One Step Closer to a LS3 Camaro

This just in from Autoweek:

http://cwimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CW&Date=20080326&Category=FREE&ArtNo=214583002&Ref=AR&Profile=1528&maxw=350 (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/FREE/214583002/1528/newsletter01&template=zoom&Site=CW&Date=20080326&Category=FREE&ArtNo=214583002&Ref=AR&Profile=1528&CRED=) http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/zoom1.gif (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/FREE/214583002/1528/newsletter01&template=zoom&Site=CW&Date=20080326&Category=FREE&ArtNo=214583002&Ref=AR&Profile=1528&CRED=)



GM is sharing the Corvette's LS3 V8 with Holden.
By GREG MIGLIORE (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=&category=contact)





The Chevrolet Corvette's vaunted 6.2-liter V8 will be used to boost the power of several Holden vehicles (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/FREE/214583002/1528/newsletter01#), the automaker said Wednesday.

The ClubSport R8, GTS, Senator Signature Maloo R8 and WM Grange will get the LS3 engine, which was new for the 2008 Corvette.

The engines in the Australian cars will make about 425 hp--or slightly less than the 436 hp that a Corvette with active dual exhaust (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/FREE/214583002/1528/newsletter01#) pumps out. The aluminum engine has iron cylinder liners and a displacement of 378 cubic inches.

Holden said it expects the LS3 to be in some of its cars by April. The engines are built in North America.

General Motors has been trading heavily with Holden, its Australian subsidiary, in recent years. Holden developed the new Pontiac G8 and its yet-to-be-named sport-truck sibling. Those cars also will use detuned versions of the LS3.

Holden's rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform underpins the forthcoming Chevrolet Camaro.

GM also is dropping the LS3 into Vauxhall's VX R8 and CSV R8, which are sold in the United Kingdom and the Middle East, respectively, as well as Holden cars in New Zealand.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/FREE/214583002/1528/newsletter01

Cool. :)

LS3 G8GT:burnout:

While it just makes sense to use the LS3 for the Camaro, this article doesn't outright say that will happen. All it says is that the Camaro will be built on the Zeta platform, which doesn't necessarily mean that the motors will be carried over. From my understanding, an L76 could be used just as easily as an LS3 on this platform.

I truly believe that when the Camaro comes out, it will be available with an LS3. But thats just my gut and desire talking ;)

What I would give to be one of their engineers just kicking back and laughing at all this gut-wrenching we're doing on this forum :D

I was just being optimistic. If all of those Holden models are getting it, why not the Camaro? Seems like a no brainer to me.

Just curious, can active fuel management be put on the LS3 ??

I was just being optimistic. If all of those Holden models are getting it, why not the Camaro? Seems like a no brainer to me.

me too, i think it would be pretty stupid not to

http://www.camaroz28.com/forums/showthread.php?t=592148

Seems pretty likely to me. The winkie club seems to agree.

I was just being optimistic. If all of those Holden models are getting it, why not the Camaro? Seems like a no brainer to me.

I 100% agree with you that it's a no brainer to put the LS3 in there :D It would make sense for GM to incorporate LS3 w/ AFM into both the Camaro and Corvette and market itself as a fuel-conscious-performance-oriented company. They did a good job with the current LS3 Corvette advertising 430HP with no federal gas guzzler tax.

it still doesnt say anything about the LS3 being base V8's in any of those cars. Just that they will be available. Could be as "premium" engines/trims. :D

Half glass empty people suck.

The LS3 was a given a long time ago it was just a matter of how much power it was going to be blessed with 405/420/425?

Don't evpect more than 2 V8 engines in the Camaro. One for the SS [LS3] and one for the Z28. You always can expect a later special edition with a litte boost of power.

GM is rteally going to push the V6 for the added sales they did not garner with the past V6 cars.

The V6 will acount for the majority of sales and the V8 sells it's self and Chevy knows that.

It needs to be understood if the V6 fails to help increase overal sales over the next few years it could hurt the Camaro in the future.

