Converting a LS2 to LS3
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Converting a LS2 to LS3
I am seriously considering bolting some LS3 heads onto my 2005 LS2 Vette. I have been reading through several threads but I am still a little unsure of a couple things.
Will the LS2 throttle body bolt to the LS3 manifold?
I know the MAP sensor mounts different, I assume the electrical plug is different also?
Are the fuel rails interchangeable?
Are the injectors physically the same (length, diameter, electrical connector) ?
I am looking to just do the minimum required right now to get it up and running with LS3 heads and intake manifold.
What else am I overlooking?
Thanks for any help !
Will the LS2 throttle body bolt to the LS3 manifold?
I know the MAP sensor mounts different, I assume the electrical plug is different also?
Are the fuel rails interchangeable?
Are the injectors physically the same (length, diameter, electrical connector) ?
I am looking to just do the minimum required right now to get it up and running with LS3 heads and intake manifold.
What else am I overlooking?
Thanks for any help !
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
You need LS3 heads and intake. You can buy an intake with rails and injectors from Corvette recylers for about $300. Throttle body bolts up and so does the rest of the parts. MAP sensor is a problem, but it is easy to fix.
LS2 injectors are taller than LS3, but the electric plugs on the injectors are the same.
LS2 injectors are taller than LS3, but the electric plugs on the injectors are the same.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 82
From: North Strand, NMB, SC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
I am seriously considering bolting some LS3 heads onto my 2005 LS2 Vette. I have been reading through several threads but I am still a little unsure of a couple things.
Will the LS2 throttle body bolt to the LS3 manifold?
I know the MAP sensor mounts different, I assume the electrical plug is different also?
Are the fuel rails interchangeable?
Are the injectors physically the same (length, diameter, electrical connector) ?
I am looking to just do the minimum required right now to get it up and running with LS3 heads and intake manifold.
What else am I overlooking?
Thanks for any help !
Will the LS2 throttle body bolt to the LS3 manifold?
I know the MAP sensor mounts different, I assume the electrical plug is different also?
Are the fuel rails interchangeable?
Are the injectors physically the same (length, diameter, electrical connector) ?
I am looking to just do the minimum required right now to get it up and running with LS3 heads and intake manifold.
What else am I overlooking?
Thanks for any help !
I could not find the post where they documented the build but here is a post that he had when he was selling his Vette: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-adoption.html
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Ok, good. My main concern was the TB bolting up. What about the stock LS2 cam-will it work ok with the LS3 heads? I know it won't be optimal.
Heres the deal, I need the 243's for another project. The way I see it, if I have to buy heads I might as well upgrade the Vette instead of buying another set of 243's. I would do a quick swap right now to get the car back on the road ASAP then come back this winter and do a cam swap.
Expected power gains from head/intake/injector swap ? Maybe 15 rwhp??
Heres the deal, I need the 243's for another project. The way I see it, if I have to buy heads I might as well upgrade the Vette instead of buying another set of 243's. I would do a quick swap right now to get the car back on the road ASAP then come back this winter and do a cam swap.
Expected power gains from head/intake/injector swap ? Maybe 15 rwhp??
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Well, I made the decision to go ahead with this project. I ordered some LS3 heads today from the stealership. The car hasn't been dynoed in its current trim so I plan to dyno before and after the head swap then dyno again later after I come back and do the cam. I think it will be interesting to see how much power the the head and intake swap is worth by itself.
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Ok, good. My main concern was the TB bolting up. What about the stock LS2 cam-will it work ok with the LS3 heads? I know it won't be optimal.
Heres the deal, I need the 243's for another project. The way I see it, if I have to buy heads I might as well upgrade the Vette instead of buying another set of 243's. I would do a quick swap right now to get the car back on the road ASAP then come back this winter and do a cam swap.
Expected power gains from head/intake/injector swap ? Maybe 15 rwhp??
Heres the deal, I need the 243's for another project. The way I see it, if I have to buy heads I might as well upgrade the Vette instead of buying another set of 243's. I would do a quick swap right now to get the car back on the road ASAP then come back this winter and do a cam swap.
Expected power gains from head/intake/injector swap ? Maybe 15 rwhp??
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 84
From: Woodlands (houston) TX
Well, I made the decision to go ahead with this project. I ordered some LS3 heads today from the stealership. The car hasn't been dynoed in its current trim so I plan to dyno before and after the head swap then dyno again later after I come back and do the cam. I think it will be interesting to see how much power the the head and intake swap is worth by itself.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Talk to Craigster05; he and and Spinmonster did a build on Craig's '06 DSOM coupe using LS3 heads (along with other goodies) and he dynoed 475 RWHP and 470 RWTQ with 4.10 gears; if you add back about 18% for the gears, he was 500+ RWHP.
I could not find the post where they documented the build but here is a post that he had when he was selling his Vette: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-adoption.html
I could not find the post where they documented the build but here is a post that he had when he was selling his Vette: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-adoption.html
not be happy. Time you spend all that, I would self install a A&A kit! You then would have more like 550 plus rwhp.
For less money. I would stop and think before chasing this dream build!
Last edited by 3 Z06ZR1; Feb 19, 2011 at 08:10 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Well, I didn't total it up til just now....looks like its going to cost me a little over $1300 not counting a cam. I don't know why but I kept thinking it was going to be about a grand. Oh well, the parts are ordered so I am going to press onward !
Now I have to find time to go do the "before" dyno testing....
