the Ls6 uses a 6 bolt main cap. 4 from the top and 2 from the side. the rods are also a "cracked rod" design. Its the first time that I am aware of that that has been used on a motor. I may be wrong about that though. There are fewer head bolts on the LS1 than the SBC motors, why I dont know but I dont consider that a good thing. alot of the guys running turbo'd/blower motors that are reaching the 700RWHP mark are lifting the heads on a regular basis. The general concensus seems to be the lack of head bolts that is causing the problem.
the
oil pump is driven off of the cam/timing chain. The bearings are also a camfered (sp) bearing. Your right there is no distributor. The LSX based motors also use 1 coil per cylinder for a total of 8 coils. Where the standard SBC uses only 1 coil. I do know that part of the ignition system is inside those coils which has made it VERY tough for any aftermarket company to improve on the GM design.