I was just being optimistic. If all of those Holden models are getting it, why not the Camaro? Seems like a no brainer to me.

sounds like the most cost efficient way.

Please, if it is detuned, make 87 octane the cause.

Of all the unknowns about this car the engine, IMO, seemed to be the easiest to guess. The LS3 is no different than the L98, LT1, LS1 or LS2 before it. Despite the power these are just mass produced performance SBC's for this day in age.

As for power. If we look back at history and when the Vette and Camaro shared the same engine and trans the only "detune" was the F-bodies more restrictive exhaust and intake which gave GM marketing a nice option to rate the engine as less powerful but as we know that was not the case.

it still doesnt say anything about the LS3 being base V8's in any of those cars. Just that they will be available. Could be as "premium" engines/trims. :D

i agree, this doesnt seem like news at all, i think it was more conclusive when the G8 GXP was announced as having a detuned LS3, and since its built on the same platform as the camaro, it would make sense that the engines available to the camaro would be the L76 for the "base" V8 (z28?) and the LS3 for the SS. i bet they (G8/camaro) might even be priced VERY similarly.

....
As for power. If we look back at history and when the Vette and Camaro shared the same engine and trans the only "detune" was the F-bodies more restrictive exhaust and intake which gave GM marketing a nice option to rate the engine as less powerful but as we know that was not the case.

but i believe that the engines are actually certified now, so they cant "underrate" engines anymore.

Please, if it is detuned, make 87 octane the cause.I am not as educated on the GenIVs as I should be, but what is the minimum octane for the LS2 and 3?

Although the LS1 was rated for 91+ you could run 87 in it if you wanted.

but i believe that the engines are actually certified now, so they cant "underrate" engines anymore.

I think the number they give has to be within ~2% of the actual SAE rating

I think the number they give has to be within ~2% of the actual SAE rating

Every production motor has to be within 2% of the certified rating but the rating has to be within 1% of the test motors dyno output.

If I'm not mistaken wasn't the LS3 designed with AFM and the vette people actually made enough noise that GM didn't offer it in the vette.

AFM is not available for the Vette due to the fact that the exhaust work that it would require for a Corvette to sound like a Corvette in 4cyl mode would be too much for the underside of the car.

If the LS3 is 16mpg city and 26mpg highway in the Vette will that be comparable to the Camaro?

If the LS3 is 16mpg city and 26mpg highway in the Vette will that be comparable to the Camaro?

I would think that the final weight of the Camaro will factor in that equation.

Please, if it is detuned, make 87 octane the cause.

You should have the option. Most new GM engines allow you to run high test or regular.

It cost about 20 HP in the Series III 3800 SC if you used regular and cause no damage.

AFM is not available for the Vette due to the fact that the exhaust work that it would require for a Corvette to sound like a Corvette in 4cyl mode would be too much for the underside of the car.

Haven't heard that one. :shrug:.

I have read that no DOD on the '08 Corvette had something to do with bad harmonics/vibration in the drivetrain on the Vette.

Has anyone here driven a vehicle with DOD?

Has anyone here driven a vehicle with DOD?

I have.....a Honda Pilot, i dunno how you can really compare the two though :shrug: Anywayz, the 4 cyl engine shut downs to 3 cyls when you maintain a crusing speed over 45 mph after about 7-8 seconds....Little to no hesitation in cylinder reactivation when u get back on the gas.......

Yeah my Tahoe has it, it is completely seamless in its operation.

If I'm not mistaken wasn't the LS3 designed with AFM and the vette people actually made enough noise that GM didn't offer it in the vette.

That's what I heard. :yes:
Of course, I'm not GM, so I don't know exactly why they didn't put it in there, but that's the 'rumor' I heard. The 'vette folks were worried about sound, and performance. They didn't want AFM.

I have.....a Honda Pilot, i dunno how you can really compare the two though :shrug: Anywayz, the 4 cyl engine shut downs to 3 cyls when you maintain a crusing speed over 45 mph after about 7-8 seconds....Little to no hesitation in cylinder reactivation when u get back on the gas.......

