ls2 vs. ls3 hp? why?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I don't know anything about engine like most of you, but all I know is that I did CNC LS3 heads, cam and intake along with headers at got 508 at the wheels
Last edited by timd38; Oct 13, 2011 at 08:44 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
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From: Missouri City Texas
I'm still amazed an LS2 only picked up 12 peak hp on a vehicle. You've obviously seen more cars than me with it, but I've always seen over 15 on all the cars I know of that had it. There are always those that deviate though.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
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From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
On a stock LS2 with just bolt on's yeah most of the time at PEAK I might only see a 8-12 gain, but if you look across the board they may pickup as much as 20 hp 2000-5000 RPM under the curve. Same thing with torque, they pick up so much under the curve, more than what the PEAK numbers will tell.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 737
Likes: 24
From: Edwardsville IL
DUH..... I have not seen this mentioned yet PROBABLY because they are changed as almost first is..... I believe the stock air intake on the LS3 is of a better design than the LS2 stocker which also add's to the initial stock deltas.
Several others have answered the real engine deltas - above is slight relative to the other comments!
To me - a huge diff in the LS3 platform is the Manual Tranny and improved linkage vs the LS2 manual.
Agree with Steve - good info here!
Last edited by gsx1300r; Oct 14, 2011 at 11:27 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Even Tony Mamo himself said the 230's dont make the low end TQ of the smaller head. Also, Tony recommended the 230 V2 to Patrick G and prepped the heads and FAST for that car.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
If you put on TF heads with a smaller cam, lots of tuners pushing Ls3 ported castings will be yapping like that its a typical result if it only makes 505-510 ect. Its only a matter of time. I just dont get why everyone in the c5 days got 6000 dollar h/c packages and now everyone goes cam only with maybe porting the stock Ls3 heads.
If I saw a guy run 10.55 with trick flow heads, I know what I'd be getting if I was staying N/A on an LS3.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Im the last guy to not promote the FAST.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Keep in mind you need to supply the cores that are about 500 for a set. 800 for labor plus options like valves and springs. They also offer valve guide upgrades. This is their smaller head. A full race version is also on that site. So 500+800+ springs (500), valves and you also need an intake manifold. Its 2000 that route.
The most I've ever seen on a ported LS3 head on a 6 liter is 482rwhp. This is a dynojet result. I've seen claims of 508 on non-dyno-jets.
The heads that look the most promising to me if you arent getting a CNC name brand head is Charlie at RPM who does his work in house and he has smalll bore LS7 heads for smaller engine displacements. Charlie is very meticulous.
Keep in mind heads like TF225s and AFRs have 80% resale value. You arent ever going to see that on a ported stock casting. Ive seen 2400 dollar new TFs go for 2k used.
Trick Flow also has an as cast version that is under 2000 that you can send to TEA later which will be state of the art when done. I'd go that route with 1600-1800 up front and be able to have the best later.
Last edited by SpinMonster; Oct 16, 2011 at 12:41 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,625
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From: On the east coast we drive until we die
I have a H/C LS2 making in the 480-90rwhp range. I asked a tuner about swapping the ported LS2 heads with a set of TFs because of all the great dyno results I've been seeing with them. They said it's probably not worth it for me. I have a relatively small cam, 228/228, I think? I don't have any of the info available right now. So I'm not sure if it "not being worth it" has to do with my current cam or the power-to-money ratio of swapping heads. I also looked into swapping out the ported FAST 90 and 90 TB to a ported 102/102. I was told the gains wouldn't be worth it there either.
I guess I was just looking for another project without going FI or stroker.
I guess I was just looking for another project without going FI or stroker.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Winston-Salem North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I just bought an ls3 (stock) and have TF 225's on my old engine. I was thinking about selling them to offset some of the cost of the ls3. I was wondering what would the power gains be reusing the 225's? I don't drag race, and in the roadcurse racing scene power isn't as important as driving skill is.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
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From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Yes the 205 became the 210, I just have a lot more data from the older 205 and 225 heads vs the 210 and 230's.
