Hey guys i have a 56 belair that I would like to put a Ls1 in, but I am also thinking about an LT1. I know most of you will tell me to do the LS1 and I would like to but considering over all cost I am wondering which to go with. This might be a little long. Remember I want to spend the least amount of money possible to have a reliable engine that meets my goal.

Ok my goal is 500-550 fwhp that can be driven on the street, but pretty radical cars to me are streetable. Also I do not have emissions or anything so that is not a problem. I would also like a reliable 500 hp engine (as reliable as possible). But I am going to race it and beat on it, but I also drive it alot. I will be a 6 speed also. Can I put these numbers out with a stock bottom end and not have to worry about it blowing up? Basically I am wondering how much it would cost to put out my HP goals and be a reliable engine. I am guessing with bolt-ons and heads and cam It will be in the $3500-4000 range.

Also I am wondering it I go with a pretty god size cam will can I make close to 550 hp while still being streetable and be able to drive it on the highway?


Ok now for the LT1 I could hit 500 hp with the LE3 heads and cam with all the bolt-ons. I can do this for under $2200 and I realize I am pretty much maxing out the LT1 with that combo and an Ls1 would have more potential, but it is a lot less money. Also I could build a 383 LT1 with forged internals and LE3 heads for about $1000-1500 more than building a stock bottom end LS1, but I would have less to worry about on the bottom end.

Another factor that comes into play is the initial purchase of the engine and trans. The LT1 would be much cheaper than an LS1. So I could probably build a forged 383 LT1 with the same power as a stock internal LS1.

I know this is probably confusing and I know it is my choice. But I would like input from everyone. I would really like and LS1 because they are such cool engines. But If I can obtain the same goals with and LT1 for much less money I would probably do that.

thanks for any and all help.
Tom

 

I have looked into this quite a bit, though I do not have the funds to do anything yet and if you are starting from scratch you might as will go with a LSx. I bought a LT1 to put into my '56 and sold it earlier this year to work on other areas of the car and to hold out for a LSx. From what I know, you would have to do similar modifications to put in a LT1 as with an LS1, parts may be a little (not a lot) more and the engine/tranny will be more (though they have come down a lot in price). Otherwise it is a pretty similar swap (again as far as I know). If you would like better info, contact Street & Performance http://www.hotrodlane.cc/ , they sell parts for the swaps, have done both swaps, and would know the ins and outs of the swaps better than almost anybody. Also check out http://www.chevytalk.com and just do a search, there are some very knowledgeable people there as well. Hope this helps.

David

 

I too have done mucho research in this area. Your goals are not unatainable, but they are difficult, to say the least. You have a few options.

1. Contact Chad at Golen Engine Service, www.golenengineservice.com. He can tell you how to get 500 to 550 to the rear out of an LT1. Thats all the man does for a living, build gen 2 and 3 motors. He will tell you that you are NOT doing it for under $4000. He's right. Thats the hard part.

2. Contact Billy grahams camaro/firebird salvage yard,
[HTML]http://www.billygrahamscamaro.com/pages/1/index.htm.[/HTML]
He will sell you a used, in good condition, out of a running car, LT1 short block with the crank still in it for about $750. Not sure about the long block price, but that is probably your best bet. But with this option comes the machine work on the block, about $100/cylinder for boring out at any good shop.

The other option is to go to GM performance parts, they have crate LT1's for $4k, approx.

From what I know, you are not going to get 550 to the rear out of a stock bottom LT1. Not naturally asperated, anyway.

For a reliable, street drivable, 550 horse motor, that you can beat on, then take to work the next day, the bottom end needs to be balanced, and forged. LT1 pistons are crap above 400. They are hypereutectic, very light wieght, therefore they can't support the constant horsepower. If you're going on the bottle, thats a different story, the powers not always there, they can take a bit more, but you're reliability is out the window.

IMO, wait, save the money, do it right the first time, or you'll be doing it again.

A race prepped block (forged and balanced) will cost you about 3200 from golen engines. Then comes the heads, good heads are another $2k. Those two parts are the core of an NA 550 hp motor.

Good luck to you.

 

a good, yet streetable heads/cam LS6 will easily put out 430-440hp to the wheels.

on the conservative side, using 12% drivetrain loss...that's 480-490hp at the crank

a slightly nastier cam will easily yield 500fwhp

 

Why LS1? Look into the 6Ls (LQ4/LQ9 etc) and go from there. Since you're thinking of an LT1 you obviously don't mind an iron block and they're usually less expensive. Plus you'd have the extra cubes. If you are willing to buy used you can build one up relatively inexpensive. I frequently see good used cams for LS engines for under $200, then with the space under your hood you can run an LQ4 intake which costs less than an LS6 intake and yet flows a little better. With a decent sized cam, ported heads, and bolt ons you should easily see 500 fwhp from a 6.0 and be totally streetable. As for the stock rotating assembly, there are plenty of LS1's running 11's and lower with them.

Ya, LT1s are cheaper as far as retail, but it also takes more mods to get them to perform like an LS based engine.

 

Popular Hotrodding did an article on swapping out the FI for a carb. With a cam swap and stiffer springs to raise the rev limit an out of the box crate LS1 made 500 @ the crank.