The Pilot is a V6. The two wheel drive models have VCM (variable cylinder management aka mds/dod), the 4WD don't. Same thing with the Odyssey (EX-L's), and the V6 08 Accords (auto only). Goes from V6 to I3 (from what i remember, use to work at a honda dealership).

The Pilot is a V6. The two wheel drive models have VCM (variable cylinder management aka mds/dod), the 4WD don't. Same thing with the Odyssey (EX-L's), and the V6 08 Accords (auto only). Goes from V6 to I3 (from what i remember, use to work at a honda dealership).

It shuts off a whole bank at a time? Aren't there 'balancing' issues? (all the power coming from one side, etc)

Has anyone here driven a vehicle with DOD?

My Charger Daytona has it. the ONLY way you can tell is when I had aftermarket exhaust on it. It changed the sound and got more drony when it cut down from 8 to 4. But then I put the stock exhaust back on and I can't tell at all when it changes.

It shuts off a whole bank at a time? Aren't there 'balancing' issues? (all the power coming from one side, etc)

No there isnt. They have some special (expensive) liquid filled motormounts that activate and balance out the vibrations. They also have a sound that goes through the speakers (kind of like a negative sound) to cancel out the noise of the VCM (DOD) activating, otherwise it would be audible.

No there isnt. They have some special (expensive) liquid filled motormounts that activate and balance out the vibrations. They also have a sound that goes through the speakers (kind of like a negative sound) to cancel out the noise of the VCM (DOD) activating, otherwise it would be audible.
That's crazy! :D Thanks :thumb:

The Pilot is a V6. The two wheel drive models have VCM (variable cylinder management aka mds/dod), the 4WD don't. Same thing with the Odyssey (EX-L's), and the V6 08 Accords (auto only). Goes from V6 to I3 (from what i remember, use to work at a honda dealership).

Hmmmmmm........after further review, you are correct sir :bow:.......Pilot is a V6 after all. Dude at Enterpise lied to me!!!! Probably explains why the gas mileage wasnt anything spectacular when i rented it. But then again i was mostly doing city driving when I had it.

The 2008 Accord V6 (with the auto) actually takes this one step further and has both V4 and I-3 modes depending on engine load.

im not buying anything that sucks premium fuel...anybody who thinks that can shove it right up there bass.....$3.70 gallon for premium..no way...i dont care if gm has to put a windmill on the engine...just make sure it is no premium fuel only engine or im going to the other guys

m not buying anything that sucks premium fuel...anybody who thinks that can shove it right up there bass.....$3.70 gallon for premium..no way...i dont care if gm has to put a windmill on the engine...just make sure it is no premium fuel only engine or im going to the other guys

You think that GM and the enthusiast community is here to capitulate to you and the demands of your teenage daughter?

I think you need to look into the V6 option.

my words..its how i feel..if you want camaro around for more then 2 years..you better hope they sell a boat load of 4 and 6 cylinders cars...for me personally..i want the biggest kick ass motor i can get...but i am one of very few..if you believe the gear heads are a large enuff group to support the camaro your wrong...the camaro might make a few years with us...with others (ie grocery getter moms) it has a chance to hang on..yeah i want 4 cyclinder in the camaro...only way to ensure the car lasts more then a few years ($4 gallon gas can change a lot of things)

If I'm not mistaken wasn't the LS3 designed with AFM and the vette people actually made enough noise that GM didn't offer it in the vette.


At the risk of my coming across as "Know it all", that's not the case.

People complaining about the sound (or lack of) wasn't the issue. It didn't come out due to engineering/development issues. Wish I could find something "official" to link to, but I can't. If somebody else can find it (or to prove me wrong) please post.

All I can find is posts from Corvette boards from dealers explaining what was & wasn't new for the 2008's before the model year was released.

And also a story of the C6R dropping out of Le Mans in '07 due to the driveshaft shredding which was blamed on the DOD/AFM (whatever you want to call it) they thought they could use to decrease fuel stops.