im sorry i have been out of the f-body scene for a while and want to get back in, my last car was turbo'ed and cant get over how much fun that is. so.... what are your oppinions on the best motor for turbo apps? thanks matt

 

Depends how much boost and horsepower you are looking to make.

LT1 and LS1 will both do the job. Also, the more cubes, the better.
If your looking to make under 500-550 RWHP, then you can leave the stock crank, and you can just get forged rods and lower compression forged pistons.

If your lookin to make over 550 RWHP - then you will need a forged crank also. Also, you will need to convert from a 2 bolt main to 4 bolt for this kinda power.

For engine choice. The LS1, all else equal, will certainly make more power per pound of boost than the LT1 - but it will also cost more to buy and build. This is why many people biuld LT1's. Also, the LT1 has an iron block, compared to an aluminum block of the LS1, so they say that LT1's can take more extreme amounts of power. But either motor is good.....

 

LT1 has no problems with lifting heads like ls1 do

 

build the lt1 car... if your going to build something.. the LT1 car is cheaper to begin with and you save money.... But the ls1 cars have mjore power and like the mods more. But the intial cost is generaly a lot more.

 

From what I've seen at the dyno I work at, the LS1's are more turbo friendly. These LS1's have all been 2000-2002 models though, but there is one guy I know who ran vortech supercharger setup on 8psi for 2 years and then this year he went twin turbo running 9-12psi. The car made just over 600rwhp and 640rwtq on stock crank, rods and pistons! They tell me the LS1 crank does not need replaced to turbo also, so to be safe, you would just need pistons and rods.
On the LT1 you're a gambling man who will lose in time if you do not put forged pistons in the car and I've heard the crank can be good from 500-550rwhp. I love my LT1, but I've been around the LS1/LS2 crowd for a while now and if I was starting from scratch, I'd go with a '00-'02 LS1.
why '00-'02? Because I've seen those ones put down more power with exhaust and intake mods than full bolt-on and cammed 98-99 LS1s.

edit...
You could spend $4000 on a LT1 car plus $10000 building the motor, rearend and throwing on a turbo kit, or you could spend $10000 on an LS1 and spend 6-8k on a turbo kit and rear-end while leaving the motor stock. For the $, I'd do the LT1, but the LS1 is less work. If $ is not an issue, LS1 has a huge aftermarket and it certainly has many perks (better ignition, heads, more power, better tuning software, cheaper aftermarket heads, and you can interchange blocks with the new LS2, ect)

 

well i put down almost $20k on my WRX to get 550whp and 11.5ets. wish i put that in the Z i used to have.... but you cant off road in a Z like i did in the WRX. soon... just have to find the right car i guess. what about the L98's? how do they do?