New Exhaust Manifold Design

The LS1 and the LS6 also share a new exhaust manifold design. The previous stamped steel version has been replaced with a new thin wall cast iron design for improved flow of exhaust gases and increased engine performance. Another benefit of the new cast iron exhaust manifold design is improved durability, enhancing an already robust design.

New Synchronizer Material

Synchronizers have been upgraded on the manual transmission, with carbon blocker rings on all the forward speed gears. Carbon blocker rings provide more abusive capacity in the synchronizers and more energy capacity. The carbon blocker rings will also improve durability.

Automatic Transmission Corvettes are Smoother, Quieter

A new one-way clutch pulley on the alternator enabled the lowering of the engine idle speed on Corvettes equipped with automatic transmissions. With a lower engine idle speed, shifts in and out of gear from park are smoother. Fuel efficiency is improved,* idle creep in traffic is reduced, and the car is quieter at idle.

*2001 EPA estimated MPG: 18/26 highway (automatic), 2000 EPA estimated MPG: 17/25 highway (automatic).

Lighter Automatic Transmission Case

By optimizing the design of the automatic transmission case, engineers were able to take some mass out of the case. Using finite element analysis (FEA), the Corvette Team was able to trim sections of the case and material thickness', reducing mass by 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds).

More Friendly to the Environment

Due to further validation work and the improvement of synthetic oil formulations, the Corvette team was able to comfortably extend the oil change interval from 10,000 miles to 15,000 miles/one-year time frame. Mobil 1 synthetic oil or equivalent is recommended.