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Cutaway of an LSx engine BLOCKS  HEADS 
CAMSHAFTS FRONT DRIVES 
OIL PANS  WATER PUMPS 
BALANCERS  VALVE COVERS 
INTAKE MANIFOLDS   

 

LS BASED GEN III DISPLACEMENT INFORMATION
RPO VOL CID CR BORE STROKE BLOCK OE APPLICATIONS
LS1 5.7L 346 10.2:1 3.898" 3.622" ALUM 97-04 Corvette, 98-02 Camaro/Firebird, 04 GTO
LS2 6.0L 364 10.5:1 4.000" 3.622" ALUM 05-07 Corvette, 05-06 GTO, 07 CTS-V
LS3 6.2L 376   4.065" 3.622" ALUM 08-09 Corvette
LS6 5.7L 346 10.5:1 3.898" 3.622" ALUM 02-05 Corvette Z06, 04-05 CTS-V
LS7 7.0L 427   4.125" 4.000" ALUM 07-09 Corvette Z06
LS9 6.2L 376   4.065" 3.622 ALUM 09 Corvette ZR1 (Supercharged)
L92 6.2L 376   4.065" 3.622" ALUM  
LQ4 6.0L 364 9.4:1 4.000" 3.622" IRON 99-Present Full-Size Trucks
LQ9 6.0L 364 10.1:1 4.000" 3.622" IRON Escalade, Silverado SS, Full-Size Trucks
LM4 5.3L 325 9.5:1 3.780" 3.622" ALUM 04-Present Full Size Trucks, 04 SSR/Trailblazer/Envoy/Bravada
LM7 5.3L 325 9.5:1 3.780" 3.622" IRON 99-Present Full Size Trucks
LR4 4.8L 293 9.5:1 3.780" 3.267" IRON 99-Present Full Size Trucks

All LS based engines have a 9.240 Deck height, unless it's an LSX block, which is available in a 9.26" and a 9.70" deck

 

LSx CAMSHAFT SPECFICATIONS 
MAKE/MODEL INT EXH INT EXH LSA
98-00 F-BODY LS1 202 210 .496 .496 116
01-02 F-BODY LS1 197 207 .467 .479 116
01 CORVETTE Z06 LS6 207 217 .525 .525 116
02-04 CORVETTE Z06 LS6 204 218 .551 .547 117
99-04 5.3 LM7 190 191 .466 .457 114
05-07 TRUCK/SUV LQ9 207 196 .479 .467 116
GM PERFORMANCE HOT CAM 218 227 .525 .525 112
GM PERFORMANCE ASA CAM 226 236 .525 .525 110

LS based engines use 1.7:1 ratio rocker arms.

 

LS GEN III SMALL BLOCK CHEVROLET CYLINDER HEAD CASTING #'S
CASTING # YEAR CID CC INT EXH NOTES
10215339 97 346 67 200 70 LS1, 5.7L, Aluminum, perimeter bolt valve covers
12556743 99 325 61 200 70 5.3L, Aluminum, truck
12558806 97-98 346 68 200 70 LS1, 5.7L, Aluminum, perimeter bolt valve covers
12559863 99-02 346 68 200 70 LS1, 5.7L, Aluminum, center bolt valve covers
12559853 99-02 346 68 200 70 LS1, 5.7L, Aluminum, center bolt valve covers
12559862 99-00 287/325 61 200 70 4.8L/5.3L, Aluminum
12559895 00-07 325 61 200 70 5.3L, Aluminum
12561706 01-04 325 61 200 70 5.3L, Aluminum
12561873 99-01 364 71 210 75 6.0L, Cast Iron
12562317 01-04 364 71 210 75 6.0L, Aluminum
12564241 00-04 346 68 200 70 LS1, 5.7L, Aluminum
12564243 01-04 346/364 65 210 75 LS6/LS2, Aluminum
12572035 01-04 364 71 210 75 LS2, 6.0L, Aluminum

 

LS SERIES GEN III CYLINDER HEAD DESIGN
LS1/LS6 Cathedral port design L92 Rectangular port design  
The LS Series engines use 2 standard intake port designs : Cathedral (LS1, LS2, LS6, 4.8/5.3/6.0) and Rectangular (LS3/L92).  The intake manifolds are also different because of this.
HEAD GASKET COMPATIBILITY
MLS (multi layer) head gaskets are compatible with LSx cylinder heads that have a flat deck surface (without a pocket) MLS compatible heads have a flat deck surface, and have no pocket.

