Technical specifications on GM's new supercharged LS9!!

The embargo ended at midnight so I put this together for you guys.

All the tech on the new LS9!


http://www.popularhotrodding.com/index.html

Enjoy :)

I guess all the Cobra haters who always said, "If GM put a supercharger on an LSX" will finally get their wish :D

I guess all the Cobra haters who always said, "If GM put a supercharger on an LSX" will finally get their wish :D

Thats ok.. Gm still out powers them without the supercharger :D

They bounce back and forth saying ZL1 and ZR1 , which is it?! ---

ZR1 is the Corvette it is going into. ZL1 might just be the RPO code for the engine?

I think your right, but they way they worded it is STILL confusing heheheh.

"The LS9 engine was developed to motivate GM's latest supercar, the ZL1 Corvette and, if they hoped to surpass the world-class performance of the Z06, GM knew they would need something special under the hood."

"This way, no huge bulge will be needed on the new ZL1 'Vette." ---

ZR1 is the Corvette it is going into. ZL1 might just be the RPO code for the engine?

Isn't the RPO for the engine LS9.

Was Z28 ever a RPO on the 4th gen?

So since I keep hearing that the LS9 is based on the LS3 + S/C, can somebody give me a rundown of the differences that would still exist for a "yeah but I could slap a supercharger on my LS3 and it'd be just as good as an LS9" argument that will inevitably occur?

So since I keep hearing that the LS9 is based on the LS3 + S/C, can somebody give me a rundown of the differences that would still exist for a "yeah but I could slap a supercharger on my LS3 and it'd be just as good as an LS9" argument that will inevitably occur?
The regular LS3 doesn't have titanium rods, for instance ;)

Forged pistons, oil squirters for each piston...

You could stick a Vortech or Magnacharger on a LS3 and make 620 HP without a sweat. It just wouldn't last as long.

The regular LS3 doesn't have titanium rods, for instance ;)

Forged pistons, oil squirters for each piston...

You could stick a Vortech or Magnacharger on a LS3 and make 620 HP without a sweat. It just wouldn't last as long.

Hmm... I just know I keep hearing that the LS3 should make for a much better candidate for F/I than the LS1 and LS2 ever did.

So since I keep hearing that the LS9 is based on the LS3 + S/C, can somebody give me a rundown of the differences that would still exist for a "yeah but I could slap a supercharger on my LS3 and it'd be just as good as an LS9" argument that will inevitably occur?

LS9 = Warranty
LS3 + S/C = No warranty

So since I keep hearing that the LS9 is based on the LS3 + S/C, can somebody give me a rundown of the differences that would still exist for a "yeah but I could slap a supercharger on my LS3 and it'd be just as good as an LS9" argument that will inevitably occur?

Increased oil capacity, oil squirters, forged titanium pistons (9.1:1 CR), obviously the cam will be different... Not sure what else?

ZL1 would be nice for the Camaro;)

ZR1 is the Corvette

They bounce back and forth saying ZL1 and ZR1 , which is it?! ---

The ONE error saying ZL1 is a mistake.. it was late and I was trying to get it in so that we could have it up this morning.

Will be fixed, sorry :p

And it's ZR1... like the title.

Increased oil capacity, oil squirters, forged titanium pistons (9.1:1 CR), obviously the cam will be different... Not sure what else?

Titanium rods.. NOT pistons.. :)

Isn't the RPO for the engine LS9.

Was Z28 ever a RPO on the 4th gen?

I believe they (Z28, Z71, etc) did start out as RPO codes. I'm not sure if Z28 was still the RPO code at the end of the run. I would think it would be. I know "LS9" is the RPO code for that engine. If someone has any more info on this, feel free to chime in. I'd like to know more about it too. I doubt the RPO coding process has changed much from the time I worked for GM/Delphi but I may be wrong.

Hmm... I just know I keep hearing that the LS3 should make for a much better candidate for F/I than the LS1 and LS2 ever did.
Best bet, $-wise, might be to start out with an LQ9

i hope gm performance parts introduces stage kits like they did for the cobalt ss/sc. just imagine a smaller pulley, larger injectors, and a tune. a 800 horsepower WARRANTIED MONSTER from gm.

I believe they (Z28, Z71, etc) did start out as RPO codes. I'm not sure if Z28 was still the RPO code at the end of the run. I would think it would be. I know "LS9" is the RPO code for that engine. If someone has any more info on this, feel free to chime in. I'd like to know more about it too. I doubt the RPO coding process has changed much from the time I worked for GM/Delphi but I may be wrong.

Z28 is a RPO code even on the 4th gens. Look at all of the 3 character codes under the console and you'll see it.

I got a boner.

