C6 LS2 engine replace
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 440
Likes: 157
From: Sayre PA
C6 LS2 engine replace
We have a 2005 C6 which is a track car. The engine had been replaced several years ago with a performance crate engine LS2. Very mild tune about 450hp. Stock engine with headers and as I recall the cam may have been changed. We recently heard a squeaking sound we thought was an idler pulley. We continued the day and the engine blew. I now understand that noise was probably the balancer coming loose which led to the disaster. Prior to now it had been very reliable. We are HPDE so the engine is not pushed to extremes.
My first plan was another LS2 new crate engine but it appears that is no longer offered. Not really excited about a used engine unless we happened to find one we knew a lot about. The old block is destroyed so rebuild is not an option. A new or reman engine is probably what we are seeking. Not necesarily seeking a "built" engine for extreme power. If we had tightened the balancer the old engine would probably have continued for many years.
I am reading a lot about changing to an LS3 which eliminates the balancer problem. I've read a few threads on that swap. Seems like a few small things to change, and then would have to get the car tuned. I don't want to change all the electronics. The car is running stock early C6 systems now.
What's the most cost effective way to get back on the track?
My first plan was another LS2 new crate engine but it appears that is no longer offered. Not really excited about a used engine unless we happened to find one we knew a lot about. The old block is destroyed so rebuild is not an option. A new or reman engine is probably what we are seeking. Not necesarily seeking a "built" engine for extreme power. If we had tightened the balancer the old engine would probably have continued for many years.
I am reading a lot about changing to an LS3 which eliminates the balancer problem. I've read a few threads on that swap. Seems like a few small things to change, and then would have to get the car tuned. I don't want to change all the electronics. The car is running stock early C6 systems now.
What's the most cost effective way to get back on the track?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,482
Likes: 796
From: West coast CA
We have a 2005 C6 which is a track car. The engine had been replaced several years ago with a performance crate engine LS2. Very mild tune about 450hp. Stock engine with headers and as I recall the cam may have been changed. We recently heard a squeaking sound we thought was an idler pulley. We continued the day and the engine blew. I now understand that noise was probably the balancer coming loose which led to the disaster. Prior to now it had been very reliable. We are HPDE so the engine is not pushed to extremes.
My first plan was another LS2 new crate engine but it appears that is no longer offered. Not really excited about a used engine unless we happened to find one we knew a lot about. The old block is destroyed so rebuild is not an option. A new or reman engine is probably what we are seeking. Not necesarily seeking a "built" engine for extreme power. If we had tightened the balancer the old engine would probably have continued for many years.
I am reading a lot about changing to an LS3 which eliminates the balancer problem. I've read a few threads on that swap. Seems like a few small things to change, and then would have to get the car tuned. I don't want to change all the electronics. The car is running stock early C6 systems now.
What's the most cost effective way to get back on the track?
My first plan was another LS2 new crate engine but it appears that is no longer offered. Not really excited about a used engine unless we happened to find one we knew a lot about. The old block is destroyed so rebuild is not an option. A new or reman engine is probably what we are seeking. Not necesarily seeking a "built" engine for extreme power. If we had tightened the balancer the old engine would probably have continued for many years.
I am reading a lot about changing to an LS3 which eliminates the balancer problem. I've read a few threads on that swap. Seems like a few small things to change, and then would have to get the car tuned. I don't want to change all the electronics. The car is running stock early C6 systems now.
What's the most cost effective way to get back on the track?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,500
Likes: 3,625
Don't need to go as far as ATI balance, but would at least install a powerbond 1117ss.
It has the out pulley lip/Clip retainers to the inner hub, so don't have to worry about it coming apart like the oem unit did..
{img]https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corvetteforum.com-vbulletin/746x583/pb_hb_f7da8de4a82cb770264c5554b234de13ad 3f2406.jpg[/img]
On the ATI, if you need to pull the HB after it has been installed, need to pull the outer smaller bolts, and replace them with new bolts that are loctited in place when you go to reinstall it. If you try to use the old bolts, just a matter of time until the heads start to snap off, from the torque that was used to remove them from being loctited in the first place
https://www.atiracing.com/instructions/Super-Damper.pdf
As for going LS3, keep in mind that head intake ports are different between the two, so would need LS3 intake to go with it, and then there is the 24-tooth reluctor that the ecm is looking for as well.
Also to note, ecm is looking for silver vain TB, and if you go with later Gold vain TB, will need to go into ecm tune to correct it. The silver verse gold vain on the TBS, have the vane opening in the oppiste direction.
Simply, if going for stock type rebuilt ln motor, LS3 may have more displacement,and the block a little stronger, but is does have lower compression that the LS3 motor isntead. With stock LS3, it very hard to get the motor to rev with still strong climbing up to 6.2K (motor wants to go flat at about 5.8K in RPM hp climb), while with the ls2, good tune on that motor has it pulling hard all the way up to 6.2K instead.
It has the out pulley lip/Clip retainers to the inner hub, so don't have to worry about it coming apart like the oem unit did..
{img]https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corvetteforum.com-vbulletin/746x583/pb_hb_f7da8de4a82cb770264c5554b234de13ad 3f2406.jpg[/img]
On the ATI, if you need to pull the HB after it has been installed, need to pull the outer smaller bolts, and replace them with new bolts that are loctited in place when you go to reinstall it. If you try to use the old bolts, just a matter of time until the heads start to snap off, from the torque that was used to remove them from being loctited in the first place
https://www.atiracing.com/instructions/Super-Damper.pdf
As for going LS3, keep in mind that head intake ports are different between the two, so would need LS3 intake to go with it, and then there is the 24-tooth reluctor that the ecm is looking for as well.
Also to note, ecm is looking for silver vain TB, and if you go with later Gold vain TB, will need to go into ecm tune to correct it. The silver verse gold vain on the TBS, have the vane opening in the oppiste direction.
Simply, if going for stock type rebuilt ln motor, LS3 may have more displacement,and the block a little stronger, but is does have lower compression that the LS3 motor isntead. With stock LS3, it very hard to get the motor to rev with still strong climbing up to 6.2K (motor wants to go flat at about 5.8K in RPM hp climb), while with the ls2, good tune on that motor has it pulling hard all the way up to 6.2K instead.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,994
Likes: 1,677
From: Southeast TX
LS2,3,7 all has potential balancer issues. ATI (big bucks) or Powerbond (smaller bucks with same or better quality) and you get past that. Easy peasy. LS2 or 3 is the most cost effective option. Forced induction or naturally aspirated. A clean canvas to start with. Pick you poison.