 

LS SERIES GEN III INTAKE MANIFOLDS
98-00 LS1 Camaro/Firebird intake has hole and boss for EGR port 01-02 LS1 Camaro/Firebird, All Corvette models did not have provision for EGR Truck style intake, has bosses for "Vortec" plastic cover, also has EGR on side
     There were many different intakes used on the LS series motors.  There are designs for each head style : cathedral port (LS1/LS2/LS6/4.8/5.3/6.0) and rectangular port (LS3/L92).   There are also different style height intakes : car platform and truck platforms.  You can interchange intakes as long as you use the same cylinder head design, and use the corresponding fuel rails and throttle bodies (as certain models have different sizes).
THROTTLE BODY DIFFERENCES 
  • There are 2 different mechanical throttle body arms.  The photo on the left is the short arm, it can be easily recognized from the round collar.  The photo on the right is the long arm, and the collar is straight.  You must use either an adjustable throttle cable, or a throttle cable specific to that throttle body for the throttle to open properly. 
  • There are also 2 basic throttle bodies : car and truck.  The difference is the coolant passage for water pump clearance and the breather hose angle (for throttle bracket clearance)
 98-99 LS1 Camaro, 99-03 LSx based Truck throttle body. Uses short arm. 00-02 LS1 Camaro throttle body, uses long arm.

 

LS SERIES III VALVE COVER BOLT PATTERNS
Perimeter bolt valve covers have 9 bolts, all located on the outside perimter (top), while the ceter bolt valve covers have 4 bolts, all in the center (bottom)

Although there are many different valve covers for many different applications, there are basically 2 different valve covers : perimeter bolt valve covers, and center bolt valve covers.  The perimeter bolt valve covers were used on 97-98 Corvettes and 98 Camaros and Firebirds.  All other models used the center bolt valve covers.  On the perimeter bolt valve covers, the ignition coils bolt directly to the valve cover.  On the center bolt valve covers, the ignition coils bolt to a bracket, which in turn bolts to the valve cover.  This is to facilitate the removal of the valve cover when necessary.

 

LS SERIES III VALVE COVER BREATHER DIFFERENCES
Valve covers differ in breather location, as well as angle of the filler tube/PCV location Valve covers differ in breather location, as well as the breather locations.

There are many different model valve covers, all specific to each application, but for swap purposes, you can get around having the exact cover.  All the LS models have the oil filler on the passenger valve cover.  All the PCV valves are on the driver valve cover.  Breather locations (the small tubes on the outside of the covers) differ between models for intake purposes, however, they are all just breathers.

 

LS SERIES GEN III FRONT DRIVE CONFIGURATIONS
98-02 LS1 Camaro & Firebird front drive setup 97-04 LS1/LS6 Corvette front drive setup 04-06 LS1/LS6 CTS-V front drive setup
98-02 LS1 CAMARO & FIREBIRD 97-04 LS1/LS6 CORVETTE  04-06 LS6 CTS-V 
04-06 GTO LS1/LS2 front drive setup  99-07 1500/2500 4.8/5.3/6.0 Truck front drive setup  05-07 LS2/LS6 Corvette front drive setup 
04-06 LS1/LS2 GTO  99-07 4.8/5.3/6.0 TRUCK  05-07 LS2/LS7 CORVETTE

 

LS SERIES GEN III HARMONIC BALANCERS

3 different LS-based balancers, from left to right : Corvette/Cadillac, Camaro/Firebird/GTO, Truck 

     There are basically 3 different harmonic balancers that effect belt spacing : (1) Corvette and Cadillac (car), (2) Camaro/Firebird and GTO, (3) Truck series and SUV.  As you can clearly see, the distance between the crankshaft end and where the belt rides are different in all 3.  All of the LS based balancers are neutral balanced, and can be installed on any LS application as long as the same platform accessories are used.