I got a boner.

+1.........

The ONE error saying ZL1 is a mistake.. it was late and I was trying to get it in so that we could have it up this morning.

Will be fixed, sorry :p

And it's ZR1... like the title.

Uhhh, check post #6 ... I quoted TWO errors ;) ... its all good ; I wasnt trying to be a JERK ... it honestly confused me.

***as far as other people wondering the differences from the older ls3 and ls9, is didnt they start to make the newer ls3's THICKER in certain spots for added durability? ---

anyone notice it uses the top of the line new eaton TVS 2.3L blower? the smaller 1.9L blower can support 850 hp...

there should be NO need for blower swaps on this car. that blower has 1,000 hp potential. a bump up to 20 lbs of boost should put it in the 850-900 flywheel hp range.

Also the blower sits only 1" higher than the regular LS3 & LS7 intakes. Who wants to take bets that this supercharger will fit under the hood of an f-body? now the problem is adapting an accessory drive to make it work...

edit:
By sharing the casting across the LS3 line, costs will be kept down.
looks like all blocks will be getting the reinforcements that this has.

I also didn't read anywhere that the heads were CNC machined. I suppose they don't really need to be with the supercharger.

Uhhh, check post #6 ... I quoted TWO errors ;) ... its all good ; I wasnt trying to be a JERK ... it honestly confused me.

***as far as other people wondering the differences from the older ls3 and ls9, is didnt they start to make the newer ls3's THICKER in certain spots for added durability? ---

No worries.. I mess up all the time.. generally I catch it or the others do but this was rushed to the net :)

Oh, here's a graph sure to make the Viper guys cry..

http://picsorban.com/upload/gmgraph.jpg

***as far as other people wondering the differences from the older ls3 and ls9, is didnt they start to make the newer ls3's THICKER in certain spots for added durability? ---

The LS3 was already made 20% stronger.. now it will be another 20% stronger for a total (in '09) of 40% stronger :)

Probably a stupid question, but is the LS9 a response to the Viper upping its horse power when the LS7 came out?

VERY nice :) ... 600/620 at the LEAST !!! I like how the parts are already strong enough to TWEAK from the factory without having to swap them out ---

The LS3 was already made 20% stronger.. now it will be another 20% stronger for a total (in '09) of 40% stronger :)
It'd actually be 44% stronger ;)



If Dodge ever sticks a blower on the Viper, we're all screwed.

No worries.. I mess up all the time.. generally I catch it or the others do but this was rushed to the net :)

Oh, here's a graph sure to make the Viper guys cry..

http://picsorban.com/upload/gmgraph.jpg

That chart has a lie or mistake in it for the LS3 as the torque and horsepower ratings do not meet at 5252rpm like they should and do for all of the other motors.

That chart has a lie or mistake in it for the LS3 as the torque and horsepower ratings do not meet at 5252rpm like they should and do for all of the other motors.
The font is also slightly lighter, plus there are no markers on the line. It was probably a quick copy/paste from another chart.


Not to mention an LS3 pulls to 6500, not 5700 like on the chart

For the love of all that is holy, look at that midrange!!

And I'm spent.

Again.

That chart has a lie or mistake in it for the LS3 as the torque and horsepower ratings do not meet at 5252rpm like they should and do for all of the other motors.

lol.. a lie?? don't go getting all "black helicopter" on us. ;)

Most likely they didn't scale it right when they made the composite of dyno graphs.

The font is also slightly lighter, plus there are no markers on the line. It was probably a quick copy/paste from another chart.


Not to mention an LS3 pulls to 6500, not 5700 like on the chart

Again, makes it look like an error when pasting in the that dyno info.. If the "crossover" was moved over then the pull would more like 6500

The LS9 curves on that graph look like they were generated by an equation, not an engine. :think:

Also, I hate it when the Y-axis of a graph like that doesn't start at zero. They make it look like the LS9 makes 3x more power than the LS7. :lol:

The graph is marketing and I'm sure there is some creativity added to it ;).

Ryan

Also, I hate it when the Y-axis of a graph like that doesn't start at zero. They make it look like the LS9 makes 3x more power than the LS7. :lol:

I agree - I was going to say the same thing.

I wonder if they did that to show more detail or to make the differences look greater than they actually are? In this case it could have been for either/both reason, really, but I HATE it when there's absolutely no good reason for doing it other than to make the difference look way bigger than it really is.

Sure its cool as hell, but how may of us can actually afford one, lol

Sowho wants to take a geuss at what a LS9 crate motor will run? :D

Sowho wants to take a geuss at what a LS9 crate motor will run? :D

In what car?

I'll bet you could drop one into a full-weight LS1 F-body and break the rear end in 0.1 seconds. ;)

In what car?

