LSA LS9 ?

[porcupinekiller]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Just a question for you guys..................if Ford can add HP by just simply "adding HP", why haven't they already? If it were that easy they would have already in hopes of keeping up with the Z06. You see there would be great pride for Ford if they could actually do that.

One word "profit". The number one priority of any business is to make a profit.
Ford Racing sells a bunch of GT500 upgrades (most have decent warranty)at a pretty good mark up.
The GT500 is a pretty solid performer for what it costs and quite a few people will be more than content with its stock performance. For the guys that do want upgrades, Ford Racing can sell the required parts to make you faster and make even more profit.
That being said Ford could slap a TVS on the GT500 for minimal cost to them and warranty it at 625+ HP and that could vary well happen for the 2013 MY GT500.
The Z06 is a great super/sports car (easily best value in its class) and is not really what Ford is trying to compete against with the GT500. The GT500 is a muscle car. Two very different classes of cars that are also priced very different.

[BrazenBeast]

Originally Posted by OldScoolCamaro

Number 3, I agree on your points. However, if you look at the LSA family, read the specs, and see whats available over the GM counter and in the production car line. I think they under engineered the LSA in HP and it can be bumped up some by Chevy. Have they already done it, who knows..are they thinking about it, probably did, will it happen, I seriously doubt it because they have been and currently are rolling down assembly lines and the more they make and change nothing, the more affordable (and profitable for GM) they become. Agreed it takes time to engineer and test and validate everything, so if it hasn't been done, don't expect it to happen at this point of the game with LSA. I am a apple to apple comparer and don't take into consideration what the after market can do for the product after it is produced from the factory. A wishful thinker I am...and also a realist. I will purchase the ZL1 even if the LSA specs are identical to this years model in the CTS-V. But I suspect there will be some improvement...being the wishful thinker I am.

Why would they add deck plate honing to the ZL1 engine when the ctsv did not have it done.... unless they have bigger things planned for the motor?

[Russell James]

Why would you think they just added it? The LSA has been around a while. Deck plate honing the low volume performance blocks has been around a while.

[Sleestack]

Originally Posted by porcupinekiller

One word "profit". The number one priority of any business is to make a profit.
Ford Racing sells a bunch of GT500 upgrades (most have decent warranty)at a pretty good mark up.
The GT500 is a pretty solid performer for what it costs and quite a few people will be more than content with its stock performance. For the guys that do want upgrades, Ford Racing can sell the required parts to make you faster and make even more profit.
That being said Ford could slap a TVS on the GT500 for minimal cost to them and warranty it at 625+ HP and that could vary well happen for the 2013 MY GT500.
The Z06 is a great super/sports car (easily best value in its class) and is not really what Ford is trying to compete against with the GT500. The GT500 is a muscle car. Two very different classes of cars that are also priced very different.

Correct, with the forged internals and great airflow in the 5.4, there is a lot of EASY upside for the Shelby. I consider it 'scaled back' at the current 500Rwhp. A Ford dealer can bolt on another 120HP with a Ford Tune and Ford Supercharger upgrade with 2 hours of shop time (under warranty)..... Thinking the 5.4 is anywhere near it's limit is very naive..

[besherman]

Originally Posted by Sleestack

Correct, with the forged internals and great airflow in the 5.4, there is a lot of EASY upside for the Shelby. I consider it 'scaled back' at the current 500Rwhp. A Ford dealer can bolt on another 120HP with a Ford Tune and Ford Supercharger upgrade with 2 hours of shop time (under warranty)..... Thinking the 5.4 is anywhere near it's limit is very naive..

This is true. Given the current build of the 5.4 in the GT500, it will be far easier (and cheaper) for Ford to bump the power than it will be for GM to do the same--unless GM is willing to take shortcuts with respect to durability which I suspect they are not.

If the '12 GT500 should produce much over 600 HP, GM will need need to use stronger intenals if it hopes to keep up.

