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How one can Make 6.0L LS Energy!

by | Sep 12, 2024 | Automotive

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Why do individuals select the bigger 6.0L over the smaller 4.8L and 5.3L in terms of time to make energy?

Why is the bigger motor costlier and tougher to seek out in wrecking yards? Principally, why is the 6.0L higher than its smaller siblings?

The reply is energy!

Greater motors flat out make extra energy, and never simply extra peak energy, however extra common energy. Peak numbers are all effectively and good, however what actually makes a mix profitable is extra energy via your entire rev vary. In comparison with the smaller 4.8L and 5.3L motors, the 6.0L not solely makes extra peak horsepower and torque, it additionally makes extra energy from off idle all the way in which to redline.

Having extra common energy interprets on to faster acceleration. It may possibly additionally translate into improved towing energy or heck, an excellent, old-fashion smoke present! No matter your wants, a much bigger motor could make it occur sooner.

However simply because you have got the larger 6.0L, doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t make it higher. In spite of everything, the one factor higher than a inventory 6.0L is a modified one, so let’s check out three completely different NA 6.0L builds, starting from delicate to wild, together with a inventory LQ4.

man installing a camshaft into an engine
Who has a 6.0L and desires to make extra energy? Nicely, right here is the way you do it! (Picture/Richard Holdener)

400 Horsepower 6.0L LQ4

To achieve the 400 (flywheel) hp mark, we have to first perceive the distinction between rated and examined energy output.

The GM manufacturing facility (flywheel) ranking is run in inventory trim, at regular working temperature, with full exhaust and air consumption, with full equipment and the manufacturing facility (non-optimized) tune. On the engine dyno, we examined the “inventory” rebuilt 6.0L LQ4 in a distinct configuration, because the LS was run with no equipment or air consumption, with long-tub headers and three inch exhaust and with an optimized tune (and colder).

These modifications launched extra energy from the 6.0L, which is why our “inventory” LQ4 made extra energy than the rated output (which varies with yr and utility). The junkyard 6.0L was given an overhaul, with a ball hone, new rings and bearings, and a recent valve job on the 317 heads. The LQ4 was geared up with the later LQ4/LQ9 cam (early fashions shared the smaller LM7 cam), the inventory early truck consumption and throttle physique and run with a Holley HP administration system controlling 80 pound injectors (used for later testing).

Run on this method, the LQ4 produced 402 hp at 5,200 rpm and 438 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm.

The 400 hp 6.0L truck motor did precisely what we anticipated, making peak energy low within the rpm vary to boost torque manufacturing, however how will we now get much more energy out of a 6.0L?

500 Horsepower 6.0L LY6

On condition that the inventory LQ4 made proper at 400 hp and 438 lb.-ft., what does it take to get a 6.0L to succeed in the 500-hp mark?

The reply, as all the time with LS motors, is a cam swap.

In reality, this 6.0L combo additionally benefitted from extra head circulate, as we began this construct up with an LY6 6.0L as an alternative of an LQ4/LQ9. The LY6 began out life with rec-port (LS3) heads and variable valve timing (VVT) and an equally good rec-port consumption manifold. Exceeding 500 hp solely required changing the manufacturing facility VVT cam with (on this case) and Trick Movement model of the well-known Sloppy Stage 2 cam. That cam from TFS supplied 0.585 elevate, a 228/230 diploma period break up, and 112 diploma LSA. The cam was mixed with a dual-spring improve from Brian Tooley Racing.

Run with 1-7/8 inch, long-tube headers, the cammed LY6 produced 514 hp at 5,900 rpm and 493 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,600 rpm.

If you’re seeking to exceed 500 hp with inventory cathedral-port heads (we examined 799s on this LY6), it takes a much bigger, extra aggressive cam to offset the change in head circulate (rectangular ports circulate close to 310 cfm, 799s circulate close to 250 cfm).

Run with a Comp 469 cam (617/624, 231/247, 113), 799 heads, and Dorman LS2 consumption, the 6.0L produced 524 hp and 485 lb.-ft. of torque. Run with this identical cam and the rec-port heads, the LY6 produced 543 horsepower—so head circulate is each bit as vital as cam timing, however now how will we get to 600 hp?

600 Horsepower 6.0L LQ4/LQ9

Coaxing over 500 hp out of your 6.0L will not be terribly tough, neither is 550 hp—however while you beginning asking the motor to eclipse 100 hp per liter (over 1.64 hp per inch), issues get tougher.

To achieve this quantity, you want extra of every part, together with head circulate, cam timing, and the best consumption manifold.

The 600 hp 6.0L not solely obtained this stuff, however began out life as an entire construct up. The place the 400 hp and 500 hp model required nothing greater than inventory backside ends, the 600 hp 6.0L featured solely a inventory iron block and solid crank. To those we added solid 6.125 inch rods and solid flat-top pistons that had beneficiant valve reliefs that offered enough piston-to-valve clearance to permit for the required wilder cam timing.

Comp Cams equipped the required stick, with specs of 0.624 elevate, a 239/255 diploma period break up, and 114 diploma LSA. The cam was mixed with a set of AFR LSX 230 V2 heads that offered peak circulate numbers of 328 cfm on the consumption and 252 cfm on the exhaust. High quality cylinder heads make reaching your energy aim a lot simpler. The ending touches included a Quick LSXRT consumption and 102mm throttle physique, 1 7/8-inch headers and our Holley HP ECU.

Run on this method, the 6.0L produced 596 hp and 501 lb.-ft. of torque.

