what to buy, Ls1 or Ls6?

[evilchevy]

I'm on the market for a LSx engine.

I found a lot of LS1 for pretty cheap, but have a Z06 vette and love the LS6.

IS it worth paying $1k to $1.5K more for a LS6 than buying a cheap LS1, with same mileage???

it will go in my 69 Camaro RS.

Thanx

[dhutton]

I think that amount money for an extra 80 hp is money well spent.

[hifi875]

ls6 i had a 02 z and loved it and have a 5.3 ls in my 69 w/a carb. it would take more to make a ls1 run like a z. by time u change heads intake and cam you will have spent the same money so get the z

[evilchevy]

are all the LS6 the same or does the Z06 got a better one.
at the moment I'm looking at a Cadillac CTS-V.

[hifi875]

i think the z version has a little more power, but it could be because of a more restrictive exhaust though.

[dhutton]

are all the LS6 the same or does the Z06 got a better one.
at the moment I'm looking at a Cadillac CTS-V.

My understanding is the Z06 version has different valves and valve springs. Both are 405 hp.

[Mkelcy]

Do not buy a 3.90" bore engine. There's a very limited head/intake upgrade path. Get something with at least a 4.0" bore.

[evilchevy]

Stupid question but which one are 3.9" and which one 4.0"bore?????

Is the Cadillac LS6 CTS-V a good engine to buy???

[WS6]

Mike makes a good point. In today's LSx world, you should start with a 4.0" bore motor to take advantage of the cylinder heads that are available now. I'd take a cast iron 6.0 truck motor over an LS1/6 any day. It will also be cheaper. By the time you sink the cost difference into upgrading the 6.0, you'll have more power and more potential. The downside to some people is the 80lbs extra weight.

You need to look at any 6.0 or larger engine to have a 4.0" bore.

To answer you're original question though, I'd take the LS1. The 80hp difference can easily be overcome by spending the cost difference on upgrading the LS1 to have way more power than the stock LS6. The other differences/advantages of the LS6 over the LS1 really don't matter.

[dhutton]

My two cents:

I think it depends on whether or not you will be happy with 405 hp and what your ultimate budget is. The LS6 will run out of the box with the stock ECM. If you start changing heads and cams etc on an LS1 then I think you are looking at taking it to a tuner to get it dyno'd and running correctly. The costs can start to add up.

The ly6, l92, lS2, LS3, L76 etc etc all use the 58 tooth reluctor so you are going to need the appropriate ECM or having to buy one of those Ligenfelter conversion boxes to use a 24 tooth reluctor ECU. Some of them will come with the truck intake and accessories so you are then looking for an intake and injectors and possibly accessories. Depending on what you end up with for a cam then you are again looking at dyno time to get it tuned. It all starts adding up pretty quickly so it really depends on what your budget is and whether or not you will be happy with 405 hp.

I'm at this point with my GTO project and still haven't quite decided which way to go.

Don

[evilchevy]

Thanx for all the info.

I want the easiest LS to fit in the 69, I would be more than happy my the 405bhp of my Z06 and a 6 speed gearbox. I have a 04 Z06 and love it.
I will probably procharge it next year.

As I have to ship the all engine/gearbox to UK, so weight is a good point.

what is the "58 tooth reluctor" thing???
Can't I buy the Cadillac or Z06 LS6 with all component, wiring et accessories, modify the Wiring or buy one already modify and instal it on my car???

I have a $4K budget for the engine/gearbox, So i think LS6 was a good option.

How much money will I have to spend in parts to have it ready to run on my 69????

Sorry but getting confused;)

[Mkelcy]

Thanx for all the info.

I want the easiest LS to fit in the 69, I would be more than happy my the 405bhp of my Z06 and a 6 speed gearbox. I have a 04 Z06 and love it.
I will probably procharge it next year.

As I have to ship the all engine/gearbox to UK, so weight is a good point.

what is the "58 tooth reluctor" thing???
Can't I buy the Cadillac or Z06 LS6 with all component, wiring et accessories, modify the Wiring or buy one already modify and instal it on my car???

I have a $4K budget for the engine/gearbox, So i think LS6 was a good option.

How much money will I have to spend in parts to have it ready to run on my 69????

Sorry but getting confused;)

All of the LSx series engines have the same external dimensions with the same external mounting points, so they will all "fit." The LSX block has additional mounting points, but at least the standard deck should also fit. The reluctor is the crank sensor that tells the ECU where the crank is. Earlier LSx's (through about 2006) had 24 tooth reluctors, after that GM went to 58 tooth reluctors. Obviously the number of teeth the ECU wants and the actual number of teeth on the reluctor need to match, unless you use the Ligenfelter reluctor "converter" which will allow a 58 tooth reluctor to work with a 24 tooth ECU.

I'd go over to LS1tech.com and look at their "hybrids and conversions" forum. You'll find lots of detailed information on various swaps. Several folks here, at Camaros.net and Lateral-G.net have also done detailed descriptions of their swaps.

I didn't realize you were in England. I'm assuming (but don't know) that good tuners for the LSx engine are hard to come by. If that's the case, an essentially stock engine with a stock ECU may make sense, unless you can tune it yourself.

What's your budget for the balance of the conversion - mounting plates, fuel system conversion, exhaust, etc?

[evilchevy]

Ok the tooths reluctor make sense now.
But will I still get the trouble if I buy a LS6/T56 Engine/gearbox with arness and ECU coming for the cadillac or a Z06???

What kind of budget should I allow on top of the engine???
I thought that using stock engine/box/ECU I would just have to modifie harness, brackets, and upgrade the fuel line and tank...

I spend a lot of time researching on Pro-touring and Ls1 forum but I get to the stage when I got to much information and get confused, so that is why I posted asking for my need and budget....

I allow around $4K for engine/T56 (less than 100K), 750$ for the freight to UK, think that around $750 for harness....

Am I realistic or totaly dreaming...?

[dhutton]

I think you are missing the following costs:

Engine mounts
Headers (assuming you are using them)
Fuel system including pump, regulator, lines, and possibly tank depending on how you go
Gauge conversions - you can't just hook up your existing gauges
ECM programming - at a minimum you want to delete the rear cats, EGR, VATs, and a few other things such as tire size and rear end ratio
Electric fans and relays
Expanded fuse panel etc
Possibly a new radiator depending on how you want to go
Power steering hoses and/or adaptors
Hydraulic clutch pedal mods and reservoir etc
Transmission crossmember or mods to your existing one
Driveshaft shortening

If you buy everything from a Cadillac CTS-V then it should be plug and play once the harness is modified and ECM reprogrammed.

[evilchevy]

dhutton,

Thanx for the detailed list.

I was thinking about all this anyway except for the remap of the ECM and extended fuse box.

I don't have power steering and don't want to go power steering, will use a rack and pinion.

header coming with engine (aftermarket long header) and was hoping to be able to use them.

engine also come with pedals and cross member, that I was also hoping to recycle.

anyway, got a better idea now....

but at list no reluctor problem is I buy the engine/box set up.... cool