 

 
LS SERIES GEN III WATER PUMP PULLEY DRIVE LOCATIONS
LS1/LS6 Corvette water pumps have the wide pulley and the belt rides close to the pump, Picture showing that 2 belts can be used at the same time and that the water pumps are interchangeable between platforms. Camaro/Firebird and GTO water pumps also use the wide pulley, and the belt rides close to the edge of the pulley.

     The Corvette, Camaro, Firebird and GTO all share the same water pump, even though they use different depth balancers.  The reason the water pumps are interchangeable is that the water pump drive pulley is twice as wide as the other platforms, allowing the belt to ride in 2 different locations.  Therefore, you can use either water pump with either platform, although you should check your clearance between your fans and/or radiator.  04 and later model Corvette platforms use a water pump that has the pulley only as wide as the belt.
97-03 Corvette/Camaro/Firebird/GTO water pumps have double wide pulley to work with either platform, also have boss for retrofit sensor 2004 and later Corvette/Cadillac platform water pumps

 

LS SERIES GEN III WATER PUMP SNOUT DIFFERENCES

     The snouts are different on car platforms VS truck/SUV platforms due to the mechanically driven fan.  The truck/SUV pumps are extended forward, closer to the radiator VS the car platforms, also the pulley is not as wide as they only use 1 style balancer.  The truck/SUV balancer also has provision for the mechanical fan, which screw on the snout.  The car applications all use electrical fans therefore you will need to install an electrical fan if doing a swap.

 

LS SERIES GEN III WATER PUMP OUTLET DIFFERENCES
LS1 Corvette/Camaro/Firebird water pump : has no provision for mechanical fan and has water outlet parallel to pulley Truck water pump : Has provision for mechanical cooling fan and has the outlet perpindicular to the pulley.

     Car platforms and truck/SUV platforms have the water outlet in a different location.  Since the car platforms have a lower intake, the water outlet is parallel to the drive pulley.  On truck platforms, the outlet is perpendicular to the drive pulley.  Also, all truck/SUV applications use a closed coolant system with a surge tank, so if you use a truck/SUV water pump, be sure your water levels are above the hose,

 

LS SERIES GEN III WATER PUMP OUTLET DIFFERENCES
 97-03 model water  pumps have the thermostat as part of the thermostat housing, and is not removable (at least not by hand).  This style uses a large O-ring to seal the housing to the pump.  04-present water pumps have a thermostat that has a separate housing, and the thermostat easily slides out.  The O-ring on this model is part of the thermostat.  Another visual difference is in the casting.  The 97-03 housings have an additional tab on it to hold the wiring in place for the A/C compressor.  The 04-present models do not have that tab.  The housings are not interchangeable between pumps since the diameter of the thermostat cavity is different and the bolt pattern for the housing is different.

***NOTE : GM water pumps sold after 2005 all have the 2-piece design, meaning if you ordered a new GM water pump for your 1998 Corvette, it came with the newer 2-piece thermostat.

LS SERIES GEN III  OIL PANS 
All LSx oil pans are interchangeable, pending you swap the corresponding windage (deflector) tray and pickup tubes along with the pan.  The windage trays and pickup tubes are specific to the oil pan.  All oil feeds are on the LH side of the block, if there's an oil filter on the RH side, the oil pan transfer's the oil to the LH side of the block via piping.
   
   
 
 
 
 

 

OTHER LSX DIFFERENCES
97-98 Knock sensors have a locking tab on the outside, also a male pin in the middle. 99-05 engines have a round connector. There were 2 different style knock sensors offered on Gen III LSx engines : A locking tab design, and a standard style connector (same as TPI and LT1 style knock sensor connectors).  The locking tab was on all 1997 LS1 engines, and in most (but not all) 1998 LS1 engines.  The only way to know what you have is to pull the intake off.  You can use either sensor in either block, as long as you have the matching knock harness.

 

LSx OIL AND COOLANT PLUG LOCATIONS
     The LS series engines have alot of strange looking plugs compared to the normal small block chevrolet engine.  Below is a small set of photos outlining the plugs and their locations. 

 

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