SPECIFICALLY..........what does it take to drop an LS3 into a previous LS2 car? Looking for all those things that weren't a plug and play / bolt in swap.

thanks.....

 

ls3 into ls1. Some of it may help.
http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...all/index.html

 

Yeah.....I read that already........good info. Am looking more for those unique things from someone who has already done an LS3 into an 05/06 etc C6 setup..........

 

I built an LS3 based stroker that I'm in process of installing in my 2006. Its really the same engine. I'm using the LS3 based heads, so my intake manifold and intake side rockers are LS3. Cam pos, Crank pos, and all the other sensors have been the same between the LS3. Wire harness fits like its the same engine. Vaccum lines for crank & fuel evac & brake booster are all same location. I'm using the Coil paks from LS2 so they plug right into harness. Starter, A/C compressor, water pump, accessory brackets, engine mounts, bellhousing, all fit fine and I believe are same GM pn's. I'm using a Kateck alum flywheel for an LS3 w/ the LS9 twin clutch and all that bolted up fine (w/ the correct LS9 slave cylinder). I double checked the distance measurements of the throwout bearing to the engine block and it was right on target.

Really its been a direct swap so far. Anything that has been custom has been related to the custom fuel system or the supercharger setup. I'm sure some tuning would be needed but I wouldn't think it would be any more than if a cam were installed or something like that.

Heres a pic of the LS3 w/ all my LS2 peripherals including the LS2 throttle body bolted to the LS3 intake.

 

I take it the ATI super damper is the same between the motors too.....assuming your motor is dry sumped...?

 

Yes the Super Damper is the same. I'm using a Callies crank, but its the same fit as an LS3 crank. My engine is a wetsump. Oil pump PN GM 12586665 for LS1, LS2, LS3. My engine builder ran into very few snags. One was the windage tray w/ the stroker crank. We used the LSX tray which helped alot. He's a perfectionist and just had to tweak a couple things on it...again issues were because of the longer stroke crank, nothing to do w/ LS3 going into an LS2 based car. But the Pickup screen, O'ring, Oil Pump bolts, Oil Pump Key (for the crankshaft) are all the same from LS2 to LS3 corvette. I used the 2008-2009 model year Corvette to cross the PN's w/ my 2006. If the part number was the same, it made me feel very confident that I was good. It didn't hurt that I bought the block, all the block covers, and every Gm part I used in the build thru my parts guy at the local GM dealership. He was very helpful and spent a lot of time double checking PN's for me throughout the process last spring.

My engine builder and I had a good discussion about the timing chain due to the cam pos sensor pickups. He is under the impression, that some early 2006 & 2005 Vettes may have used the LS1/LS6 style Cam timing gear. The older version has the pickup 180 degrees around the gear. The newer LS2 and the LS3 has 4 pickup points, they are irregularly spaced and different sizes. He made me check which one my car used originally (which was the newer version) and made sure he ordered the correct one. It was aftermarket and he just needed to specify the right one. If the wrong one was used, I don't think the car would start. Maybe a skilled tuner could change the ECM to make it work, but I really have no idea and didn't want to even go down that road.

Oh, there is one thing. The MAP sensor hole on the LS3 intake is bigger than the LS2. You will need to use an LS3 MAP sensor and the wire harness is different (I believe). I used an LS9 (3 Bar) MAP sensor for my boosted application, so I can't speak first hand on the LS3 sensor. However, I used a Katech harness adapter to adapt the LS9 sensor to my 2006 LS2 wire harness. It did the trick. Katech PN: KAT-5185, MAP Adapter, Delphi to Bosch (LS1/2/6/7 to LS3).

You can check out this thread where I started my MAP sensor research.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-f...t-and-iat.html