Nearly Everything You Wanted to Know About the New LT2 V8

Deep Dive

By now, everyone has seen the epic reveal of the 2020 Corvette. You've read over all the details, marveled at the specs (and crazy low asking price), and maybe even placed a deposit on one. But one thing we've overlooked, at least slightly, is the car's newly updated 6.2-liter LT2 V8. So let's take an in-depth look at the latest engine to power Chevy's iconic sports car.

Photos: Chevrolet 

Basics

Much has been made of the LT2's specs, but they're worth repeating. The latest in a very long line of Chevy small blocks produces 495 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, which bests the outgoing C7's 6.2 LT1 by 40 hp and 10 lb-ft. 

Photos: Chevrolet 

>>Join the conversation about the LT2 V8 right here in the Corvette Forum!

Much of the Same

The LT2 gains that extra power thanks to more efficient intake and exhaust manifolds and a new cam. It also sports a beefed-up lubrication system. Most everything else remains the same, including the bore and stroke (obviously), as well as the forged rods, crank, and pistons, which sport the same 11.5:1 compression ratio.

Photos: Chevrolet 

>>Join the conversation about the LT2 V8 right here in the Corvette Forum!

Feed Me

That aforementioned upgraded lubrication system is a dry-sump setup, which prevents the new engine from becoming oil-starved during the car's 1.00+ g's of lateral acceleration. If you wanted a dry sump in the C7 Stingray, you had to opt for the Z51 package.

Photos: Chevrolet 

>>Join the conversation about the LT2 V8 right here in the Corvette Forum!

Unique Location

What sets the C8 Corvette's dry-sump system apart from the rest is how it's mounted. The oil reservoir is actually attached directly to the engine instead of being mounted somewhere else in the engine bay. Chevy did this for a number of reasons, but one of them is that it allows the engine to be filled with oil when it's being built rather than when it's going down the assembly line.

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>>Join the conversation about the LT2 V8 right here in the Corvette Forum!

Less Volume

The rest of the system consists of one pump that flows oil to three multistage scavenge pumps. One is located in the valley of the V, and the other two are in the crankcase. And since the LT2 sits an inch lower in the C8 than the C7, oil volume drops from 9.7 quarts to 7.5. 

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>>Join the conversation about the LT2 V8 right here in the Corvette Forum!

Engine...In?

Historically, mid-engine cars can be a pain to maintain and oftentimes even require expensive engine-out maintenance. This is due to things like spark plugs, belts, and other components simply being out of reach otherwise. In the C8 Corvette, however, the only thing that requires the engine to be removed would be an oil pump replacement. 

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>>Join the conversation about the LT2 V8 right here in the Corvette Forum!

Low Flow

Interestingly enough, the move to mid-engine also allowed engineers to make the LT2 taller since they didn't have to worry about forward sight-lines anymore. This is what allowed them to design a new, better flowing intake. Breathing from the back also shortens the distance between the throttle body and intake valves, which improves flow. 

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>>Join the conversation about the LT2 V8 right here in the Corvette Forum!

Very Similar

The new stainless-steel exhaust manifolds utilize equal-length runners, and they're a true four-into-one design. The new cam has a slightly higher lift on the exhaust lobes, but otherwise remains very much the same as before. With an otherwise identical valvetrain, the C8 revs to 6,600 rpm (limited) - just like the C7. 

Photos: Chevrolet 

>>Join the conversation about the LT2 V8 right here in the Corvette Forum!

Fine Print

Perhaps the most interesting thing that was largely missed during the C8's reveal is that achieving the quoted 495 hp and 470 lb-ft requires an optional performance exhaust. Otherwise, you'll nab five less of each (490/465). But as they say, the devil's in the details! 

Photos: Chevrolet

>>Join the conversation about the LT2 V8 right here in the Corvette Forum!

For repair and maintenance advice about your Corvette, check the how-to section of CorvetteForum.com.