to the increased LS6 power production. To allow the valves to stay in contact with the cam lobes at higher speeds, the 2002 LS6 also gets new hollow stem valves. On the exhaust side, the valves are filled with a liquid sodium alloy for better heat transfer from the exhaust valves to the valve guides and then to the engine coolant.
    On the exhaust, the new Z06 loses the dual pup catalytic converters that were located immediately downstream of the exhaust manifolds. Eliminating the converters allows for increased exhaust flow, while modification of the under-floor cats makes up for the lack of pre-cats to meet NLEV emissions standards.
    To withstand the greater torque, the LS6 clutch has been redesigned to increase clamping force by seven percent.
    Corvette engineers also worked to improve the Z06’s already-superb handling with some tweaks in the suspension. A change to the valving in the rear shocks allows for a smoother, more efficient transfer of the additional horsepower and torque to the pavement. According to Corvette ride and handling development engineer Mike Neal, "Revising the damping allowed us to improve the track performance as well as the everyday ride quality."