I'll bet you could drop one into a full-weight LS1 F-body and break the rear end in 0.1 seconds. ;)

Price wise, sorry.

Price wise, sorry.

$17,000-20,000.

$17,000-20,000.

Yeah, at least. The ls7 is like 14,000. Add on the blower and oiling system...

Yeah, at least. The ls7 is like 14,000. Add on the blower and oiling system...

LS7 has the same oiling system, with the exception of the added jets. It's the blower and the intercooler, the extra belt, the changes to the water pump bearing, and probably a few other changes here and there (I'm guessing it has bigger injectors, for instance). I'd imagine there's also a larger throttle body as well.

You get to take off the cost of the LS7 intake manifold, though. :)

the LS7 has CNC machined heads, they add some cost. the LS9 does not.

it has 48 lb/hr injectors and the same size throttle body as an LS7.

I'd rather piece one together.

use an LS9 block (those piston squirters are cool plus it is 20% stiffer than an LS3 block), buy aftermarket internals with a 4" crank, get 418 cubes in there. plop the supercharger assembly on top with cnc ported LS3 heads. put the smallest supercharger pulley you can get along with the largest crank pulley. go have fun :)

I thought it was a LS3 block, and starting this year all the LS3 blocks are 20% stronger. That is how they spread the cost, because it would be for all LS3 blocks.

Cheaper than the weaksauce (heh) AMG 6.3L (oops, I mean 6.2L, damn those Mercedes names...).

Way cheaper than the weaksauce Ferrari F430 engine, or the weaksauce lambo V12, or...

You get the idea. :p

what are the chances that the dual-clutch design tranny might get added later?
and does anybody have any idea what the "luxury" option might include?

I'd rather piece one together.


Exactly - it's not like there's much "magic" to this engine, and careful selection of GenIII/IV components along with some competent tuning would result in similar power levels at a rather reasonable price. Building it as durable as GM's own efforts would require some care as well as some self-control with regards to pulley size and PCM tuning :)

Exactly - it's not like there's much "magic" to this engine, and careful selection of GenIII/IV components along with some competent tuning would result in similar power levels at a rather reasonable price. Building it as durable as GM's own efforts would require some care as well as some self-control with regards to pulley size and PCM tuning :)On top of the durability requirements, building it to meet GM's drivability metrics (for the picky old guy customers who want a 650 hp car to idle like a Cadillac), fuel economy goals (for CAFE and marketing purposes), and emissions levels (for the pesky bastards at CARB and the EPA) would require quite a bit more care as well.

:)

On top of the durability requirements, building it to meet GM's drivability metrics (for the picky old guy customers who want a 650 hp car to idle like a Cadillac), fuel economy goals (for CAFE and marketing purposes), and emissions levels (for the pesky bastards at CARB and the EPA) would require quite a bit more care as well.

:)

Yeah, thats what amazes me about the ls7, it idles smooth ad makes so much power with out variable valve timing. Those are some nasty heads thats for sure.

On top of the durability requirements, building it to meet GM's drivability metrics (for the picky old guy customers who want a 650 hp car to idle like a Cadillac), fuel economy goals (for CAFE and marketing purposes), and emissions levels (for the pesky bastards at CARB and the EPA) would require quite a bit more care as well.


Eh, minor details. I figure that if a GM calibration engineer can do it, then so can any ol' monkey with a laptop and a few hundred bucks' worth of software.

:p

Eh, minor details. I figure that if a GM calibration engineer can do it, then so can any ol' monkey with a laptop and a few hundred bucks' worth of software.

:p:mad:

:lol:

plus it is 20% stiffer than an LS3 block
I thought it was a LS3 block, and starting this year all the LS3 blocks are 20% stronger. That is how they spread the cost, because it would be for all LS3 blocks.
:yes: That's how I read it too. LS3 was already 20% stronger than LS2, and now they're increasing LS3/LS9 blocks 20% again, for a total of 44% increase over the LS2. :)

Exactly - it's not like there's much "magic" to this engine, and careful selection of GenIII/IV components along with some competent tuning would result in similar power levels at a rather reasonable price. Building it as durable as GM's own efforts would require some care as well as some self-control with regards to pulley size and PCM tuning :)

Exactly. Heck, Katech's "Budget" 427 long block is about ten grand and makes 600bhp.

Eh, minor details. I figure that if a GM calibration engineer can do it, then so can any ol' monkey with a laptop and a few hundred bucks' worth of software.

:p
:burn:

:)

Here's a bonus large pic for ya.. makes a good computer wallpaper. :)

LS9 autopsy:

http://picsorban.com/upload/blown apart ls9.jpg