(Image/GM Corporate Newsroom)
Mechanically similar, General Motors’ LS and LS-based Vortec engines wound up on almost every branch of the GM family tree: Chevy, Pontiac, GMC, Cadillac, Buick—heck, even Saab, Hummer, and Isuzu got some LS love.
Since LS and Vortec engines are so common, they’ve become the go-to performance and swap engines of the modern era.
These motors are capable of making a lot of horsepower, and respond well to upgrades like turbos, superchargers, high-flow cylinder heads, intake systems, cams, and nitrous oxide.
[NOTE: Looking to upgrade your LY6? Read: LY6 6.0L Engine Upgrade Guide: Expert Advice for LY6 Mods to Maximize Performance.]
The aftermarket is strong, crate engines are available, and used motors are often cheaply sourced through junkyards.
Summit Racing has created a series of comprehensive guides for each engine in the LS family, so engine builders and tuners can have a handy reference for their projects.
This guide is specifically about the GM LY6. You can find our other LS engine spec guides and LS-related tech articles here.
(Summit Racing’s Paul Spurlock and Brian Nutter contributed to this article.)
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Chevy LY6 Engine Specs
The LY6 engine is a 6.0L Gen. 4 small block engine used in GM trucks and SUVs between 2007 and 2010. For marketing purposes, it was also known as the Vortec 6000. The information listed here is for a stock engine.
LY6 Performance Specifications
| LY6 Engine Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Compression Ratio | 9.6:1 |
| Horsepower Rating | 364 hp |
| Torque Rating | 383 ft.-lbs. |
LY6 Applications
| LY6 Applications | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| VIN 8th Digit | Year | Make | Model |
| K | 2007-10 | Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD |
| K | 2007-10 | GMC | Sierra 2500 HD, 3500 HD |
| K | 2007-09 | Chevrolet | Suburban 2500 |
| K | 2007-09 | GMC | Yukon XL 2500 |
| K | 2008-09 | Chevrolet | Express 2500, 3500 |
| K | 2008-09 | GMC | Savana 2500, 3500 |
LY6 Engine Block Specs
| LY6 Block Specs | |
|---|---|
| Casting Number | 12576181 |
| Material | Iron |
| Displacement | 6.0L / 364 c.i.d. |
| Bore Dia. | 4.000 in. |
| Stroke | 3.622 in. |
| Deck Height | 9.240 in. |
| Bore Spacing | 4.400 in. |
| Thrust Bearing Location | #3 Main |
| Main Cap Style | 6-Bolt |
| Main Housing Bore Dia. | 2.751 in. |
| Cam Housing Bore Dia. | Bore 1/5 = 2.346 in. Bore 2/4 = 2.326 in. Bore 3 = 2.307 in. |
| Cam-to-Crank Centerline | 4.914 in. |
LY6 Rotating Assembly
| LY6 Rotating Assembly Specs | |
|---|---|
| Piston Material | Hypereutectic Cast Aluminum Alloy |
| Piston Style | Dished with valve reliefs |
| Piston Volume | +6.7cc |
| Wrist Pin Dia. | 0.9431 in. (Full Floating) |
| Connecting Rod Material | Powdered Metal |
| Connecting Rod Style | I-Beam |
| Connecting Rod Length | 6.098 in. |
| Connecting Rod Housing Bore | 2.225 in. |
| Connecting Rod Bolts | M9 x 1 x 43 |
| Connecting Rod Part Number | 12607475 |
| Connecting Rod Casting Number (Last 4 Digits) | 3847 |
| Crankshaft Material | Cast Iron |
| Crankshaft Casting Number (Last 3 Digits) | 216 |
| Crankshaft Main Journal Dia. | 2.559 in. |
| Crankshaft Rod Journal Dia. | 2.100 in. |
| Reluctor Wheel | 58X |
LY6 Cylinder Heads
| LY6 Cylinder Head Specs | |
|---|---|
| Casting Numbers | 5364, 823 |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Combustion Chamber Volume | 70cc |
| Intake Port Shape | Rectangle |
| Intake Runner Volume | 257cc |
| Exhaust Port Shape | D-Port |
| Exhaust Runner Volume | 87cc |
| Intake Valve Diameter | 2.165 in. |
| Exhaust Valve Diameter | 1.590 in. |
| Cylinder Head Bolt Style | Torque to Yield (TTY) |
| Cylinder Head Bolt Size | (10) M11 x 2 x 100, (5) M8 x 1.25 x 45 |
LY6 Camshaft Specs
| LY6 Camshaft Specs | |
|---|---|
| Duration @ .050 in. (int./exh.) | 196°/208° |
