The LS3 and L99 are both Gen IV, 6.2L, aluminum block, car engines which came under the hoods of GM performance cars between 2008 and 2017. Both the LS3 and L99 engine blocks can be pushed to 850 to 1,000 horsepower. Both engines use rectangle port cylinder heads and have a common 4.065-inch bore diameter.
As the standard engine in the fifth-generation Camaro SS and C6 Corvette, the high-revving, deep-breathing LS3 6.2L is poised to go down in history as one of Chevrolet's best and most versatile engines.
The LS3 breathes very efficiently for such a large displacement engine thanks to its rectangular port aluminum cylinder heads developed by General Motors' racing programs. This technology allows for a broader power band while also improving the torque curve in low RPM's.
CHEVY LS ENGINE - Everything You Need to Know | Up to Speed
What makes the LS3 so good?
It is said that General Motors developed the block of the LS3 with the help of technology it gained from its experience in racing. This meant the LS3 engine was inherently lightweight and strong. While its deep-skirt design helped improve strength, it also helped reduce vibration and improve refinement.
The 6.2L LS3 is a direct descendant of the original Small Block, sharing key characteristics with that legendary engine. As with other members of the Small Block engine family, one of the enablers of the LS3's balance of performance and efficiency is great airflow throughout.
The reasoning behind the word luxury sport (LS) is to create a sporting engine that is mostly used for luxurious reasons. This was the idea behind creating LS engines. Chevrolet designed LS engines that offer great horsepower and torque.
The 376 cubic inch Whipple 2.9L supercharged LS3 engine is our most popular engine for high performance use. Hand built by our experienced engine techs. Not only is this LS engine easily capable of 875 - 950+ horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque, it is also extremely drive-able for everyday use.
The most common one you'll hear is that the LS stands for Luxury Sport. This comes from the use of LS and LT in the context of car trim levels ('LT' meaning Luxury Touring).
The 6.2L LS3 is the new Chevy 350. The base engine has the LS3 heads (duh), an aluminum block, a factory hydraulic roller cam, a 4.065 bore, 10.7:1 and as much aftermarket parts support as you can handle.
5 Which LS engine has the most horsepower? If we're talking about any LS engine ever directly offered by GM, the winner is the long-discontinued LSX454R, conservatively rated at 770 horsepower and 612 lb-ft of torque.
The LS3 was configured with a stock (7.5-inch) truck crank pulley and 3.75-inch blower pulley. This combination produced a peak boost pressure of 7.9 psi at 6,600 rpm on the cam-only LS3.
A stock LS3 should be able to hit 600hp with a 76mm turbo fairly easily. If you run E85, you will need a bigger pump for 600HP. The stock pump is not really good to 600hp on 93.
While forced induction will help the LS2 engine outperform the LS3, doing the same upgrades to the LS3 will always yield more impressive results thanks to the additional refinement. Therefore, if significant power is your goal, then the LS3 will undoubtedly be the better choice.
GM also made sure to use hyper eutectic pistons on the LS. This means they expand less at high heat while allowing tighter tolerances. The LS also uses improved rods and connecting rods which can also handle more power than the ones on the small block. The LS' most impressive advantage though is its cylinder head.
9. An easy way to spot a Gen IV engine such as an LS3 or L99 is to look for the electronic throttle compared with the earlier engines that were equipped with cable throttle actuation. 10. One of the best-known differences among LS engines is with cylinder heads.
The LS3 is a Gen. 4, 6.2L small block engine used in GM performance cars between 2009 and 2017. The engine specs and information listed here is for a stock LS3 engine.
The factory LS3 bottom end is able to handle a lot of power even with a power adder when tuned properly.” “[To get 500 horsepower] we'd run about 8- or 9-pounds of boost and know that that stock engine is going to be just fine.
L92 heads (often referred to as LS3 heads) moved to a rectangular port and are some of the best LS heads ever made, far outflowing their cathedral cousins. This port design is also found on some 6.0L truck engines (and on the Pontiac G8 6.0L mill) as well as the Cadillac CTS-V and the LS9 in the Corvette ZR1.