[Russell James]

Chances of a 600+ hp GT 500 for the '12 model year? Slim to none.

[Sleestack]

Originally Posted by Russell James

Chances of a 600+ hp GT 500 for the '12 model year? Slim to none.

Most Shelby owners don't care much for marginally more factory power.... 40hp () is not a big deal except for bragging rights in the magazines. The real power is in the aftermarket, and the GT500 aftermarket is huge and growing, with inexpensive packages available from 600Rwhp up to 1,400 Rwhp. This is where GM needs to catchup, not trying to squeeze a few measly HP out of a factory offer. I do not recall any aftermarket blowers for the LSA that are easy bolt-ons.

[htron50]

Well, well, well. LSA? LS9? I imagine 98% of the driving experience would be very similar. A little stomp here, a stomp there. A little highway 50- 120 romp. Probably 2%of the buyers will be hardcore racers, switching out tires, etc. Truthfully! I imagine you might even find an LS9 driver slightly behind an LSA driver simply because of tire spin, balk at the start, whatever......... Just imagine. An original LS1 from 1969 could easily find itself with a poor hole shot as a 302 Z28 is 4-5 cars ahead out of the shoot! Again, no arguement from me that a ZL1 < LS9, buuuuut....... who the hell cares unless you are the 2% PRO fella or sitting in the peanut gallery commenting on the pros and cons but not ever actually taking the wheel?

Put me behind the wheel of a ZL1 and I will forever know in my heart I was driving one of the mother loads of history!

[porcupinekiller]

Originally Posted by Russell James

Chances of a 600+ hp GT 500 for the '12 model year? Slim to none.

Well considering you can order a 2012 GT500 right now and they are spec'ed at 550 HP, I'd say your probably right. Lol
The 2012 GT500 should be hitting the streets in 2-3 months and the 2013 MY GT500 will be out around the time the 2012 ZL1 hits the streets. GM is probably waiting to release the final HP spec on the ZL1 until after they know what the 2013 GT500 will have for power. The final HP number for the ZL1 could end up closer to the 600 HP mark.

[thePill]

Originally Posted by porcupinekiller

Well considering you can order a 2012 GT500 right now and they are spec'ed at 550 HP. They also should be hitting the streets in 2-3 months so I'd say your probably right. Lol
The 2013 MY GT500 will be out around the time the 2012 ZL1 hits the streets. So........

The 2012 GT500's started production on 18 Jan, so they should be on your dealers lot right now... I think its strange that the 2013 GT500 and the 2012 ZL1 will start production at almost the same time...

[BrazenBeast]

Originally Posted by Russell James

Why would you think they just added it? The LSA has been around a while. Deck plate honing the low volume performance blocks has been around a while.

You are correct sir. The original press release said that it had only been used on the ls9 and ls7. It did not mention ctsv lsa. However, after reading through another thread it was confirmed that you are correct and the ctsv lsa already has it done.

[porcupinekiller]

Originally Posted by thePill

The 2012 GT500's started production on 18 Jan, so they should be on your dealers lot right now... I think its strange that the 2013 GT500 and the 2012 ZL1 will start production at almost the same time...

It's messed up that a MY comes out almost a full year before the actual year.

[JerseyMonte]

Originally Posted by Number 3

As posted in the other discussion, go to GMPP:

LS9

http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/En...0199&engCat=ls

LSA

http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/En...1708&engCat=ls

Titanium connecting rods is another big difference.

Thats gives me all the info I needed
The main differences are the pistons, rods
and biggest is the cam
So using the LS 9 cam and take a chance on durability
by not having the titanium rods and forged pistons
it should make a big difference.
I wonder if they both have the same sump, I think the LS9 has dry sump
system.

[Russell James]

a lot more to it than that. Different crank, complete oiling system is different, complete valve train is different from the cam, lifters, valves ,springs... supercharger, exhaust manifolds. The bare block and heads are pretty similar, most else is unique.