LS1 vs. LS6 vs. LS2

[NOS2006]

What are the main differences between the three? Also, if you were to buy a LS1 car, would it be easy to turn it into an LS2 or LS6?

TIA, guys!

[z28luvr01]

I believe the LS6 is just an LS1 with a hotter cam and different heads. The LS2 is a different block altogether.

[loki]

i thought the valvetrain was upgraded for the ls6 from the ls1, cam, push rods...more titanium stuff, like how the ls7 is to the ls2(aside from the size)

ls1 to ls6 would be "easier"

have to bore it at least, plus all the top end parts too, for an ls1 to ls2,

pretty sure.

[Northstar]

As mentioned, the LS6 is basically a modified LS1. Different cam, heads, and the pistons are slightly different. I think the pushrods are the same though.

The LS2 is totally different, it's the Gen IV and you can't convert an LS1 to an LS2 as you could convert an LS1 to an LS6.

[NOS2006]

Alright, thanks guys. I was just looking for a little bit of intelligent feedback on it.

Seems like if you were to get an LS1 it'd make a lot more sense to get aftermarket heads, cam, pistons to make more power for less money than to get LS6 spec parts from GMPD...

[schuby87]

I love this website....

LS1

LS2

LS6

[dwightlooi]

The whole "Generation IV" moniker gives the false impression that the LS2 is a new design. It is not.

To put it simply, the LS2 is basically an improved LS1 block casting (with provisions for cylinder deactivation) carrying what is essentially the LS6 cylinder head. The cylinder bores are enlarged slightly from 99mm to 101.6 mm by thinning the siamesed walls. The LS6 was a high performance modification of the LS1 whose biggest difference (other than strengthened internals) is the new cylinder head design.

Here are the main differences between the LS1 and LS2:-

(1) LS2 uses a mass production version of the LS6 cylinder head.

(2) Bore is increased to 101.6mm and displacement to 6.0 liters.

(3) Provisions and oil galleries for Displacement-on-Demand (aka Active Fuel Management)

(4) Knock sensors were relocated from the valley of the engine to the exterior sides of the block.

(5) New "wingless" oil pan design adopted and oil capacity is reduced from 6.6 quarts to 5.5 quarts.

Everything else is practically of the same design and specifications and most accessories and parts carry over.

If you are looking to modify your motor, or put together one from available parts, I suggest that you use the following combination:-

(1) LS2 block.

(2) L92 (Vortec 6200) cylinder heads -- its basically the LS7 head and its a reliable, cheap, production piece not some custom job!

(3) L76 intake from the Commodore -- the L92 intake won't fit LS2 powered cars, but the L76 will drop right in on the L92 head.

(4) Camshaft from the L92.

You'll need some custom ECU mapping, but thats a $300 thing.

Edited March 6, 2007 by dwightlooi

[Northstar]

Alright, thanks guys. I was just looking for a little bit of intelligent feedback on it.

Seems like if you were to get an LS1 it'd make a lot more sense to get aftermarket heads, cam, pistons to make more power for less money than to get LS6 spec parts from GMPD...

Well, in one case you have a warranty (LS6) and in the other (LS1) you don't.

[91z4me]

The whole "Generation IV" moniker gives the false impression that the LS2 is a new design. It is not.

To put it simply, the LS2 is basically an improved LS1 block casting (with provisions for cylinder deactivation) carrying

So you don't think the LS2 should be a Gen IV? It has a different block with capabilities for more technology! What else more do you want?

[NOS2006]

Well, in one case you have a warranty (LS6) and in the other (LS1) you don't.

If you buy a 6 year old LS1/LS6 car, you're not going to have a warranty anyway... Edited March 6, 2007 by NOS2006

[dwightlooi]

So you don't think the LS2 should be a Gen IV? It has a different block with capabilities for more technology! What else more do you want?

I don't see it is a new design; the block is are basically the same except for the addition of oil galleys to support DoD (which is NOT even used on the current LS2 applications; but rather the LS4 and L92) and the relocation of the Knock sensors. As far as what "generation" it should be, GM can call it whatever they want!

What is important to note was that there was a huge difference -- in engine design and materials used between the so called Gen II (circa LT1, L98, etc) and Gen III engines. And there was also a lot of difference between the down draft carburetted small blocks of yore (Gen I) and the TPI small blocks in the C4 Corvettes for instance. There is practically no difference other than the above stated ones between the Gen III and Gen IV.

