Corvette LS2 vs LS3 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Trefin · 12-26-2011, 05:23 PM

Hey guys i'm in the market for a c6 vette but an ls3 may be a bit out of my budget! So i was wondering how much better the ls3 is compared to the ls2, the corvette forum wasn't helping me out very well so i'd like to hear you guys' opinions on this.

Eric Baker · 12-26-2011, 06:46 PM

You drive a Mustang and are asking about Corvettes on a Camaro forum?

Anyway, welcome.

And to your question, they are very similar engines, with only .2 liters difference. The main difference that gives the LS3 a 30HP advantage is better flowing heads. They are both good choices.

Trefin · 12-26-2011, 11:05 PM

Thanks guys. Sorry I just saw that this was an active forum, I figured I wouldn't be welcomed warmly lol but I also figured it was worth a shot.

CamaroKid300 · 12-26-2011, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trefin

Thanks guys. Sorry I just saw that this was an active forum, I figured I wouldn't be welcomed warmly lol but I also figured it was worth a shot.

You are more than welcome here....just don't come over bashing on camaros and we won't have a problem.

Get yourself a 2012 2SS/RS LS3 Camaro....

fielderLS3 · 12-26-2011, 11:47 PM

LS3 and LS2 are very similar engines. Power/torque differences are rather modest. Biggest difference is the LS3 can rev about 500-600 RPM higher than the LS2.

dshep214 · 12-27-2011, 02:01 AM

honestly i have driven both cars and both of them will make you very happy. Stay in your budget get the ls2 if thats all you can afford. There are mods for both if you need more power

Trefin · 12-27-2011, 11:58 AM

Alright thanks for the advice, I'm still on the hunt but I'll be sure to show what I find.

MikeOD · 12-27-2011, 12:49 PM

The biggest problem with the LS2 is the stock intake manifolds have internal leaks between runners...GM fixed that with the LS3 manifold...which usually means that the LS2 car will see better gains from something like a FAST manifold.

LS2's are good engines though, yes LS3's are better, and whatever comes next for the next "base Vette" engine will most likely be better than the LS3...but I would take a clean LS2 car over a beat up LS3 car.

CyberPredator · 12-27-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fielderLS3

LS3 and LS2 are very similar engines. Power/torque differences are rather modest. Biggest difference is the LS3 can rev about 500-600 RPM higher than the LS2.

???? 6500 vs. 6600 what are you talking about. Anyway both are great but the ls3 is faster and the tr6060 in the ls3 vette feels great and is stronger. I would say the ls3 is worth paying a little more for

cplabaunza · 12-27-2011, 06:23 PM

If you decide for an LS2 buy 2006 or 2007...

Juiced1 · 12-27-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trefin

Alright thanks for the advice, I'm still on the hunt but I'll be sure to show what I find.

Stay away from the 05 cars (the auto cars still have the 4l60). If you plan on modding it heavily down the road save the extra bucks and go with the LS2 cars. You can find them in the low 30s pretty easily these days with good mileage.
If you plan on keeping it pretty much stock or at least a bolt on car go with the LS3. The heads on the LS3 are the biggest differance. They flow much better then the older cathedrial port heads on the LS1/LS2/LS6. Adding a cam or even just bolt on parts to an LS3 nets some very impressive results. Anyone here we sold a set of headers to can tell you what we mean by that.

If anyone wants to look into all the differances between lsx motors we have some awesome tech info here.

http://juicedmotorsports.com/techinfo_lsx_camgears.html
http://juicedmotorsports.com/techinfo_LSX_heads.html
http://juicedmotorsports.com/techinf...hortblock.html

Juiced1 · 12-27-2011, 07:02 PM

Or save your money for a Z06! I know at first that might sound way out of budget for most but look around. You'd be surprised to see that you can find them for just over 40k all day and every now and again you can grab one for 35-38k! To me it's worth saving up the extra year to get the superior vehicle. LS2's and LS3's are great but the LS7 trumps them both pretty easily.

Padre · 12-27-2011, 07:12 PM

LS3 hands-down. I came from the GTO world with LS1 and LS2 GTO's. Mod-for-mod, the LS3 rules. My GTO was an all-motor iron block 408, better than any LS2, and my L99/LS3 Camaro with cam and bolt-ons is already faster. On the Corvettes, it's even better.

