LY6 6.0L engine: specs, donor vehicles & swap notes
The LY6 is a 6.0 L iron-block Generation IV engine built 2007–2013, rated 361 hp. It came in 5 vehicle applications, including Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD/3500HD, GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD. Things to know: it has variable valve timing.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| RPO | LY6 |
| Family | Generation IV |
| Years | 2007–2013 |
| Displacement | 6.0 L / 364 ci |
| Horsepower | 361 hp |
| Torque | 385 lb-ft |
| Bore × stroke | 4.0 × 3.622 in |
| Compression | 9.60:1 |
| Block | iron |
| AFM/DOD | No |
| VIN 8th digit | K/N |
| Reluctor | 58x |
| Stock cam | Duration 196°/208° @.050 in. int./exh.; valve lift 0.467"/0.479" int./exh.; 116° LSA; 1-bolt gear, 4x; AFM No, VVT Yes. |
| Firing order | 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 |
| Oil capacity | 6.0 qt |
| Oil filter | 89017524 / PF48 |
| Spark plug | 12571164 / 41-985 |
| Plug gap | 0.040 in |
| Head casting | 5364, 823 |
- Exhaust manifold bolt failure. Fix: Replace broken bolts with updated hardware during manifold service.
- Oil pressure sensor failure. Fix: Replace the oil pressure sensor.
- Water pump and cooling system wear. Fix: Proper cooling system maintenance; replace water pump before failure.
Iron/Alum. heads, VVT. Uses L92/LS3-style rectangle-port heads (no sodium exhaust valves)
The LY6 specs above are not yet confirmed against GM documents; GM ratings varied by year and vehicle.
How the LY6 differs from the other 6.0 L Gen IV engines
The LY6 is one of the nine 6.0 L Gen IV engines we list: L76, L77, L96, L98, LC8, LFA, LS2, LY6, LZ1. From our engine table:
- Iron block. Among the 6.0 L Gen IV engines, the LY6 shares it with the L96, LC8; the L76, L77, L98, LFA, LS2, LZ1 are aluminum.
- No AFM. The L76, L77, LFA, LZ1 have it, so the LY6 is the easier cam-swap candidate of the group.
- Compression 9.60:1, the lowest of the group.
- Up to 361 hp from the factory (5th of the nine 6.0 L Gen IV engines we list; the group tops out at 400 hp).
- Variable valve timing. Also on the L76, L96, LC8, LZ1.
- Built 2007–2013.
Swapping the LY6: what to plan for
- Computer: the LY6 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).
- VVT: on a VVT LY6 the cam phaser and VVT timing cover change what bolts on: only some water pumps clear a VVT timing cover, and a non-VVT cam needs a VVT delete and a tune. More: accessory drives.
- From a truck or SUV (Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD/3500HD, Chevrolet Suburban 2500, GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD, GMC Yukon XL 2500): truck accessory drive spacing (the farthest forward of the three), and the factory truck oil pan hangs low; most car swaps need a swap pan. More: accessory drive spacing · oil pans.
- From a van or work truck (Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana 2500/3500/4500): the accessory drive and intake differ from the pickups; check what comes with it before you plan brackets (not confirmed in our data).
Refresh parts for the LY6
From our Gen IV refresh list, the parts that are specific to the LY6. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| LSXceleration Gen IV LS knock sensor 28-23730 | 28-23730 | The LY6 has its knock sensors on the side of the block. |
| GM Gen IV camshaft position sensor 12591720 (58x engines) | 12591720 | 58x LY6: the cam sensor lives in the front cover. |
| Chevrolet Performance 58x crankshaft position sensor 12703627 | 12703627 | 58x LY6: the crank sensor is behind the starter. |
From real tunes: 6.0 L on a Gen IV computer
What these settings look like in the 329 naturally aspirated pump-gas tunes for 6.0 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 LY6, 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 | 550 rpm to 850 rpm | 700 rpm | 327 (middle 80%) |
| Warm idle airflow, in gear | 6.0 g/s to 12.3 g/s | 8.0 g/s | 326 (middle 80%) |
| Idle spark (around 800 rpm) | 13° to 20° | 15° | 329 (middle 80%) |
| Power enrichment (PE) lambda | 0.78 to 0.87 | 0.83 | 322 (middle 80%) |
| WOT spark at 5,000 rpm, about 0.9 g/cyl | 12.0° to 25.0° | 19.0° | 329 (middle 80%) |
For starting values matched to your LY6'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 LY6
Where to find an LY6 at the junkyard: 5 vehicle applications below. Confirm it from the RPO sticker in the glovebox or the 8th VIN digit (for the LY6: K/N).
| Vehicle | Years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana 2500/3500/4500 | 2008–2009 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD/3500HD | 2007–2009 |
| Chevrolet Suburban 2500 | 2007–2013 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD | 2007–2009 |
| GMC Yukon XL 2500 | 2007–2013 |
Buying a used LY6
A used LY6 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 LY6: K/N) before you buy.
Next steps
- Plan a swap with the LY6
- Find a cam for the LY6
- What the LY6 tune needs
- Compare every LS donor engine
- Size injectors and fuel pump
- LS torque specs
- Swap guides by vehicle