Ly6 6.0

[87carl]

Few weeks ago I messaged a guy local parting out a gmc 2500. At that time he told me he wrote add wrong and motor wasn't for sale. Since them I have had the timing chain tensioner in my 5.3 give out and send metal through the engine seems fine but who knows tbh it kinda scares me that there might be unseen damage. Well the guy I messaged few weeks randomly messaged me tonight saying he decided he didn't need that engine and said he would sell it for $650. It's a 2007 ly6 6.0 with 188 thousand miles. No harness but I think the 5.3s harness Will work on it other than the 6.0 has vvt but I will probably delete that. Was thinking using a ls9 cam they have 0.558/0.552 lift 211/230 duration and lobe separation angle is 122.5. I have also read that using the lc9 5.3s heads and intake would give the ly6 power more in the lower rpm range and would increase compression. I have a spare set of heads from our parts burb which had a cracked block. so I can build this engine up and have it ready if the 5.3 in my burb dies. What do you guys think of that combination would it work good? Or any better ideas or recommendations? I want alot of torque and low rpm power below 4000 rpm I rarely get above that.

 

[swathdiver]

Was thinking using a ls9 cam they have 0.558/0.552 lift 211/230 duration and love separation angle is 122.5.

I want alot of torque and low rpm power below 4000 rpm I rarely get above that.

That LS9 camshaft is NOT what you desire. It will take away at least 40 foot pounds of torque down low and give it back way up where you'll never use it in a truck. Put an L9H cam in it if you want a little more lift.

 

[87carl]

That LS9 camshaft is NOT what you desire. It will take away at least 40 foot pounds of torque down low and give it back way up where you'll never use it in a truck. Put an L9H cam in it if you want a little more lift.

Would it still rob it down low if I advance cam timing 2 or 4 degrees? (Would I have enough piston/valve clearance for that?)
Doesn't the l9h have vvt like the ly6? And do you know the l9h cam specs?

 

[kbuskill]

I would either get a towing cam, what we used to call an RV cam, or call Vinci and get a custom cam ground for it.

As for swapping the heads, I'm not 100% sure about the 5.3 heads on the 6.0 block... back in the old SBC days you could put the 305 (5.0l) heads onto a 350 (5.7l) or 400 (6.6l) to make more torque because the combustion chamber was smaller and it would raise the compression ratio.

I'm just not that familiar with the LS stuff to no the difference in heads, but it would seem to make sense.

 

[swathdiver]

Would it still rob it down low if I advance cam timing 2 or 4 degrees? (Would I have enough piston/valve clearance for that?)
Doesn't the l9h have vvt like the ly6? And do you know the l9h cam specs?

Yes, I don't believe you'll get enough torque back over stock by advancing the camshaft but am far from the final word on such a topic. Talk to Vinci.

Yes, the L9H motor has VVT. Yes, 243 heads will make more torque on a 6.0 block and increase the compression ratio at the expense of high rpm performance. But how high? GMs engineers thought it perfectly fine to run the larger displacement motors with the bigger heads in our trucks.

 

[kbuskill]

I am definitely interested in what you end up doing.

I would love to have a low revving LS with big block type of torque in my Burb.

I have no reason to turn 5-6k RPM around town.

I have always been partial to torque over horse power... probably because I grew up driving my grandfather's big block dually around.

There is just something cool about being able to light up all 4 rear tires on dry pavement by just breathing on the throttle... lol

I hate all the Stabilitrac and Traction Control and Torque Management nannies on the NNBS trucks.

I wish someone made a long runner intake manifold for our LS engines kinda like the old TPI intakes.

They looked cool and made gobs of torque down low.

 

[87carl]

A custom ground cam would be pretty expensive that's why I was looking at ls9/ls7 cams can get them relatively cheap.
Who is Vinci?
Any other stock cams that might work without vvt?
I have seen few things about ly6 engines with 243 cathedral port heads but haven't been able to find anything detailed or with dyno results.
This picture is comparing a ls7 cam to aftermarket cams with similar duration if I am reading it right looks like it's timing is slightly retarded compared to the others.

Comp cams sells a double chain 58x crank 4x cam 3 bolt adjustable timing set that lets you advance I think up to 6 degrees.
Definitely gotta do alot more research before I decide or buy anything.

Yea I miss old big blocks and there torque too. that's kinda what I hoping to get out of this. a long runner intake would be cool. Our intakes are basically the same as trailblazer ss intakes right?