FWIW, Padre

12-26-2011, 05:23 PM	#1
Trefin Tfink Drives: 1999 Corvette Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Collinsville Posts: 34	Corvette LS2 vs LS3 Hey guys i'm in the market for a c6 vette but an ls3 may be a bit out of my budget! So i was wondering how much better the ls3 is compared to the ls2, the corvette forum wasn't helping me out very well so i'd like to hear you guys' opinions on this.

12-26-2011, 11:47 PM	#5
fielderLS3 Drives: 2016 Mazda6, 2011 Mustang 5.0 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Portage, Wisconsin Posts: 4,049	LS3 and LS2 are very similar engines. Power/torque differences are rather modest. Biggest difference is the LS3 can rev about 500-600 RPM higher than the LS2. __________________ 2022 1SS 1LE (Arrived 4/29/22) "The car is the closest thing we will ever create to something that is alive." . 2022 1SS 1LE (Coming Soon)

12-27-2011, 12:49 PM	#8
MikeOD Drives: 2010 M6 2SS Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: South Windsor, CT Posts: 1,202	The biggest problem with the LS2 is the stock intake manifolds have internal leaks between runners...GM fixed that with the LS3 manifold...which usually means that the LS2 car will see better gains from something like a FAST manifold. LS2's are good engines though, yes LS3's are better, and whatever comes next for the next "base Vette" engine will most likely be better than the LS3...but I would take a clean LS2 car over a beat up LS3 car. __________________ 2010 Camaro SS M6. Heads/Cam/Intake/Headers/Exhaust/Suspension

12-27-2011, 06:23 PM	#10
cplabaunza Drives: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 117	If you decide for an LS2 buy 2006 or 2007... __________________ Cyber Grey Metallic 2012 Chevrolet Volt Black 2010 Victory Cross Country Black 2008 Chevrolet Corvette 1LT/NPP/Z51/M6 Black 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 Black 2005 Yamaha R6 (Raven color) Black 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS/RS/M6 (SOLD) Black 2003 Dodge Neon SRT4 (SOLD) Inca Gold 2002 Chrysler Prowler(SOLD)

12-27-2011, 07:12 PM	#13
Padre Only drives on Sundays Drives: '16 2SS A8 NPP MRC NGray Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 2,500 View My Garage	LS3 hands-down. I came from the GTO world with LS1 and LS2 GTO's. Mod-for-mod, the LS3 rules. My GTO was an all-motor iron block 408, better than any LS2, and my L99/LS3 Camaro with cam and bolt-ons is already faster. On the Corvettes, it's even better. FWIW, Padre __________________ OLD HOTNESS: The "Heretic": '11 2SS/RS L99 A6 Black/Inferno. Build Journal, Videos D1SC GT9 JBA-LT = 720/680 \| 10.330 @ 133.61, 1.546 sixty... Camaro King at ECS V, Darlington. NEW HOTNESS: '16 2SS A8 NPP MRC. Bone Stock, 1/8th: 8.051 @ 89.44, 1.919

12-26-2011, 06:46 PM	#2
Eric Baker Drives: Black/Black 2SS/RS 6M Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Boston MA Posts: 987 View My Garage	You drive a Mustang and are asking about Corvettes on a Camaro forum? Anyway, welcome. And to your question, they are very similar engines, with only .2 liters difference. The main difference that gives the LS3 a 30HP advantage is better flowing heads. They are both good choices.

12-26-2011, 11:05 PM	#3
Trefin Tfink Drives: 1999 Corvette Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Collinsville Posts: 34	Thanks guys. Sorry I just saw that this was an active forum, I figured I wouldn't be welcomed warmly lol but I also figured it was worth a shot.

12-27-2011, 02:01 AM	#6
dshep214 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2ssRS Ls3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cabot, AR Posts: 1,250	honestly i have driven both cars and both of them will make you very happy. Stay in your budget get the ls2 if thats all you can afford. There are mods for both if you need more power

12-27-2011, 11:58 AM	#7
Trefin Tfink Drives: 1999 Corvette Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Collinsville Posts: 34	Alright thanks for the advice, I'm still on the hunt but I'll be sure to show what I find.

12-27-2011, 07:02 PM	#12
Juiced1 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 2SS CAMARO 45th Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 18,663	Or save your money for a Z06! I know at first that might sound way out of budget for most but look around. You'd be surprised to see that you can find them for just over 40k all day and every now and again you can grab one for 35-38k! To me it's worth saving up the extra year to get the superior vehicle. LS2's and LS3's are great but the LS7 trumps them both pretty easily.

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