how to tell what block it has...

sometime this week, i'm going to be looking at an 01' ss. i've heard that the 01's have a 10% chance of having the LS6 block? if this is true, how would i tell? i've also read that you can tell by the color of the block and the vin number. i just don't know how to identify which is which.

what are the advantages of having either the LS1 or the LS6 blocks? thanks

Rick M.

Look to your left at the front of the engine where it meets the cylinder head. LS1 has a bullseye in the block, LS6 has a machined notch a few inches long in the block.

i dont have them handy but if you do a search on this forum, the casting numbers for both blocks are listed. as far as advantages against an 01 ls1 id say you get the ls6 heads, not sure if the cam was more aggressive. you already have the chance of the ls6 intake.

hmm. sounds quite interesting. thanks for the quick responses guys.

E3OBZ06- when you say, "look to your left" do you mean when your standing in front of the car? i can't remember if it's bank one or two.

Rick M.

Bank 2 passenger side - to the left of the thermostat.

Just found a page I downloaded a couple years ago - the LS6 casting number is 12561168. Hard to see though, it's on the driver's side rear of the deck, above the trans flange.

"as far as advantages against an 01 ls1 id say you get the ls6 heads, not sure if the cam was more aggressive. you already have the chance of the ls6 intake"

easy with the false info man...

when they say some got the ls6 block...they got JUST that...the block! the camaros still came with ls1 heads and the ls1 cam that the "non-ls6 block" cars did that year. now either 00 or 01 they change to a slightly LESS agressive cam than the 98-99 (possibly 00...not sure when that started).

all 01 and 02 camaro/firebirds came with the LS6 intake

You won't really even notice a difference between one with the LS6 block and one without. If you're looking for a performance advantage, you won't really find one.

All 01-02 LS1 engines came with the ls6 intake.

then what's different about the LS6? just out of curiosity. i would assume they made some changes.

The ls6 ENGINE has a more aggressive cam, and much more efficient heads, along with a host of other small upgrades/fixes.

The BLOCK has better bay-to-bay engine breathing and is a little stronger than the LS1 block. However, only the block was used in the small percentages of 01-02 camaros that actually had the block. All the internals, heads, and accessories are identical to the ones in regular 01-02 camaros with the LS1.

You won't see a performance difference just having the block in an LS1 car.

[QUOTE=BirchMan98z]The ls6 ENGINE has a more aggressive cam, and much more efficient heads, along with a host of other small upgrades/fixes.
QUOTE]

my mistake is comparing a complete ls6 to ls1. i know he mention block only. my bad. but i was right about the engine itself, just in the wrong car. i's sorry teke184 cans you ever forgive me? :D

The BLOCK has better bay-to-bay engine breathing and is a little stronger than the LS1 block.
I've read a bit on the diffrence between the 2 blocks and was under the impression that the cast in windows for the bay to bay breathing would make the block weaker. This may just be in the MID sleeving process though since that is where I read about it at. For sleeving they said the LS1 blocks had more material in needed places because there were no breather bays......

maybe for boring the engine the LS1 block has the advantage...

"as far as advantages against an 01 ls1 id say you get the ls6 heads, not sure if the cam was more aggressive. you already have the chance of the ls6 intake"

easy with the false info man...

when they say some got the ls6 block...they got JUST that...the block! the camaros still came with ls1 heads and the ls1 cam that the "non-ls6 block" cars did that year. now either 00 or 01 they change to a slightly LESS agressive cam than the 98-99 (possibly 00...not sure when that started).

all 01 and 02 camaro/firebirds came with the LS6 intake

The cam changed in '00 F-bodies. :)