 

[87carl]

https://www.compcams.com/keyway-adjustable-billet-timing-set-for-58x-3-bolt-4-pole-gm-ls3.html

That's the timing set I was thinking of it's actually adjustable up to 8 degrees advance or retard. The concern with that is piston to valve clearance. Still trying to figure that out. If I do go with that setup was thinking ls7 1.8 rockers and lifters

 

[Geotrash]

https://www.compcams.com/keyway-adjustable-billet-timing-set-for-58x-3-bolt-4-pole-gm-ls3.html

That's the timing set I was thinking of it's actually adjustable up to 8 degrees advance or retard. The concern with that is piston to valve clearance. Still trying to figure that out. If I do go with that setup was thinking ls7 1.8 rockers and lifters

In my opinion, it's not worth having adjustability unless you're going to be racing/tracking the thing. When it comes to trucks, simple is good. VVT is nice but a good 3-bolt truck cam, as Ken suggests, and you'll never miss VVT. I deleted VVT from my 6.2 with a Brian Tooley Stage 2 truck cam and haven't missed it.

On the heads, many LS heads will interchange, but not in your case. The LY6 uses rectangular ports, and your 5.3 uses cathedral ports on the intake. It also has offset rocker arms on the exhaust valves.

Side note: on my last cam swap, I started with a Vinci cam, but ran into some problems with oiling and bad lifters that damaged the cam (not the cam's fault), and ended up with the Brian Tooley cam I have now. Vinci makes great cams, but they're fast ramp and high lift, requiring dual valve springs and other upgrades. There's a thread here on the project if you're interested.

If you're interested in going with a Vinci truck cam, I have a brand new one here still in the box, complete with new matched dual springs, keepers, moly pushrods, and Fel-Pro valve seals I'd be happy to sell you for a good price. The only thing missing is the lifters, and for those I would use Morel 6504.

 

[Geotrash]

Also, here is the cam card for the Vinci cam I have. Roger Vinci was great to work with.

 

[87carl]

In my opinion, it's not worth having adjustability unless you're going to be racing/tracking the thing. When it comes to trucks, simple is good. VVT is nice but a good 3-bolt truck cam, as Ken suggests, and you'll never miss VVT. I deleted VVT from my 6.2 with a Brian Tooley Stage 2 truck cam and haven't missed it.

On the heads, many LS heads will interchange, but not in your case. The LY6 uses rectangular ports, and your 5.3 uses cathedral ports on the intake. It also has offset rocker arms on the exhaust valves.

Side note: on my last cam swap, I started with a Vinci cam, but ran into some problems with oiling and bad lifters that damaged the cam (not the cam's fault), and ended up with the Brian Tooley cam I have now. Vinci makes great cams, but they're fast ramp and high lift, requiring dual valve springs and other upgrades. There's a thread here on the project if you're interested.

If you're interested in going with a Vinci truck cam, I have a brand new one here still in the box, complete with new matched dual springs, keepers, moly pushrods, and Fel-Pro valve seals I'd be happy to sell you for a good price. The only thing missing is the lifters, and for those I would use Morel 6504.

I do plan on deleting vvt. The adjustability is to advance cam timing so I can bring power lower into the rpm range. It's not something that gets adjusted often just during cam install then leave it.
The cathedral ports and smaller chambers are why I want the 243 heads if I change to the lc9 intake I can use those heads.
I haven't seen anything else about offset rocker arms? But I have seen few threads and a video of ly6 with 243 heads just nothing detailed. But those heads should also move power lower into rpm range also.
I want this to be as cheap as possible. That's why I was leaning towards the ls9 cam I can get one new for 140 dollars. And can sell the ly6 heads and intake. but if that won't work I will have to spend more money on a different cam or maybe keep rectangle port heads. The cams you mentioned are for the rectangle port heads and would only work if I don't change heads.

 

[avalonandl]

I would use the 6.0 stock. Great engine, lots of torque...

 

[87carl]

I have driven trucks with stock ly6 engines I wasn't impressed with there power output slightly better than my 5.3 but still felt gutless compared to my dodges with the hemi I want something that's got similar torque as them or the old 454s.

https://www.performancetrucks.net/f...e-21/799-vs-l92-heads-torque-dd-546273/page3/

That's the best thread I found so far about ly6 block and 243 heads actually it is l96 block and 799 heads but basically same block and basically same heads. that thread even has tune files posted but I can't open them on my phone.

 

[kbuskill]

A custom ground cam would be pretty expensive that's why I was looking at ls9/ls7 cams can get them relatively cheap.
Who is Vinci?
Any other stock cams that might work without vvt?
I have seen few things about ly6 engines with 243 cathedral port heads but haven't been able to find anything detailed or with dyno results.
This picture is comparing a ls7 cam to aftermarket cams with similar duration if I am reading it right looks like it's timing is slightly retarded compared to the others.
View attachment 276616
Comp cams sells a double chain 58x crank 4x cam 3 bolt adjustable timing set that lets you advance I think up to 6 degrees.
Definitely gotta do alot more research before I decide or buy anything.

Yea I miss old big blocks and there torque too. that's kinda what I hoping to get out of this. a long runner intake would be cool. Our intakes are basically the same as trailblazer ss intakes right?

