Did Chevy upgrade the internals on the ZL1 LSA motor?

[newmoon]

I am curious did GM upgrade the internals to forged units and change the compression on the ZL1 or did they simply slap a supercharger on the LS3. I would think for the price of these cars they would have made internal changes like what Ford has done for the GT500 thus allowing the engine to be boosted to the 750-800hp range? I guess I was spoiled with my 04 Cobra's all forged engine designed for boost

[Number 3]

The LSA in the ZL1 is a different engine than an LS3 with a SC. It is not, however, the LS9 from the ZR1 Corvette which has the forged bits.

So it is upgraded to handle the boost, the compression ratio should be lower as well. It's just not the LS9 which is hand built by expert engine builders in Wixom Michigan and is far more expensive.

LSA is good stuff!!!

[Z_Rocks]

It's somewhere between LS3 and LS9. Good enough for 9 lb of boost for a long time (driven wisely).

[THE EVIL TW1N]

its got low compression i believe 9.1:1which is boost friendly.but still has the hyper pistons but the oil squirters should help a little. still,oil squirting from the bottom should help alleviate high rpm temps but isnt gonna change piston composition and its tendancy to blow up with detonation so a good tuner will be a must and probably have to be on the conservative side when it comes to timing. The biggest problem i see is they still use powdered metal rods which is kinda poopy. Sounds like a well built sound engine for the power levels that it comes at (550hp) but not built (IMO) to the scutiny of a bulletproof high powered high boost shortblock. (IE the people blowing them up wont be covered by warranty anyways which makes sound business sense).

[91Z28350]

I admit, as much as I like the car, and will own it next year, I REALLY wish they had given us a wet sump ls9.

[THE EVIL TW1N]

Originally Posted by Z_Rocks

It's somewhere between LS3 and LS9. Good enough for 9 lb of boost for a long time (driven wisely).

i think it should be fine with a bit more boost than that and no problems.

[THE EVIL TW1N]

Originally Posted by 91Z28350

I admit, as much as I like the car, and will own it next year, I REALLY wish they had given us a wet sump ls9.

you cant expect them to just basically give away the LS9 with its expensive titanium internals and wet sump. I think the least they could have done was go 03-04 cobra route and added forged manley (or other brand) rods.

[newmoon]

Originally Posted by THE EVIL TW1N

you cant expect them to just basically give away the LS9 with its expensive titanium internals and wet sump. I think the least they could have done was go 03-04 cobra route and added forged manley (or other brand) rods.

I agree, you just know the first thing owners will do is swap out the pulley and tune the car. Probably pushing it close to the 650hp range, forged units would be nice. Twin what are you running for a Cobra, I just traded mine in on this SS

[radz28]

I'm sure LSA will handle 650 horse' and more without a sweat. With the success it had during durability tests, I wouldn't hesitate to run up to 700 FWHP. JMVHO.

[Bushidopupil]

I have a 2011 CTS-V Coupe that has 600RWHP with very mild mods. It will be easy to get good reliable HP out of the motor, with the proper tune.

My performance mods are
4'' CAI
9.55 Crank Pulley
Ported TB, Snout, Supercharger
Cam
Dyno Tune

I have other mods but not directly HP related, like a heat exchanger.

Boosting 13PSI, others with same mods run 10.8s at 130 with a tire.

The ZL1 will be very very fun...

[Z_Rocks]

Originally Posted by Bushidopupil

I have a 2011 CTS-V Coupe that has 600RWHP with very mild mods. It will be easy to get good reliable HP out of the motor, with the proper tune.

My performance mods are
4'' CAI
9.55 Crank Pulley
Ported TB, Snout, Supercharger
Cam
Dyno Tune

I have other mods but not directly HP related, like a heat exchanger.

Boosting 13PSI, others with same mods run 10.8s at 130 with a tire.

The ZL1 will be very very fun...

You know with the change of your pulley, cam and tune, you just voided your engine/drive train warranty. Heck, even a tune with no other mods, the three chevy dealers around here would void your warranty. One of the service managers told me, anytime they get Camaro or Corvette with CAI and/or headers, they check if the tune was changed and goes into your record.
I'm just saying, GM isn't as lenient as used to be.

[Bushidopupil]

Thanks. Yep I know.

[DGthe3]

Its a tougher engine than the LS3, but not quite as tough as the LS9.

Its designed as a high performance street engine. Nothing more, nothing less.

Originally Posted by Z_Rocks

You know with the change of your pulley, cam and tune, you just voided your engine/drive train warranty. Heck, even a tune with no other mods, the three chevy dealers around here would void your warranty. One of the service managers told me, anytime they get Camaro or Corvette with CAI and/or headers, they check if the tune was changed and goes into your record.
I'm just saying, GM isn't as lenient as used to be.

He never said anything about keeping his warranty

[Blackdevil77]

Here is a topic from the Cadillac CTS-V forums. It applies because it has the same engine. The fact that the LSA uses the same bottom end as the LS3, and doesn't use forged internals like Ford does in their GT500, or the LS9 uses or many of the FI engines do, always made me a little bit un-easy, especially about modding the car. This thread was no help. It was tuned by Jesse at Wait4Me performance which is one of the most reputable LSA CTS-V guys on the forums, so it wasn't due to a bad tune. According to this article, piston number 3 "Just let go" with not much more power then stock (600 hp). The last post in this thread makes me un-easy, and I'm sure what it says is pretty accurate.

The last thread states....

Originally Posted by CTS-V Forum

In the next six months it will be common knowledge that if you start to push 600 hp in your LSA you need forged rods and pistons. Those of us with years of boost experience have been preaching that forever. Two years ago someone here was extolling the virtues of the cast "Hypereutectic" pistons...sorry, IMO added boost, added heat all call for forged pistons we all know that don't we??

So sorry for your BOOM...most of us have been there...those of you who have not, may not understand the pain and suffering that accompanies the death of an engine...we all mourn the loss...and we all urge those who want big power to start with the bottom end.

You guys think there is a reason to worry about the reliability of the LSA? Especially those of us who want to do a few things to get a little more power out of it? Makes me a bit un-settled. Some forged internals would definitely add the "piece of mind."

Here is a link to the thread
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...my-2011-a.html