i am about to buy a stroker short block for my 02 camaro(along with heads,cam,exc.). i was going to get an aluminum 402ci ls2 but i recently saw the 418ci ls3 blocks. now i am rethinking what to get. what are the advantages of a 418ci ls3 over a 402ci ls2 (other than the obvious more displacement)? their isn't much difference in the displacement(dosen't seem like enough to do much). both the shortblocks cost about the same so why get one over the other? if they cost the same then why doesn't everyone get the 418ci instead of the 402ci. is one block better even though they are both aluminum? is it harder to swap an ls3 block into an ls1 f-body than an ls2 block(different senors/wiring?)? yes, i have done a search but i havent found anything that directly answered my question.
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Last edited by sixpack_2_go; 04-01-2009 at 10:22 PM..
Displacement, you already know that though.
The 416 cost more due to the block costing more, sometimes that $400 makes all the difference for people
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416/418 will have a larger bore. That is a plus. For the price diff, there really isnt a better reason to go up. They dont range that much higher like blanco said.
For the most part you are buying a short block which does not come with many extra features, but yes they are almost basically the same. Not much difference.
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i have been reading up on the differences as well, and something came up about bad oiling. thats why the vette has the dry sump. i dont know how accurate this is. im still looking into it. im on the border for a LS2 or LS3 too.
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It's all in what you do to build the motor, the block in a since is dumn. It's mostly the cam and heads that are going to make you your power. So if you match the right heads and cam to the motor you are building it should be a monster.. I am currently building a 408ci LQ9 6.0L for my Camaro and I am going to use the heads that I already have on the car (Trick flow 215cnc heads). I have been working with some of the best in the buisness to help me get this motor together and hit my goals I have set. I had to change a few things up to get to where I need to be but you know how it is!! You have to pay to play!! Good luck with your choice!!
__________________ I vote for promising us big boobs and not delivering. Thats wrong in every way, kinda like driving a honda.[/quote]
i have been reading up on the differences as well, and something came up about bad oiling. thats why the vette has the dry sump. i dont know how accurate this is. im still looking into it. im on the border for a LS2 or LS3 too.
I have only heard rumors about it having oiling issues on a roadcourse racing circuit due to higher RPMs and high G's in the corners. The LS3 does not have a dry sump. Only the LS7/LS9 in the vette now. So, those are for higher perf cars that are really made for road course and such, not really built for straight line.
Dont put too much faith into internet rumors. Even if it is "proven", how many times has it happened? Is it fully documented? Did it happen to the person in question, or just someone they knew? See how easily a story falls apart?
I've got a 418 LS3 going in my build... The motor ran strong in the Camaro it was in. I got to ride in it prior to buying it and I can't wait to get it running in my Monte Carlo.
In addition to the extra cost of the block, I am pretty sure you will have to do some CPU upgrades as well.
No ECU changes needed. When you build your short block you select the correct crankshaft reluctor wheel and the correct sprocket for your camshaft for the cam sensor and you will have zero issues with the ECU.
I have heard that the LS3 strokers are not good for boost because the longer rod puts it higher up in the piston, which in return you don't have as much meat there in the top of the piston. Does anyone know if this is true or not? I currently can't decide which one for my boosted application because of this rumor or not.
why 418 ls3 over 402 ls2??? advantages? 
for promising us big boobs and not delivering. Thats wrong in every way, kinda like driving a honda.[/quote] 
