Editor reviews of the new 2010 Corvette Grand Sport Corvette are starting to hit and most are impressed with the performance of the latest special edition Vette from Chevrolet. The 2010 Grand Sport model is intended to fill the gap between the base Corvette C6 and the 505 horsepower Z06 model.
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Chevrolet
Back in April, Chevrolet announced the Grand Sport program intended to replace the C6 Corvette’s Z51 performance option package. The Grand Sport is for those Corvette customers that want a choice between an automatic or manual transmission. Chevy says its market data shows up to 70 percent of Corvette buyers opt for automatic-equipped cars.
The Grand Sport is basically an LS3-powered Z06 for the clutch inhibited and its 430 horsepower is more than enough to hang with a majority of the sports cars on the market.
What impresses us most about the Grand Sport is that the manual transmission equipped models get the same dry-sump oiling system used in the Z06 (LS7) and ZR1 (LS9) engines. It’s apparent that the Corvette team listens to the "wants and needs" of their customer and deliver a car that can be driven at an open track event with no worries.
The Grand Sports shallow dry-sump oil pan helps minimize oil starvation during hard cornering.
Two-stage gerotor oil pump: one stage is for oil supply second stage is for oil scavenge.
If you know basic engine design, when you drive into a corner at speed the lateral Gs start to move oil into the far corners of the pan. The dry sump system helps to ensure that all of the engine's moving parts stay well lubricated. The dry sump LS3 system features a unique cast aluminum pan, external oil reservoir tank and two-stage gerotor oil pump.
LSXTV had the opportunity to visit the GM Powertrain Performance Build Center where the Grand Sports LS3 dry sump engine is built and it’s a well-engineered piece. The engines are hand assembled on a line similar to the LS7 and LS9 engine. They even go through the same engine tests before shipping to Corvette plant in Bowling Green, KY.
Grand Sport's Dry Sump LS3 ready for testing at GM Powertrain's Performance Build Center
We believe that GM Powertrain has more in the works for the dry sump LS3. You know GM Racing would love to have the Grand Sport engine to power the new 2010 Camaro that will compete in the KONI Challenge Series. The Performance Build Center already buids the Corvette GT2 powerplant so a Grand Am KONI Challenge engine program would be another great project for the PBC team.
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