All Of GM's LS Engines, Explained

[bill25]

From:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusi ... spartanntp

Looks interesting. Didn't have a chance to check out yet.

[kevm14]

https://jalopnik.com/all-of-gms-ls-engi ... 1841132531

[kevm14]

Direct video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji78AVLeirM

So far this is a great run down of the offerings for each model year.

[kevm14]

Possibly a better video as he goes into costs. Same guy.

https://youtu.be/keGi7nC5hT8

He says the LS ended by 2017. That is not correct. The Gen IV L96 ran in the 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks up through 2019. And in true van fashion, the L96 is STILL available in the 2020 GM vans. This is actually great news because the junkyards will continue to receive a supply of Gen IV donors. And the L96 is not a bad choice.

[kevm14]

https://jalopnik.com/all-of-gms-ls-engi ... 1841132531

The LS engines are the antithesis to DOHC. There is simply no compelling argument in favor of DOHC over an LS engine.
Let’s compare the C6 Corvette’s LS3 to the E92 M3's S65:

Size: The “massive” 6.2L LS3 is physically smaller and lighter and has a lower center of gravity than the “tiny” 4.0L S65, hence why an LS-swap is so cliche; it’s the only thing that will fit in a cramped engine bay.

Power: While both engines make similar horsepower, the LS3 makes 44% more torque (Corvette: 430hp/424lb-ft, versus BMW: 414hp/295lb-ft).
Efficiency: Again, the LS wins, especially on the highway: (16/25mpg Corvette, 14/20mpg M3).

Reliability: The LS3 is one of the most legendarily reliable V8’s on the market, and the go-to crate engine. The S65 is a notorious maintenance nightmare.

Redline: Ok, you got me here, pushrods don’t rev too well.

Am I missing something here? What’s the point of having a higher redline if you have to compromise size, weight, COG, torque, efficiency and reliability? Are Chevy’s smallblock pushrod engines some sort of statistical anomaly?

Idk, maybe size, weight, COG, torque, efficiency and reliability? I’ve seen countless Corvette’s at trackdays, but few M3’s, and never an E92.

Your desire not to be stranded in some rural location when your “exotic” motor loses it’s shit?

If you’d take that Benz 6.3 (which I love, in a sado-masochistic kind of way) over a straight LS7 or built 6.0 or 6.2 LSx you are definitely rolling the dice on reliability.

In very general terms, horsepower is a measurement of how much air your engine is pumping. To make X horsepower, you need to move Y cubic feet of air. Some countries tax vehicles based on their engine displacement, and smaller engines have to spin faster to move the same volume of air (make the same power).

The answer is actually displacement taxes outside North America.

Bingo.

Most Bobby, Jimbo, and Hanks don’t want to spend the coin necessary on high quality valvetrain components. The other issue is upgrading the oiling system to keep things from welding together at that rpm and g-loads for road race stuff.

Hell, there’s guys running stock bottom end 4.8s with a fuckload of boost spinning 8000 rpm. It’s insane. Key point on keeping the SBE stuff happy is not to build boost down low and lug it making the cylinder pressures go sky high, get the rpm up and let it eat.

ARCA is now using LSx engines in all their cars (Toyota, Dodge, Ford, Chevy, doesn’t matter, all the same engines) as it cuts costs for the teams and the engines are consistent. The ILMOR 396 is making somewhere in the 800hp range, all fucking day long.

[Adam]

Direct video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji78AVLeirM

So far this is a great run down of the offerings for each model year.

So there's probably 20+ million of these engines out there (mostly from trucks), assuming those numbers are for US, rather than North America. Even if they were the latter that's still a lot of V8s.