Hello guys, so I recently found out that I've got a ruined motor so I was looking into getting the LS3 performance crate engine swapped into it, so I was wondering what would you guys recommend I do to get the best bang for the buck and still stay on the safe side (meaning I don't want to rebuild my old engine with a stroker kit which isn't really a safe option for me in terms of reliability). Anyway GM offers a couple of these LS3 crate engines that have different specs (mostly cams) as far as I know there's the ls376/480hp which has a gm hot cam which is around $6700, only $300 more than the standard 430hp LS3, then there's the 525HP on that comes with upgraded springs, some modifications to the valve trains and a GM ASA cam which is a bigger and more aggressive cam than the one that comes with the 480, the only downside is that it costs about a grand more than the 480HP one. So I'm wondering if that grand is worth it, or rather get the 480hp one and say spend that grand on an aftermarket intake manifold (FAST or the new MSD). PS: I already have a good bolts on kit that was on the old LS2 that would fit on the LS3 with no problem (Kooks headers/catless x-pipe/Slp axle-back/Vararam CAI). Looking forward to hearing your guys thoughts and if you guys have any kind of experience with this situation please help me out here since I'm going to be spending around 8 grand to fix her up.
-Ali

 

Just one opinion of many you will recieve, but I would go with the 480. If it is an 05 car you will have issues with the reluctor wheel tooth count, if it is an 06 or 07 you are Ok.

 

It's an Auto 06' which should be able to support the 58x reloctor wheels of the LS3, so there will be no need for a conversion box.

 

Great! I did a stroked LS3 when I broke my LS2. Very happy.

 

That 480 HP motor with your exhaust, CAI and a good tune should put you in the 510-525 range. That will let you play with the stock Z06 boys And still have great Street manners

 

the 480 hp motor with an A6 will make in the neighborhood of 410rwhp and 430rwt

 

The OP was quoting crank HP #'s. A 480 crank HP motor with a good LT exhaust, CAI and good tune should get him in the 510-525 crank HP range

The C6 Z06 has 505 crank HP

 

If you can afford it, Katech builds some really nice motors.

 

Lingenfelter in northern Indiana, Mike Norris in central Indiana are both excellant engine builders and have the experience to tune the ls engines. There are several other highly qualified tuners across the USA.
All could offer excellant and knowlegible advice.

 

Is there any common weak point in the LS2 engine or just random grenading. I have an '05 six speed. Some sort of a rev limiter is always a good idea.

 

I work on one with all you have mentioned in your post and on its best day it ever had it cant come close to the numbers you quote.it makes approximately 470 hp at the crank.they are good engines

 

Some of the GMPP crate engines are rated with carbs. The same engine with fuel injection will be less HP.
I would buy the least expensive LS3 and add my own cam while its still sitting on the floor. That way you can customize the cam for your combination.

 

This is the second bolt on only ls2 that grenaded on CF recently. Sorry for your predicament. There are some ls2's putting well over 600 to the wheels on boost and other guys putting dozens of bottles of nitrous thru their ls2 with no failures. It's a major bummer when a Bolton motor pops. Good luck on your new higher hp build.

 

If your block is good and you want to sell it, let me know.

Thanks