| Valve Lift (int./exh.) | 0.467 in./.479 in. |
| Lobe Separation Angle | 116° |
| Cam Gear Attachment | 1-Bolt |
| Cam Gear Poles | 4x |
| Active Fuel Management (AFM) | No |
| Variable Valve Timing (VVT) | Yes |
LY6 Valvetrain
| LY6 Valvetrain Specs | |
|---|---|
| Lifter Style | Hydraulic Roller |
| Lifter Link Style | Plastic Lifter Tray |
| Lifter Body Diameter | 0.842 in. |
| Pushrod Length | 7.385 in. |
| Rocker Arm Mounting Style | Pedestal |
| Rocker Arm Style | Die-Cast, Roller Fulcrum |
| Rocker Ratio | 1.7 |
| Rocker Offset | Intake Rocker |
| Valve Spring Style | Beehive |
| Valve Spring Color | Natural |
| Valve Angle | 15 Degrees |
| Intake Valve Material | Steel, Solid Stem |
| Intake Valve Dia. | 2.165 in. |
| Exhaust Valve Material | Steel, Solid Stem |
| Exhaust Valve Dia. | 1.590 in. |
Other Key LY6 Specs
| LY6 Throttle Body, Fuel Injector Specs & More | |
|---|---|
| Intake Manifold | Truck-Style |
| Throttle Body | 87mm, 4-bolt |
| Throttle Control | Electronic, Drive-by-Wire |
| Fuel Injector Part Number | 12580681 |
| Fuel Injector Flow | 29.6 lb./hr. @ 58 psi |
| Flex Fuel Capable | No |
| Fuel Injector Length Between O-Rings | 1.900 in. |
| Fuel Injector Connector | EV6 / USCAR |
| PCM | E38 |
| Crankshaft Reluctor Ring | 58x |
| Camshaft Sensor Location | Front mount, 4x on cam |
| Oil Pan | Deep Rear Sump |
| Oil Pump | Standard Flow (0.96 c.i. per rev.) |
I have a 6.0 in my wife’s 07 1500 Silverado they call it a vortex max hd 1500
Hey Eric, there’s a good chance you’ve actually got the LQ9 version of the 6.0L LS engine. It can get confusing–you sometimes can’t go by displacement alone. Check out this post on the LQ9 and see if it looks like a better match to what’s in your wife’s truck.
Building a 6.0 and using 821 heads. Want to change out dish Pistons with flat tops. My question is I want to use a .624 lift cam. Is there going to be a valve to piston clearance problem?
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I have a 2007 Chevy 2500HD with the ‘K’ code RPO LY6…and can say that it is a BEAST of an engine! With airbag suspension (extra 5k…making full use of my 9200-lb GVWR), my 2500HD can EASILY pull my 40-ft RV…of course, the ‘manual mode’ on the 6L90 tranny doesn’t hurt.
What I basically have is a 1-ton+, with single rear tires…and here to tell you, the 360+ horsepower of the LY6 can EASILY take on a lot of the diesels out there, especially on ‘up and down’ rolling hill climbs…you just have to keep an eye on the engine temps under sustained loading. Unloaded, it gets 11-mpg City, 14-mpg Hwy…and loaded down, can still eek out 6-8-mpg with the ‘land yacht’ behind it.
I’ve got 202,000 miles on it…you’d swear it was a new engine still! My only heartbreak, is that you can no longer get a FRESH LY9 engine from Chevy…even their own offerings are ‘Remans’….so you’ll either build a new one, or you’ll buy a reman one…sad.
Hello,
I’m performing an AFM delete to my LC9 and I’m looking for a little bigger OE cam. I thought about the LY6, because I know it doesn’t have AFM but since it has VVT, I’m not sure if the cam would work. Can you tell me if it would work or recommend another cam?
Richard
So I’d like to V8/LS swap my 2007 Hummer H3 with the stock 3.7L I-5 and 4L60e. Some in my Hummer club have successfully done this and typically go through and build up their transmissions at the same time. I plan to do the same. Anyway, I have heard that this is easiest from a part compatibility and wiring perspective to do with a 2007-2009 VIN K LY6. What made the VIN K’s different? Is it that they got L92 heads and a car intake manifold? I am looking to either buy a crate engine with a warranty or totally rebuild one. If I go the rebuild route I would want to consider light mods that add perhaps 30-50HP but retain or improve excellent reliability. Looking to stick to around 400HP and bulletproof.
Any advice?