lt1's have allot better heads so you wont ever be able to compare it to a lt1 without an intake and head work.(people have modded lt heads and intakes for tpi engines) Even with a hot cam if it can't move the air the cams not gonna help much. The same amount of money spent on both engines the lt1 will always come out on top. performance money is best spent on a lt1 if possible. Tpis are sweet motors but unfortunatly all bottom end engines doesnt set 1/4 miles times.

Lt1 pros.
stronger rods and crank.
more accurate ignition control.
better heads
better intake
better cooling/waterpump setup(cam driven)
better cam

 

The LT1 has teh advantage stock, and that is pretty much it. The LT1 definitely has a big disadvantage once you start heavily modifying. You have 0 aftermarket blocks and not nearly as many aftermarket intakes/heads. The aftermarket heads that you can get (besides converted SBC) are the same exact AFRs and TFSs that are available for the SBC except they are setup for reverse cooling and cost a ****load more. There is a reason all of the high-end LT1s have converted SBC heads/intakes.

 

Its like an LS1 vs LT1 thread but I'm on the winning side. WooT.

 

If you change the block its not the same engine so that defeats the point of the debate. I think were talking stock l98 and stock lt1 wich one is better to mod.

I dont know about you but if im changing blocks im putting a lq9 in not a 350. As far as heads theres a ton, but if im gonna do anything im getting a set of loyd elliot lt4 intake and head combo.

This is just like the ls1 to lt1 argument. Ls1 are better then lt just like lt are better then l98. As technology gets better as do the engines and we all see the stock improvment in hp to prove it.

 

Back when my car was more stock than it is now, I was making 20 HP less and 40 TQ more than similar LT1's. However they were running 14.20's to my 14.0's.
LT1's are better stock above 5000 rpms, but with their optisparks failing at the rate of once a month, I'll take an old school TPI motor any day. Heads and headers for an LT1 cost the same as heads, headers, and an intake manifold for a TPI, so that cancels each other out.

 

everyone underestimates the TPI, so what if the GM guys fell asleep and fell back on the 305 intake for the 350. the thing is a torque monster in a catagorey of its own, it is definatley a very unique idea in intake design. It's also a very viable race intake if it is your style. Port the plenum and a pair of SLP runners and basicly you've designed a larger equivalent of the stock intake, that was designed for the 305 to produce 350 like torque off the line. shorten the runner length, effectivley extending the size of the plenum and you've got a intake that can compete with any newer style and develope menacing toque at a lower rpm range, and still provide adequate flow at higher rpms's...just as a few guys have proven recently - a well modified intake can run up to 6500 rpm's, though it is true the stock heads are another bottleneck that needs attention as well.