Edited March 6, 2007 by dwightlooi

[Northstar]

If you buy a 6 year old LS1/LS6 car, you're not going to have a warranty anyway...

Oh, I thought if you meant you were buying one new from GM.

[NOS2006]

Oh, I thought if you meant you were buying one new from GM.

Ahh, no. My dad's looking for a '98-02 WS6, Trans Am, or Formula. I was just wondering the difference because he was asking me..

[Northstar]

Ahh, no. My dad's looking for a '98-02 WS6, Trans Am, or Formula. I was just wondering the difference because he was asking me..

Cool, but did he find one with an LS6 or something? The LS6 was never put in the F-Body's, only the Z06 and CTS-V, so perhaps it is a conversion he's looking at.

[NOS2006]

Oh, no, he was just wondering because a few performance parts mags were mentioning LS2 and LS6 and it got us to wondering..

[91z4me]

Cool, but did he find one with an LS6 or something? The LS6 was never put in the F-Body's, only the Z06 and CTS-V, so perhaps it is a conversion he's looking at.

There were some V8 01-02 F-bods that got the LS6 block instead of the lower strenght LS1 block. Also the later, I think 01+ got the LS6 intake manifold.

[NOS2006]

There were some V8 01-02 F-bods that got the LS6 block instead of the lower strenght LS1 block. Also the later, I think 01+ got the LS6 intake manifold.

Maybe the Firehawk that got the LS6 block? I didn't know any F-Bodies got the LS6 block.

I forgot about that, but yes, '00-02 or '01-02 LS1s got the LS6 intake manifold.

[AAS]

...

I forgot about that, but yes, '00-02 or '01-02 LS1s got the LS6 intake manifold.

'01-'02... I don't have it

[schuby87]

Well, just off the top of my head.....

Differences: 98,99,00,01,02

This is some basic info on the LS1 that i've gather from all of the internet and put into one list:

1998

1. Had differnet casting heads which had perimeter bolts and valve covers.

2. Ignition coils were mounted to the valve covers one at a time.

3. The water temp gauge actually works.

4. 98's do have an oil life monitor, they just don't tell you anything when its time for a change. You can find it in Auto-Tap

5. WS6s had single outlet exhaust (all others had duals)

6. Steering wheel controls were completely different part with indentations on the buttons, and were better built

7. Only year that Purple, Gold, and Green were available

8. Some very early Trans Ams came with LT1 style headrests

9. Rear hatch release was poorly designed and often caused problems releasing mechanism

10. Early model 98 Monsoon stereos didnt have capability to control 12-disc CD changer

11. 1998-1999 automatic transmission LS1s could be started in 1st gear even with the shifter in 2nd. Starting 2000, if you put the shifter in 2, it would start off in 2, even from a stop.

12. 1998-1999 LS1 cars had a smaller throttle body cam, which caused the throttle to open to WOT faster than 2000+ cars

13. 1998 cars had 28 lb fuel injectors from the factory

14. 1998-2000 cars had a larger cam than the 01-02 cars

15. 1998-1999 cars had more restrictive exhaust manifolds

16. 1998-2000 cars had an LS1 intake with EGR

17. 1998 and some early 1999 cars had blue outside rear view mirrors (TA/Formula only)

18. 1998 only LS1 blocks had a much smaller cylinder sleeve that only tolerated a .005" hone

19. Last year F-body to use the old 15.5 gallon steel fuel tank.

20. Only year LS1 F-body to contain a gascap with a tether long enough to actually hang from the fuel door while open

21. Only year LS1 F-body to not contain the famous GM black box used in the event of an accident to record up to 5 seconds of pre-crash data

22. 1998 only cars had a different PCV system with the PCV valve located above the passenger side valve cover

23. 1998 most cars did not have an idle adjustment screw on the throttle body. Some 98 cars do have the idle throttle stop set screws.

