I am going to be doing a ls swap in my 91 camaro. My question is what is the diff between the ls1 and ls6 shorblock. I am going to use the 243 heads anyways, change rod bolts and probably pistons. So would it even be worth it to get an ls6 or just get a cheap ls1 and rebuild it and use this stuff?

 

no difference that I could tell.

If I were to put cash into rebuilding something I would buy a 6.0L engine and build it to a 408 and put L92 heads on it and make some serious power.

 

There might be other differences, but the main one that comes to mind is the "windows" between cylinder bays. Here's an article that kinda talks about the differences... It has a picture of the bay windows, too...

EDIT: Here's what a lot of people might say about the "windows"...

Also, I second xpndbl3's statement regarding the 6.0L engine. They are cheap (got mine, longblock, for $531.99), and with the 4" bore they can take the L92 heads (which are also fairly cheap for what they are). Some downsides are: need f-body accessories (vette might work), iron block (more weight than alu. only like 70lbs. i think, can't remember for sure though), need car type intake (LS1/LS6 for standard cathedral port heads, L76 intake for L92 heads), need f-body or aftermarket oil pan...

With that said, if you can get a complete LS1 pullout from an f-body, the swap will be much more straight forward. I have spent probably 8 months accumulating parts for my LQ4 (6.0L) swap. I have been taking my sweet time though, doing a lot of bargain hunting.

 

Block is a little different, and the LS6's pistons have a higher nickel content so they expand/contract less, therefore are machined to closer tolerances.

They all have coated skirts, but so does every GM motor 03+

 

Well I ask because if you look on the TPIS site they build a LS6 with new pistons, rod bolts, 243 heads and one of their cams and they put down almost 560hp and get 28mpg on the highway. Thats why I was wondering cause I wanna build it close to that but if there isnt' much of a difference in the LS1 and LS6 i'd just go LS1 since i'm chaning most parts anyways and an LS1 will be cheaper. I"m just wondering if the rods, and block are diff since thats pretty much all i'll be keeping.

 

I dunno... I mean the "windows" are the only real physical difference between the two blocks that I know of. However, I wouldn't be able to tell you if they actually produce a tangible power gain, just that it seems like a lot of people are quick to say they don't. However, I have yet to see a dyno sheet to back any of that up. Anyway, I would assume that what little gains there would be would only be present in the uppermost RPM ranges.

I don't know about the rods...

One thing to keep in mind, although not shortblock related, is that the LS6 intake manifold is notably better than that of the LS1.

Do you have a link to the TPIS motor your talking about? I couldn't find it on their site...

 

http://www.tpis.com/index.php?module=2_17_06 it's actually a test on ls intakes, a good one at that. But if you read it tells you what the motor is made of and what they did to modify it to handle the hp.

 

Ahhh, yes. I did see that article. That single plane makes some impressive numbers. So you are planning to go with the single plane intake? Are you going to be running this in a daily driven street car?

 

No think i'm gonna go with ported ls6 manifold. Actually if you look at the cam selection the z 15 or whatever it is claims to make almost 560hp at 28mpg on highway. Well it will be a street rod but will be daily driven too. Think I might tune it for the e85 gas too will have to look into that more though.

 

Yeah, that would probably be better for a car that isn't going to be a full time track car. The single plane moves the powerband way up high.

Do you know what year Z06 they tested that cam in? I ask, because it might have a 7.0L LS7 in it... Which would be a significantly different base, as far a cubes are concerned, than an LS1. Although, you can always stroke out that LS1 to get some more cubes. You said the rods and block is all your keeping, is that what you're planning to do?

Also, are you going with a manual or auto trans? 'Cause I think all Z06's were manuals (6spd.). And, if you were to run a similar setup with an auto, you may lose some MPG and with that cam you would probably need to run a higher stall speed converter as well.

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just trying to get a better sense of what your doing. I have big plans for my 6.0L down the road (a long way down the road ) and I like to see what kind of setups other people are running, and if I might adapt some ideas to my own.

 

No the article says it's painfully similar to ls6. They claim the only changes to the ls6 were pistons, rod bolts, and cam, and oil pump.

 

In the "Great LS1 Intake Test" article, it says that LS6 setup makes about 500hp (that's with the LS6 intake manifold). Then in the cam section it says this for the ZL-15 cam: "This cam is in the TPIS ZO_6 576HP on pump gas. The car gets 28MPG on the highway." I guess the confusion is coming from the 560hp number. Nothing in the intake article makes 560hp, the highest is the SD single plane @ 537hp.