equipment.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 423
Likes: 76
From: Oshawa
LS3 or stroker
Get a stroker motor with forged internals. You'll be glad you did since the LS3 is still using cast materials and hypereutectic pistons. Re-use the heads with some good roller rockers and a decent cam and the stroker will outlast any crate engine.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 8
From: TEXAS
Its still a cast piston motor and you would be better served getting a 416 stroker and re-using the stock 243 heads. It will still make near 500/500 to the wheels and you save 1000 bucks. Texas speed and Scoggins both have 4700 dollar shortblocks and you add a cam to that and you're done. A small 230 cam will have a 700rpm idle and more power than the LS3. You then have a motor that has upgrade potential. Even that shortblock and a set of L92 heads/intake manifold will be about the same 6k price as the LS3 crate motor and get you far better performance and reliability.
Forget about warraties if you swap it out in an LS2 car. They will never warranty it as original equipment.
Forget about warraties if you swap it out in an LS2 car. They will never warranty it as original equipment.
You're talkin about this right?
http://texas-speed.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=686
If I wanted to swap that into my 05, is it a straight swap? Can I use my existing fuel system, ignition and other parts? Same heads, correct?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
You're talkin about this right?
http://texas-speed.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=686
If I wanted to swap that into my 05, is it a straight swap? Can I use my existing fuel system, ignition and other parts? Same heads, correct?
http://texas-speed.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=686
If I wanted to swap that into my 05, is it a straight swap? Can I use my existing fuel system, ignition and other parts? Same heads, correct?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Even a cam 10 degrees bigger will have great street manners and will be in the 540rwhp range or 120-140rwhp over a stock LS3.
A 230XFI cam will make 510rwhp with L92 heads.
A 236 cam made 540rwhp with L92 heads.
Your concerns of driveability are unfounded.
Last edited by SpinMonster; Dec 28, 2008 at 11:19 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,067
Likes: 1
From: --- N.E., Pa.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
There is nothing a stock LS3 has as an advantage. Just tring to help.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,067
Likes: 1
From: --- N.E., Pa.
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