Your thoughts on the low-end/midrange punch on LS3?

[AmericanMuscle4.6GT]

I have a 2005 Mustang GT (CAI, intake, mufflers, 12.883 @ 106.58) and within a year or so i'm thinking about trading up to either a 2011 5.0 or a 2010 SS M6. I'm leaning towards the Camaro, but one of the HUGEST deciding factors for is the low end grunt that the car has, and how fast it feels. This may seem like a childish way to choose a car and obviously its one of MANY factors, but the main quip I have about my car is that it really doesn't have much grunt down low. I've heard some conflicting things about the new SS........some seem to say that its got sick low end and midrange punch, but in a recent thread some people say its a dog off the line?

I love everything about the new Camaro....the sound of the engine, the looks, etc......but my Mustang needs to be spun up pretty high to really get going (3500-4500 rpm depending on gear) and I just didn't expect the Camaro with a 6.2 liter, pushrod V8 to exhibit that sort of powerband, even fighting against 3.45 gearing, 20" rims, and a heavy IRS.

Also........I see many people who have mild bolt on cars (CAI, LT's, etc) aren't really trapping much higher than 112? What's up with that? I figured one of the things I really like about the SS was the fact that it traps 110-112 stock......I like a high trap speed better than a low e/t because while i love to drag race at the strip, a better measure of how fast the car is/feels and how hard it actually pulls is the trap speed.


Thanks in advance guys!

[AmericanMuscle4.6GT]

really? 67 views and no responses?

[Patriot]

Originally Posted by AmericanMuscle4.6GT

really? 67 views and no responses?

Impressive numbers: sub 13's with a 4.6 and some bolt-ons.

[Iron Lung Jimmy]

Originally Posted by Patriot

Impressive numbers: sub 13's with a 4.6 and some bolt-ons.

I would keep the Mustang.

[CynAgain]

Honestly, I've had my car for a year now. It's stock except for the muffler delete. I absolutely love this car!!!

With that said, I would like more spunk off the line. Don't get me wrong, its more than enough in most situations, but for me personally I would like a different gear ratio.

I've made a personal choice not to mod right now, but gears are at the top of my 'Someday' list

[AmericanMuscle4.6GT]

lol thanks........idk i've had some issues with the mustang, and I just feel like i'm ready for something new for a variety of reasons. Driving wise (racing), i think i've really figured out every little nuance to the way this car makes power and what it responds best to, me and the car are pretty much one when i race haha.........im ready for a new challenge with a bit more power potential. by the way, here's my run.....i did have mickey thompson e/t street radials on for this run......also lowering springs but that doesn't really do anything either way.



i was 19 at the time

[Jeanius]

Everyone says gears will wake it up, but I cant afford them at the time

If you let the RPM's get to about 3500 and punch it its got great power but under that i would like more

I have LT's with full exhaust, VR intake and a tune 403/403 SAE corrected to the wheels, 411/418 uncorrected, Im at sea level here in the Bay Area

[wbt]

I have owned both a 2010 Mustang GT and a 2010 Camaro SS. The Camaro has a very noticeable difference in low end power. The Mustang almost felt like it had a 2 stroke power band really coming on around 3K. The strength of the 6.2 is off-idle power all the way to redline.

I cannot speak to the 2011 Mustang GT as I have not driven one. Based on the dyno graphs they appear to have a very good torque curve as well with slightly less TQ than the 6.2. Probably negated by the lighter weight.

IMO it would be a toss up between the 2011 Mustang and Camaro. Your next deciding factor would need to come into play to help make the decision.

[2SSJIM]

It seems to me if racing is what you want to do, build a race car so you can get those high trap speeds, great ET's and the feel of launch. GM offers the Camaro shell for just that purpose. There is the 67 Mustang shell available in the aftermarket as well.

[AmericanMuscle4.6GT]

Well it's supposed to be a daily driver/weekend racer that I'm going to keep for a very long time. Why hasn't anyone I've seen on here do gears as one of their first mods If it's that bad?

I think the mustangs engine might just be helped by it's favorable gearratios. I find it hard to believe a 5 liter with heads and cams set up for power at 7k rpms would hav more low end grunt than a 6.2.....just my thoughts



I just like the engine so much better.....more musclecars-esque in it's sound, and less like a new m3

[UsedTaHaveA68]

The gears for the new Camaros are very expensive, and the labor to pay someone to do them is just as bad. I would suggest test driving both. Keep in mind though, the potential for making more power "easily" is probably going to be higher for the LS3. LT headers and CAI really wake this engine up. The new 5.0 has shorty style headers as it is, so LT headers may not have as much of an effect. But the main difference is the ability to swap cams in the LS3 fairly easily. For the 5.0, when/if aftermarket cams become available, they will be very expensive. A mild cam, headers, and CAI and the Camaros are making 460-470 rwhp. I don't think you'll be seeing any N/A 5.0 engines making that kind of power any time soon. They will have to resort to FI.

Personally I'd go with the Camaro, do some basic performance mods, and then work hard on making it lighter. But that gets expensive quick.

[fldrummer]

'Some very good points here. Obviously, as mentioned here, the Camaro engine is much cheaper to modify for more power, if only for the cam issue (just one cam, as opposed to 4 in the new 'Coyote' engine, if I recall)... As for low-mid-range grunt, you can do a ported throttle body for dirt cheap for better throttle response (though I haven't tried it myself yet). I just had my 4.10 gears installed over the weekend and, while expensive, they made a world of difference throughout the powerband. I just wish I could've gotten them sooner. If you're not worried about your warranty, I would make that my first mod if you decide on the Camaro. Hopefully you'll be able to test-drive both soon for a good comparison. Good luck w/ whichever route you decide to go.

[WeeZee]

keep ur Mustang, I had a 8# ProCharged 03 Mach1 (466 rwhp)

your rods are good, just get some forged pistion's "flat top" and a ProCharger or Whipple supercharger. Save ur money on the trade in and put that negative $7-8k into ur motor. Be sure to add a shifter and dual friction clutch also an aluminum flywheel.

If u just need a new car I would rather have the CamaroSS over a new 5.0L
Mustangs may be fast but nothing sounds and performs like a built LS motor

[VADER SS L99]

Originally Posted by WeeZee

keep ur Mustang, I had a 8# ProCharged 03 Mach1 (466 rwhp)

your rods are good, just get some forged pistion's "flat top" and a ProCharger or Whipple supercharger. Save ur money on the trade in and put that negative $7-8k into ur motor. Be sure to add a shifter and dual friction clutch also an aluminum flywheel.

If u just need a new car I would rather have the CamaroSS over a new 5.0L
Mustangs may be fast but nothing sounds and performs like a built LS motor

Coming from some one who has owned a S197 like the OP and now a SS I can tell you the low end mid range torque is a world of differece as it should be from a OHC vs pushrod motor. Like the OP my car had nothing below 3500rpm and I craved that low end torque feel I had from my 4th Gen Z28. If the low end mid range torque is what matters most to th OP than I think the SS motors for sure do better than the Coyote. Like other people have said, it will be much easier and cheaper to mod a LS motor vs a DOHC modular motor. Have you ever tried puting headers on a DOHC mustang motor? It is no easy task to say the least.Then there is all the valvetrain hardware to worry about. Dont listen to the guy who said the rods are not the weak link in the motor because those are the first to go after 450rwhp. I have also been told and read that the new Coyote rods are just as weak and people will not be able to just bolt on a blower and run much past 450RWHP. Ford did this on purpose because they already have a forged shortblock built for this motor that they will be selling through FRPP for those who want to supercharge their motors.