well, i bought the camaro (the high mileage 02 z28 i talked about in a previous thread), and she's great, the previous owner took amazing care of her. she runs great and has no problems, but i figure at the 200 k mark she's gonna be due for a total revamp.(she's gettin it wether she likes it or not)

so i'm looking at the ls2 engine, cuz its alot cheaper than the ls7, but after talking to a buddy about the options, i realized there's a a world of em.

so my question is, is it just ls1 out, and ls2 in? or are there adjustments needed to fit it.

another question is, are there particular engines that just seem more at home in those cars? and what engine and tranny combos seem to work the best?

also, is there anywhere that i could find a labeled diagram of the 02 suspension? i couldn't find a chiltons on it.

and my last question...lol....when yall got your first camaros, did you wake up in the middle of the night and go walk out your front door just to talk to her for a bit cuz she might be lonely? my poor gf feels replaced.

i've been drooling over these cars for 10 years now, helped a friend build a 327 for an 86 when i was 15 and fell in love. My mom went and testdrove the 00's with me when they came out (insurance was a real pain, apparently being 18 in a badass ride is some kind of risk) and now i've got my first one and i can't get over it. i'm so stoked. anyway, thanks for the all the help and quick replies, this place rocks.

-chris-

 

Welcome to owning a camaro! When I first got my 94 3.4L I could stare at it for a half hour in the garage. I knew it wasnt a Z28 but I loved the hell out of it. Now with my black Z28.. Ever since I first drove away with it, when I get in I always get a smile and every time I wash/wax it I'll stare at it for ~15 min and maybe take a picture.

As far as LS2's are concerned, One problem right off the bat will be the wiring and pcm. second is throttle linkage, and third is price.

Grab a used ls1 with low miles salvaged, or just start with an LS1/LS6 block for cheap. Build a stout bottomend, and if you want, make it a 383 stroker or bigger.. Put a little more agressive cam in, but not something that'll make you have to replace the springs every 40k miles. After you're done with a complete engine it should be not even close to the price of the LS2 and you'll have alot more HP and the best part is hte only headache you'll have is removing the engine and dropping this one back in. After that it'll take a tune and then be ready to go.

 

I agree with ghost. LS2 is not the way to go IMO. I would look at 383/408 strokers. You can get a 408 longblock from TSP for $6,600 or a 408 shortblock for $3,600. They also offer 347 short/long block crate motors as well if you want to stay with the stock cube size.

http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/cate...?MID=1&catid=3

 

ok, I'm not a gearhead but just got the latest car craft and they have an article on turning an LS1 into 500 HP! Needs a LS6 heads, fast lsx intake 90mm, fast 90mm throttle body, better springs, pushrods, Crane Zcam and kooks!!!! that's all for roughly $6k.
I don't have the knowledge or the $$$ but love the fact that these magazines embrace the mighty LS1 small block!

 

yeah, i read something about spring bind? with the ls2's?

i suppose a salvage yard is a good place to start looking for a new block? and whats a good price on one?

and i think i knew this at one time, but a stroker motor has a longer stroke than a normal one? or...its a "insert knowledge here".

what exactly is a stout bottom end? (sorry bout the rookie question)


and thx as always

-chris-

ps....my z is black too....and i washed and waxed her yesterday...and took about 8 pictures....lol

 

a stout bottom end is all forged,balanced componets. And if you've got the money, maybe get them all blueprinted which is checking every measurement and re-sizing everythign to make sure it looks, and is balanced, and weighs the same as the ideal blueprints of the motor.

 

so those components would be, pistons, rods, cam, valves? rockers? what am i missing, and where do i go to get them b'd and b'd?

any engines that i could be looking for in salvage yards and auctions that might have any of these components?

 

The Factory LS1 bottom END is mighty stout from the general... I would try and get a late 99 thru the 02 blocks... they are better than the 97- early 99 block. Pistons and rings are better.

Stock GM LS1 motor can handle 600hp... cam header intake small NO2 kit your GOOD !!