What's The Difference Between The Chevy Lt1 And Lt2 Engines?

The existent Chevrolet Corvette is knocking retired Nürburgring records near and right, but remember, nan erstwhile generation's exemplary was nary slouch either. At its bosom was an LT1 V8 motor that GM Authority called "the astir important redesign successful nan [Chevrolet] mini block's astir 60-year history." Of course, that was successful 2014, and erstwhile nan 2020 Corvette was being developed, it seemed nan champion measurement to ratchet up capacity was to travel what had go a Corvette tradition: Introducing a brand-new motor to spell pinch nan brand-new car.

It began backmost successful 1998, erstwhile nan fifth-generation Corvette welcomed nan first Chevy LS1 V8. The adjacent procreation upgraded to nan LS2, and nan LT1 was later introduced successful nan seventh-gen Corvette. These Corvettes each had a front-mid-engine configuration, pinch nan motor betwixt nan driver and beforehand wheels.

For nan eighth-generation Corvette — and nan first pinch a rear mid-engine group up — nan LT2 was born. Sure, it had immoderate similarities pinch nan LT1. But it was a full different beast acknowledgment to its galore upgrades, including ones needed to equine nan centrifugal down nan driver. To beryllium clear, this motor is besides different from the twin-turbo LT7 successful nan ZR1, which happens to person a akin setup. That 1 precocious went up against nan Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Mustang GTD, but that doesn't diminish nan LT2's ain awesome performance.

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The LT1 and LT2 are some members of GM's Gen V small-block motor family, which traces its roots backmost to nan iconic statement of Chevrolet small-block V8s introduced successful nan 1950s (here are five of nan astir powerful choices from nan past). The LT1 and LT2 show their communal origins pinch nan aforesaid 6.2-liter displacement –- a spot complete 378 cubic inches –- and some are people aspirated. They besides characteristic nan classical small-block architecture backed by a 90-degree cylinder angle, nan aforesaid 4.06-inch bore and 3.62-inch stroke, and the same 11.5:1 compression ratio, for instance.

An important difference, however, is nan LT2's dry-sump lipid system. Mounted connected nan engine, nan strategy helps support it well-lubricated moreover during fierce handling and acceleration, erstwhile physics could different support lipid from getting wherever it needs to go. It's truthful effective that Chevrolet reduced really overmuch lipid was needed for nan system, cutting 3.7 pounds from nan car's weight.

Other caller additions see a low-profile lightweight lipid cookware and scavenge pumps meant to amended lipid flow.The capacity of nan lipid cooler grows by 25% arsenic well. Meanwhile, nan motor marks different invention by sealing disconnected nan "valley" –- nan abstraction betwixt nan 2 cylinder banks. That way, if (or when) lipid drains from nan heads and lifters, it won't find its measurement into nan crankcase.

Further capacity improvements came by measurement of upgrades to nan engine's camshafts, a taller intake system, and positioning that lowers nan car's wide halfway of gravity. Thanks successful portion to a caller setup for managing crankcase unit — nan artifact and vent strategy — nan centerline of nan crankshaft sits an inch little than successful nan LT1.

The communicative of nan portion for nan 2 motors indicates nan real-world results. The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray fitted pinch nan modular LT1 V8 rewarded owners pinch 450 horsepower and a matching number of pound-feet of torque. It could besides scoot to 60 mph successful less than 4 seconds. Flash-forward to nan 2020 Stingray, and its modular LT2 mill makes 45 much horses and 20 much pound-feet of torque, pinch output jumping to 495/470. With nan optional Z51 exhaust system, nan Stingray's 0-60 sprint clip slips beneath 3 seconds.

The LT2 gets a glow-up, too. Peek done nan solid sheet covering this mighty centrifugal and you'll observe reddish valve covers and a assortment of ocular specifications meant to thrust up your beat rate. As Chevrolet put it, "Every part, including nan exhaust system's wires, tubes, routing fasteners, coolant hoses, exhaust manifold and moreover nan bolts and fasteners, is built pinch quality successful mind." With style and constituent for illustration that, it's nary astonishment used C8 Corvettes are still $55,000 cars.