24. 1998 cars have a completely different PCM from 99+ cars

25. A production shortage of F-body cams caused the use of a C5 cam to be installed in F-body LS1s for a very short time

26. 97-98 LS1's used a paper water pump gasket. The only gasket that isn't reuseable

27. SSs did not ALL go to SLP starting in 98. Y2Y was the RPO code that sent them to SLP for additional options

28. SS option did not "include" the Synthetic oil package, it was a SLP only Option

1999

1. 1999-2000 cars switched to 26 lb fuel injectors

2. Cylinder heads and valve covers redesigned to have center bolts instead of perimeter bolts. Other than that, the heads were the same.

3. Redesigned cylinder sleeves that allowed for a small bore, up from .005" in 1998 models.

4. Midyear model change to a cheaper steering wheel audio control button without finger indentations, and cheaper built

5. 1999 cars continued the LS1 intake with EGR provisions

6. 1999 cars continued more restrictive exhaust manifolds and larger cam

7. Only year that Hugger Orange was available (Camaro only)

8. 30th Anniversary Trans Am available with special blue and white paint package and blue clear coated WS6 wheels

9. Switch to larger 16.8 gallon plastic fuel tank to meet new emissions requirements.

10. Gascap tether was shorter and could no longer be used to hang on the gas door when open.

11. Company wide change added black boxes to record up to 5 seconds of data before a crash

12. Rear hatch release was redesigned with stiffer spring that released the hatch better

13. Water temp gauge was redesigned to work basically as a dummy gauge and only show an overheat condition.

14. An oil life monitor was added to all LS1s, thus changing the gauge cluster a little to show the oil life reset swtich

15. 1999-02 cars had a different PCV system with the valve located to the side of the intake manifold

16. Early production 1999 Trans Ams still had the blue outside mirrors, but a midyear change went to the non-tinted ones

17. 1999 there was the color "Medium Blue Metallic" which was available on both the Camaros and Firebirds. Only one year of that color

2000

1. Redesigned exhaust manifolds for new emissions standard actually flowed better and created a little more HP.

2. 2000 continued use of LS1 Intake, EGR, smaller cam, and 26 lb fuel injectors

3. Added rear child seat safety hooks to interior per federal requirements

4. Very early run of WS6s had "salad shooter" style rims. A production change switched back to standard 5-spoke WS6 rims.

5. Camaros got redesigned 10-spoke base rims, and SSs came with new 10-spoke rim design

6. First year of Monterey Maple Metallic paint

7. Charcoal (grayish) interior was replaced with Ebony (almost black) leather interior

8. Cloth interior cars got new rainbow colored cloth patterns

9. Camaros only got the Pontiac steering wheel with optional audio controls

10. Throttle body cam was increased in size to slow the speed at which the car reaches WOT

11. Automatic transmission cars were reprogrammed to allow a car to start off in 2nd gear from a stop when the shift lever is put into 2.

12. The last year a WS6 Formula was offered

13. Starting 2000 intake lids contained a seperate breather filter

14. 2000+ Camaros came with body colored mirrors instead of black ones like 98-99

2001

1. A small percentage of 2001 and 2002 LS1s actually had LS6 blocks which had a different part number and a darker metal cast

2. Starting 2001, all LS1s came with an LS6 intake manifold without an EGR system

3. Advertised HP output was changed from 305 to 310 on base LS1s and from 320 to 325 on WS6s and SSs

4. 2001-02 cars have a smaller cam from the Vortec truck engines to increase low end torque

5. 2001-02 cars had 28 lb fuel injectors like the 98 cars (albeit different part numbers)

6. WS6 cars had a redesigned 5 spoke rim which was more wavy

7. WS6 cars got less suspension upgrades from a base Trans Am suspension than previous years

8. Manual transmission cars all came with the Z06 clutch

2002 - Last year of the F-body

1. 35th Annivesary edition of the Camaro, and Collectors Edition Trans Am available

2. 2002 LS1 head gaskets redesigned. The new ones are a pressed metal, as opposed to the graphite ones and are no longer specific to the side of the car theyre installed on

3. 2002 cars continued with the LS6 intake, 28 lb fuel inectors and smaller truck cam

4. 2002 continued the use of an LS6 block in some LS1 F-bodies

5. A factory supported optional 345 HP option could be ordered from SLP

6. Manual transmission cars continued use of the Z06 clutch

7. Some 2002 model F-bodies came with a revised rear view mirror that had the map light buttons on the bottom, rather than the front.

compiled by constrictor98ta (mike) from ls2.com

Edited March 7, 2007 by schuby87