Dyno Graph Shows Crazy Differences Between LT2 and C8 Corvette Z06’s LT6

How and where the LT2 and LT6 make their power is a truly fascinating lesson in powerplants.

The crowning jewel of the C8 Corvette Z06 is and always has been its amazing powerplant, the brand-new, flat-plane crank LT6 V8. Producing an incredible 670 peak horsepower, the LT6 instantly became the world’s most powerful naturally-aspirated production V8, despite the fact that it displaces just 5.5 liters or 336 cubic inches. It’s truly a technical marvel of a powerplant, but Corvette Forum member imxz28 recently posted a dyno graph in this thread that sheds even more light on how different this engine is from the Stingray’s LT2 in terms of its power curve.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the flat-plane crank engine makes the bulk of its power high in the rev range, because, well, it has a redline that’s considerably higher than the traditional LT2 – 8,600 rpm versus 6,500 rpm. As we can see from the chart, the LT2’s torque hits at a much lower rpm, however, which was expected but still nice to see in graphical form. That torque curve remains relatively flat throughout the rev range but does begin to drop off after 5,000 rpm or so.

Meanwhile, the LT2’s horsepower comes on strong at a little under 3,000 rpm and climbs dramatically until it surpasses 5,000 rpm and then levels off completely. The LT6, on the other hand, is a different animal altogether. Both horsepower and torque start to come on just before 2,000 pm, but neither really climb dramatically under the engine passes 3,000 rpm, as is the case with the LT2. From there, horsepower doesn’t catch up with torque until 5,000 pm, and then things get really interesting as torque levels off and horsepower just keeps on going, all the way to that lofty aforementioned redline.

Amazingly, the flat-plane crank engine is still making 400 +pound-feet of torque at and beyond 5,000 rpm, which is not typical of high-revving, small-displacement engines of any kind. Of course, this engine makes far less peak torque than horsepower, but those limits will only be reached by those that rev it out accordingly. Either way, this chart proves that the LT6 is a technological and engineering powerhouse, and it’s one that we can’t wait to experience for ourselves.

Photos: Chevrolet

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