LS9 6.2L engine: specs, donor vehicles & swap notes
The LS9 is a 6.2 L aluminum-block Generation IV engine built 2009–2013, 2017, rated 638 hp. It came in 8 vehicle applications, including Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| RPO | LS9 |
| Family | Generation IV |
| Years | 2009–2013, 2017 |
| Displacement | 6.2 L / 376 ci |
| Horsepower | 638 hp |
| Torque | 604 lb-ft |
| Bore × stroke | 4.065 × 3.622 in |
| Compression | 9.10:1 |
| Block | aluminum |
| AFM/DOD | No |
| VIN 8th digit | T |
| Reluctor | 58x |
| Firing order | 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 |
| Head casting | 1771 |
- Valve guide wear (affects LS9 as well as LS7). Fix: Manganese-bronze valve guides and valve job.
- Supercharger isolator rattle at idle/partial throttle. Fix: Solid isolator coupling (Lingenfelter).
Aluminum, supercharger, Ti connecting rods, forged pistons, dry sump
The LS9 specs above are not yet confirmed against GM documents; GM ratings varied by year and vehicle.
How the LS9 differs from the other 6.2 L Gen IV engines
The LS9 is one of the seven 6.2 L Gen IV engines we list: L92, L94, L99, L9H, LS3, LS9, LSA. From our engine table:
- No AFM. The L94, L99 have it, so the LS9 is the easier cam-swap candidate of the group.
- Compression 9.10:1, tied with the LSA for the lowest of the group.
- Up to 638 hp from the factory, the most of the seven 6.2 L Gen IV engines we list.
- No VVT (the L92, L94, L99, L9H have it).
- Built 2009–2013, 2017.
Swapping the LS9: what to plan for
- Computer: the LS9 has a 58x crank. An E38 or E67 matches it; a 0411/P59 also needs a 58x-to-24x converter box and its own sensor and knock-sensor wiring. Throttle and wiring have to suit the computer too. More: how to wire your LS (the full checklist for your engine and computer).
- Dry sump from the factory: plan room for the tank and lines, or a wet-sump conversion (pan, pickup and pump made for it). More: oil pans.
- Factory supercharged: the intercooler pump and front heat exchanger come with it, so plan space ahead of the radiator, and plan the fuel system for boost. More: fuel system sizing.
- From a Corvette (Chevrolet Corvette ZR1): Corvette spacing, the most compact accessory drive. More: accessory drive spacing.
Refresh parts for the LS9
From our Gen IV refresh list, the parts that are specific to the LS9. Seals, gaskets and the upgrades worth doing on any Gen IV with the engine out are in the full refresh list, next to every torque spec.
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| Part | GM part # | Why for this engine |
|---|---|---|
| GM cylinder head gasket for GM LS9 engines, 4.100 in bore, .054 in compressed thickness, each | 12622033 | Listed for the LS9; a new gasket goes on any time the heads come off. |
| Chevrolet LS9 head gasket, sold individually | 12622033 | Listed for the LS9; a new gasket goes on any time the heads come off. |
| LSXceleration Gen IV LS knock sensor 28-23730 | 28-23730 | The LS9 has its knock sensors on the side of the block. |
| GM Gen IV camshaft position sensor 12591720 (58x engines) | 12591720 | 58x LS9: the cam sensor lives in the front cover. |
| Chevrolet Performance 58x crankshaft position sensor 12703627 | 12703627 | 58x LS9: the crank sensor is behind the starter. |
From real tunes: 6.2 L on a Gen IV computer
What these settings look like in the 27 boosted pump-gas tunes for 6.2 L engines on Gen IV computers (E38, E67 and the 24x E40) in our tune library (as of 2026-10-15). Every RPO of this size is pooled, not only the LS9, and so are all cams, heads and builds: that is why the ranges are wide. Use them to spot a value that is far outside what works, not as your numbers.
| Setting | Range | Median | Tunes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot idle target | 575 rpm to 850 rpm | 675 rpm | 27 (middle 80%) |
| Warm idle airflow, in gear | 6.0 g/s to 11.5 g/s | 6.9 g/s | 27 (middle 80%) |
| Idle spark (around 800 rpm) | 6° to 18° | 15° | 27 (middle 80%) |
| Power enrichment (PE) lambda | 0.75 to 0.82 | 0.78 | 25 (middle 80%) |
Boosted builds pool every boost level, so we leave WOT spark out: it depends on boost, fuel and intercooling.
For starting values matched to your LS9's cam, injectors and fuel, use the turn-on tune builder. Always finish on a dyno, and read our safe tuning limits before any wide-open pass.
Donor vehicles with the LS9
Where to find an LS9 at the junkyard: 8 vehicle applications below. Confirm it from the RPO sticker in the glovebox or the 8th VIN digit (for the LS9: T).
| Vehicle | Years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 | 2009–2013 |
| Equus Bass 770 | 2015 |
| HSV GTSR W1 | 2017 |
| HTT Pléthore LC 750 | 2010 |
| Icona Vulcano Titanium | 2016 |
| SIN R1 650 | 2015–present |
| Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS | 2009 |
| VLF Destino | 2016 |
Buying a used LS9
A used LS9 has no single part number, so this page does not link a search. Confirm the engine from the RPO sticker or the 8th VIN digit (for the LS9: T) before you buy.