General Motors LS3 Engine Specs

The Chevrolet LS3 is a naturally aspirated OHV V8 petrol engine produced from 2008 to 2017, a further displacement and technology evolution within GM's LS small-block family, most notably powering the C6 Corvette (base model), Camaro SS, Chevrolet SS sedan, and the Holden Commodore and HSV performance models built in Australia.

Producing 430-436hp and 569-575Nm of torque from 6,162cc, the LS3 combines a larger bore than the LS2 with improved cylinder head porting and larger valves, resulting in noticeably better high-RPM breathing and power output while retaining the deep-skirt aluminum block architecture and broad, flexible torque delivery that characterizes the entire LS family. A compression ratio of 10.7:1 helps the LS3 extract strong performance from pump fuel without requiring forced induction, and it uses the same fundamentally oversquare bore and stroke geometry that has defined the LS engine's high-revving character since the original LS1.

The LS3 is widely regarded by enthusiasts as one of the best all-around LS engines for both factory reliability and aftermarket tuning potential, striking an excellent balance between the LS1/LS2's proven durability and meaningfully stronger factory performance. Like its LS-family relatives, the LS3's factory bottom end is robust enough to support substantial power increases through forced induction or built naturally aspirated combinations, and it remains one of the most popular engines for both Corvette/Camaro performance builds and engine swaps into other vehicles, backed by an enormous crate-engine and aftermarket parts ecosystem that makes both maintenance and modification straightforward.

Maintenance items to check on a used example include the condition of the factory intake manifold, since minor cracking has been reported on some LS-family engines with age, along with general gasket and seal wear appropriate to mileage, and the timing chain, which benefits from inspection at higher mileage for stretch-related noise. Given the LS3's use in the globally distributed Holden Commodore, HSV, and Chevrolet SS, parts availability and mechanic familiarity are excellent across multiple continents, supported by the LS engine family's enormous aftermarket presence in North America, Australia, and beyond. For buyers considering a modified example, it's worth establishing exactly what supporting upgrades (fuel system, tuning, cooling) accompany any power increase, since the LS3's strong factory bottom end tolerates significant gains only when paired with appropriately matched supporting modifications.