anyone tried putting a set of alumnium lt1 on their early model 350/400 small block.

 

Get used L98 heads, basically the same but not reverse cool.

 

the lt1 ports are a whole lot different than the l98's. you will loose quite a bit of power potential going to the l98's. putting the lt1' on the early block can be done but I don't know how the drilling needs to be done and where to convert them to the old style cooling system. someone on here should know.

going to the L98's would be a whole lot easier if you aren't looking for every hp you can get. 300hp shouldn't be a problem with a stock set of l98's in a very streatable engine.

 

found this link at third gen.com. Completed: LT1 Heads on a GEN1

 

Not even close…

LT1 heads are probably closest to the vortec/fast burn heads WRT to stuff that just bolts up to an SBC. They have fast burn chambers and newer port designs.

The biggest issue with putting them on an SBC is that the LT1 didn’t pass any coolant through the manifold, so the coolant passages that would normally exit either end of the head into the manifold are facing downward to connect to passages in the block. What you need to do is to make plugs for those passages, hammer them in and then weld and deck the heads and then either drill holes in the intake manifold face to make the passages to the intake or drill holes in the front face of the head and run a remote thermostat… it’s really not that hard and works quite well.

If you’re going to run a remote thermostat anyway then a converted LT1 manifold is a nice touch.

 

Whoops - guess I will have to find a set and look at them, been years since I have touched some. The L98 aluminums dont have the fast burn chamber?

 

Nope, on neither the true ‘vette heads that came on vettes or the later “vette heads” that came on ZZ_ crate engines. Really, the aluminum vette heads are approaching junk in stock form, they flowed less then the stock iron L98 heads and most 305 heads from the 80’s, and the LT1 heads have an easy 50cfm or more on them on the intake ports…

 

Would the vortec/fast burn heads when ported make the same power as a set of lets say LE2 heads?

Thanks

 

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/tp...eads-gen1.html here is the link this guy did, looks real good.

 

with similar work done they should... they are very similar except the vortec/fastburn heads start with taller ports/higher port locations like the LT4 heads...

 

I have a friend that has a 89 GTA with LT-1 heads and Intake and if he can keep his trany in his car he will break in to the low 13's or high 12's no problem.
Did a real nice job on it and runs well