Newbie here

[Holty]

Hello all,

i have a '03 silverado ss and frequent silveradoss.com and performancetrucks.net i just heard about this site, so i thought i would stop over for some good reading. i do have one question that may seem to be very stupid to most of you. I havn't been "keeping up" on GM engines and there codes, so i was wondering if someone could explain to me what all the codes mean? example: LS6, LS1, LT1, etc.? what are the differences and such with each motor? I have a 6.0L, is that a LS1?

[RedHeartbeat]

Welcome!

6.0L is an LQ4 or LQ9 if factory installed from the manufacturer.

This site is generally a Generation3 site. Only a few guys have a true LS1 all aluminum engine in their trucks. The LS6 is the HP version of the LS1, found only factory installed in vettes. LS2 is the latest iteration of the LS1/LS6 all aluminum engine and displaces 6.0L like your truck 6.0L.

[Holty]

thanks, that helps alot....

so how do i determine if i have an LQ4 or LQ9 in my truck?

[RedHeartbeat]

the 8th digit in your VIN is the engine code from the factory.

[jethro_3]

Welcome to the dark side.. Opps, the "Other Side of Performance!" I get over to SSS once in a while.

[jethro_3]

Yours like mine is the 345 HP LQ9 iron block. Coded "N" in the VIN.

[Sheep]

In the last couple years anyway, if you got an extd cab 4x4/Z71 the standard motor in that package was called an L33, which is the all-alum 5.3L version of the Gen 3/LS series motors rated at 310hp vs 295hp in recent iron block 5.3's. My '00 SS Camaro (and other 98-02 F-bodies) had an all-alum 5.66L/346cu in LS1 rated at 325hp, so L33 motor is basically a down-sized version of that with a little less compression. Actually, the intake manifold is superior to that on the F-bodies except that found on the last year '02's.

LT1's are part of the old small block Chevy family which started in '55 as a 265cu in motor, which later existed in these sizes 283, 327, 302, 307, 262, 305, 350, 400. The first use of term LT1 was for the hipo 350, 370hp motor introduced in the '69 Vette as alternative to big block for better handling. The following year in the Gen 2 Camaro of 1970 Z28, the exact same motor was used and designated 360hp. Those motors also were 4-bolt main, big port heads, Holly dual feed 785cfm 4-brl, solid lifter cams, hi-vol oil pump, etc. In recent years, particularly late Gen 4 Vettes, the LT1 was "brought back" but not remotely with power & potential of the original in '69/70 Vette and in '70 Camaro; it just was not a true hi-perf motor/block. Camaro got the lower hp designation to keep the Vette buyers happy!!! It was an animal motor with basic head, carb, ign and exhaust mods. In '71, GM started producing only low-compression motors (with hardened valve seats for unleaded gas) which immediately dropped the LT1 in Camaro to 330hp; it eventually was toned down even more and really became just another ordinary small block.

I used to own and race two '70 Z28's of the original LT1 designation.

[RedHeartbeat]

Hmmm....how'd you get the aluminum L33 so early, unless you are talking about 2 years being 05 and 06? They were supposed to be released in 2005 trucks. The 2005 LH7 displacement on demand 5.3L engine has an aluminum block too but it is a true 4th gen engine that will shut down the lifters electronically by cutting off the flow of oil to the lifter to improve fuel mileage.

[bulldog5.3]

Will the 04-05 5.3 LM33 Aluminum block just swap right out with a 99-02 5.3 cast iron block?
Is that where the extra 15hp comes from? or does it have flat top pistons like the LQ9?

[Sheep]

Any of the Gen 3 (or DOD motors as in the '06 Impala) can swap in/out regardless of iron or alum.
The only diffs (between 295hp iron block 5.3 and the L33 alum version) I can see according to the spec sheets I had printed from my GM dealer off his latest GM factory tech sheet: very slightly more aggressive cam and higher compression. Torque specs are identical for both, but historically alum can produce a bit more power, but not significant diff. I would not wast the $$ swapping an iron block 5.3 for an alum one... better to upgrade to 6.0 in one of its many power versions in diff GM models.