Correct, the NNBS trucks intake is the same as TBSS intake.

 

[kbuskill]

I would be willing to bet that Vinci could tell you all the ins and outs about what you are wanting to accomplish with the 5.3l heads on the 6.0l block. He has been doing this a looong time and knows his stuff.

If you email him he will usually give you his cell number and be happy to call and talk with you about it.

 

[swathdiver]

On the heads, many LS heads will interchange, but not in your case. The LY6 uses rectangular ports, and your 5.3 uses cathedral ports on the intake. It also has offset rocker arms on the exhaust valves.

One can put 243 heads on a 6.0/6.2 block but one cannot put 823 heads on a 4.8/5.3 block.

I have driven trucks with stock ly6 engines...

3/4 ton or larger trucks which weigh at least 600 pounds more than a half-ton. Keep things in perspective. Plus, their factory tunes are for endurance, not performance.

The L96 is the FlexFuel version of the LY6, it has larger injectors and the later years have different computers.

An LS7 camshaft will do you even worse. There's a lot more to camshafts than just the numbers. As Dave alluded to, there's the actual shape of the lobes that play a big part in how the motor behaves. If you want a factory cam with stock valve springs, the L9H is where it's at.

Ken, there is an intake with replaceable runners, long, medium, short, whatever the customer wants. I think it is the FAST LSXR.

 

[kbuskill]

One can put 243 heads on a 6.0/6.2 block but one cannot put 823 heads on a 4.8/5.3 block.

3/4 ton or larger trucks which weigh at least 600 pounds more than a half-ton. Keep things in perspective. Plus, their factory tunes are for endurance, not performance.

The L96 is the FlexFuel version of the LY6, it has larger injectors and the later years have different computers.

An LS7 camshaft will do you even worse. There's a lot more to camshafts than just the numbers. As Dave alluded to, there's the actual shape of the lobes that play a big part in how the motor behaves. If you want a factory cam with stock valve springs, the L9H is where it's at.

Ken, there is an intake with replaceable runners, long, medium, short, whatever the customer wants. I think it is the FAST LSXR.

Yeah I remember seeing that... still not long enough for my liking... lol

 

[87carl]

One can put 243 heads on a 6.0/6.2 block but one cannot put 823 heads on a 4.8/5.3 block.

3/4 ton or larger trucks which weigh at least 600 pounds more than a half-ton. Keep things in perspective. Plus, their factory tunes are for endurance, not performance.

The L96 is the FlexFuel version of the LY6, it has larger injectors and the later years have different computers.

An LS7 camshaft will do you even worse. There's a lot more to camshafts than just the numbers. As Dave alluded to, there's the actual shape of the lobes that play a big part in how the motor behaves. If you want a factory cam with stock valve springs, the L9H is where it's at.

Ken, there is an intake with replaceable runners, long, medium, short, whatever the customer wants. I think it is the FAST LSXR.

How would the l9h cam work if I delete vvt?
Everything I've read says Ls7 and ls9 cams are identical except the ls7 cam is about 2 degrees narrower lobe separation angle.
And it's hard to find lobe shape and ramp rate info on most aftermarket cams sometimes some people will share cam doctor results.

I would be willing to bet that Vinci could tell you all the ins and outs about what you are wanting to accomplish with the 5.3l heads on the 6.0l block. He has been doing this a looong time and knows his stuff.

If you email him he will usually give you his cell number and be happy to call and talk with you about it.

I will try to get ahold of him see what he can tell me

 

[swathdiver]

How would the l9h cam work if I delete vvt?
Everything I've read says Ls7 and ls9 cams are identical except the ls7 cam is about 2 degrees narrower lobe separation angle.
And it's hard to find lobe shape and ramp rate info on most aftermarket cams sometimes some people will share cam doctor results.

The LS7 has a little more lift too. I suspect it will work just fine, better than the stock 6.0 camshafts which have less lift. VVT is great but has its limits for high horsepower, high rpm applications. I know enough to be dangerous but am far from an expert on the matter. However, early on I spent considerable time investigating those stock camshafts and learned that they don't work in street trucks, even the vaunted LS6 camshaft gives up nearly 40 foot pounds of torque down low and you don't get it back until above 5,000 rpms which would only please kids and full time drag racers. It would kill a tow rig.

I was able to get lobe data at one time from Crane Cams and some others but have not found the info since they moved from Daytona to Mississippi somewhere.

 

[87carl]

I wish someone made a long runner intake manifold for our LS engines kinda like the old TPI intakes.

They looked cool and made gobs of torque down low.

https://www.partsgeek.com/gbproduct...7FsOfl8IlwLNJJB4NDiuLROvnyjwFvDBoCjZkQAvD_BwE

That kinda what you're thinking?