Paul Majors C6 Z06 with a new water pump, headers, and LS7 edit put down 501rwhp, 492rwtq and ran a 11.01 with 315 DR's.

http://www.spdkilz.org/Video-Audio/C...06%2011.01.wmv

 

That's great and all, but LG Motorsports just did a build with their new cam with the LS7 and put down 632/523 to the wheels with a cam, headers, and exhaust bypass

The LS7 makes serious power. It can just be done for cheaper using an LS2 block.

Mike

 

I still stand by my decision that the crate LS6 Longblock was the best engine choice for ME and I’m VERY happy with it.

I bought my NEW LS6 crate motor from a sponsor of another LS1/F-Body site…I don’t think it’s fair to list him here since he’s not a sponsor, but if you’d like the site, please email me and I’ll be happy to let you know who it is…I actually think I have the information listed on my website too.

As far as picking up a used LS6 cam for a couple of hundred or used LS6 heads for $500, I have no doubt that’s correct, but you can’t go comparing what you can get on the used market against prices of brand new parts...I’ve seen used LS6 longblocks for less than $3000 as well, but that doesn’t make me an idiot because I’d rather have new parts that come with a warranty.

I actually considered SpeedInc’s Sportsman 348 shortblock, but once again by the time you ship your core to them, add a nice set of heads, and then pay shipping to get it back, you’re still back at around $5200 (or you can got with their longblock 348 package for $5499.99)…keep in mind, the LS6 crate motor is an outright purchase, and I can still sell my original longblock. My motor has a knock, so I’d get quite a bit less, but if you have an LS1 longblock that’s still in good working condition, then I’m sure you could get at least $1200 - $1500 for it, which once again, brings your total outlay for the NEW LS6 to around $4000…if you sell the C5 oil pan and pulley, since you can’t use them on the F-Body (I got $350 for mine), then you could be in the $3650 ball park for a NEW crate motor including shipping.

As I said in my previous post, having a WARRANTY was VERY important to me. SpeedInc., to the best of my recollection, does NOT offer a warranty on their motors, UNLESS they install it AND you pay an extra $1000 for a 2 year limited warranty. Their price for an installed 348 Sportsman longblock WITH 2 year limited warranty is $8499…that’s a FAR, FAR cry from the $2799.99 shortblock they start with. Even their cheapest 348 sportsman longblock is $5499.99 + shipping and of course you have to ship your core to them, so now we’re at $6000 for that longblock. Once again, after you sell your LS1, if you go with the crate LS6 longblock, that’s a $2000 difference in the LS6 longblock’s favor.

Will SpeedInc’s 348 Sportsman longblock have more HP than my 405 HP LS6? I have no doubt it does. Was I going to feel comfortable knowing that I had no warranty? No way! Did I like saving a couple of thousand by going with the LS6 longblock? Absolutely!

The LS6 crate motor comes with a 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty no matter who installs it. If it tears up, I don’t have to worry about shipping it back to where I got it, I just take it to my closest Chevy dealer and tell them to fix it. Even if I went with a built motor that has a warranty (SLP’s does actually have one, but it’s only for 90 days), I’d still have to get it back to the shop that built it either by driving the vehicle (if it is driveable) or going through the trouble and expense of having it removed and shipped back for repair and then re-installed again. SLP’s warranty doesn’t cover removal and re-installation.

I’m not a die hard true racer…never claimed to be. If you don’t mind spending that kind of money on a “built” motor and don’t mind hoping everything was done right because if it tears up, you’re S.O.L., then there’s plenty of HP to be had that will run circles around my LS6 longblock swap and I’m fully aware of that and accept it. Bottom line was my motor tore up. I needed something that I knew was going to be reliable, had a warranty, and had a nice HP increase over my stock LS1. After I contacted several companies about my options, I made the decision that a crate LS6 swap was the best choice for me…it may not be for you, but it was for me.

 

Actually, you're at $4300 with a set of Dart 205 or 225cc assembled heads. Add a $350 cam and you're at 450+ rwhp...plus the motor is built with better parts than a factory LS6.

This isn't meant to be a pissing match. I'm just showing the original poster his options.

Mike

 

I'm presumming you're talking $1500 for a set of assembled heads because $2800 for the longblock + $1500 for the heads would be $4300...but what you've GOT to keep in mind is shipping a motor is a $200 - $250 expense each time. Yes, you might be looking at $4300 for an assembled shortblock and an assembled set of heads, but don't forget about the head bolts and gaskets ($100 at least if you go with GM, $200 at least if you go ARP) needed to install them AND the shipping of the motor to you AND you've got to ship your core to them and once again, you're right back in the $5000 neighborhood.

It's the little things like shipping, gaskets, etc. that kill you when you take on a project like this, and since they add up quickly, they need to be taken into account when pricing your options.

 

You know what, we've completely hijacked this thread...sorry.

I guess my whole point is, when looking at prices of heads/cam, longblocks, shortblocks, and outright engine swaps with installation and/or warranty included, you've got watch out for all of the little things that you might not have thought of when you 1st start your project if you opt to try and piece a motor together youself. If you go with assembled motors, most of that is already taken care of, and even though it may look like you can get a shortblock from here, cam from there, and heads from another dealer and all those prices add up and come up with something cheaper than an assembled longblock, you've eventually got to buy the necessary hardware, gaskets, etc. to assemble what you've bought and then all of a sudden what you thought looked like a good price can quickly escalate and may not have been as good of a deal as you thought.

 

Even if it was $5000 total, you're still at 75 more rwhp with MUCH better internals than an LS6.

Mike

 

I have no doubt you're correct on that...what kills me is they want an extra $1000 to warranty what should be a better/stronger engine, AND they have to install it in order for the warranty to even be offered.

If we summarize what we've discussed, here's the bottom line...how much HP you get correlates directly to how much you can pay...it takes money to go fast, always has.

-So if we take your theorhetical SpeedInc shortblock w/Dart heads, it'll cost you ~$5000 for ~450 RWHP, but NO warranty.

-Take my LS6 longblock, and after you sell off your stock motor (since there's no core charge) and sell the included C5 oil pan and pulley, it'll cost you ~$3650 - $4000 for ~375 RWHP WITH 12 month/12K mile warranty.

When you look at it in percentage, they actually cost about the same, but the LS6 longblock has a slight "value" advantage. Based on a $4000 price for the LS6 and a $5000 price for your theorhetical package, your package cost 25% more than the LS6, but has a little less than 20% more HP. Based on those #'s, the LS6 costs roughly $10.66 per RWHP (based on 375 at the wheels) compared to $11.11 per RWHP (based on 450 RWHP) on your SpeedInc shortblock w/Dart heads.

I get tired of people saying the LS6 is overpriced for what it is...it's actually a pretty good baragain IF you need to have a motor replaced.

Bottom line is, how much are you willing to spend? Can you live without a warranty after spending more even though you got more? I'm sure a true racer would say "YES!", but that's not me.