What wouldn’t it take to get the additional 5 or 6 horsepower to exceed 600 hp you ask? Simply set up a brief runner consumption (assume BTR Trinity) and you’ll actually see 600 hp numbers, although torque manufacturing will endure.

LS Engine dyno comparison chart
Wanting on the three energy curves, we see that the inventory LQ4 produced proper close to 400 hp and over 430 lb.-ft. of torque. This explicit LQ4 was a inventory rebuild, however the added energy (from the manufacturing facility rated output) could be attributed to the mix of long-tube headers, no equipment, and an optimized tune. Getting a 6.0L to provide 500+ hp was straightforward, simply add the best cam to an LY6 with manufacturing facility rec-port heads and you’ll simply exceed 500 hp. This TFS (SS2)-cammed LY6 geared up with the inventory rec-port heads, an LS3 consumption, and lengthy tube headers produced 514 hp and 493 lb.-ft. of torque. In different testing, this LY6 combo produced 543 hp with a fair larger Comp 469 cam, and made 524 hp with 799 heads and the larger Comp cam—so numerous 500 hp 6.0L combos out there. The 600 hp 6.0L required every part, together with a much bigger cam, flat-top pistons, ported AFR heads, and a FAST LSXRT consumption. In reality, we simply missed the 600 hp mark with peak numbers of 596 hp and 501 lb.-ft. of torque. Had been we to run a short-runner consumption (just like the BTR Trinity or Holley Low Ram), the height numbers would simply exceed 600 hp, however there could be a commerce off in torque via a lot of the curve. (Dyno Chart/Richard Holdener)
tip of an engine camshaft
The 400 hp 6.0L recipe began out life as a inventory (rebuilt) 6.0L LQ4 geared up with the inventory LQ9 (and later LQ4) cam. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
valves inside a cylinder head combustion chamber
The 6.0L was initially geared up with 317 heads. These obtained a recent floor (minimal reduce) and new valve job with the inventory valve sizes. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
fuel injector in a manifold
As a result of we deliberate to improve the inventory motor after the break in and baseline take a look at, we put in bigger 80 pound injectors. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
Holley HP EFI Engine management module
Not like the manufacturing facility ECU tune run on a inventory LQ4 within the car, we optimized the air/gasoline and timing curves to maximise energy utilizing a Holley HP administration system. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
ls engine on a dyno test run
Run on the dyno at 140 levels, with an electrical water pump and lengthy tube headers, the 6.0L produced peak variety of 402 hp at 5,200 rpm and 438 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
rectangular ports on an ls engine cylinder head
Stepping as much as a 500 hp 6.0L was a easy matter of getting extra head circulate and/or cam timing (you’ll be able to obtain it both means). The inventory 6.0L LY6 supplied manufacturing facility rec-port heads that flowed over 300 cfm! (Picture/Richard Holdener)
an ls engine intake manifold on table
We ran the LY6 with each the LY6 (truck) consumption and the lower-profile LS3 (automobile) consumption they usually made the identical energy. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
exhaust headers on an ls engine
All testing on the 6.0L LY6 was run with a set of 1-7/8 inch, long-tube headers feeding collector extensions. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
camshaft resting on a white box
Pushing the facility output of the 6.0L LY6 over 500 hp was a easy matter of putting in a cam and comes. For this combo, we chosen a TFS (Sloppy Stage 2) cam that supplied 0.585 elevate, a 228/230 diploma period break up, and 112 diploma LSA. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
ls engine hooked up to a test dyno
Run with the TFS (SS2) cam, the 6.0L LY6 produced peak numbers of 514 hp at 5,900 rpm and 493 lb.-ft. of torque. Utilizing a much bigger 231/247 cam upped the facility output to 543 hp, so 500 hp isn’t any drawback, particularly with rec-port heads. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
ls engine cylinder head deck with pistons exposed
Stepping as much as 600 hp required extra of a devoted construct, together with solid, flat-top pistons. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
connecting rods and main caps on an ls engine
The 600 hp 6.0L construct additionally featured 6.125 inch solid rods, however we continued use of the manufacturing facility iron 6.0L block and solid crank. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
camshaft going into an ls engine
Naturally the combo wanted a fair wilder cam, so we put in a Comp 54-471-1 cam that supplied 0.624 elevate, a 239/255 diploma period break up, and 114 diploma LSA. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
ls engine cylinder head with rockers removed
To make sure sufficient airflow to the 6.0L, we put in a set of AFR LSX 230 V2 cylinder heads that function 230cc consumption ports, a 2.08/1.6 valve bundle, and peak circulate numbers that exceeded 325 cfm. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
fast lsxr engine intake manifold installed
Topping the AFR LSX 230 V2 heads was a Quick LSXRT consumption and 102mm throttle physique. Don’t let the LSXRT idiot you into pondering it’s a low-rpm truck manifold. The throttle place may work with the truck FEAD system, but it surely makes equivalent energy to the LSXR model. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
ls engine during a dyno test run
Run on the dyno, the 600 hp 6.0L simply missed reaching the mark, with peak numbers of 596 hp and simply over 500 lb.-ft. of torque. (Picture/Richard Holdener)
built ls engine on a dyno
In the event you should have over 600 hp out of your 6.0L, look into one of many many short-runner consumption like this highly effective Trinity consumption from Brian Tooley Racing. Just like the items from Holley and Summit Racing, the short-runner intakes supplied extra peak energy however commerce torque manufacturing for the top-end rush. (Picture/Richard Holdener)

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Laubeau Jac Lawrance

Laubeau Jac Lawrance

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