These are my choices. I want the LS1 but with a budget of $5000-$7500 I can get a mint L98 a decent LT1 or a ragged LS1.

What is my best buy? I want fast, I want to beat my friends 400whp heads cam 97 Vette.

Is a 130,000 mile LS1 a "POS"? How much am I looking at for a rebuild down the line?

I have been in all these cars and they all felt fast but I don't know their potenials.

Hook an F Body brother up with your opinions.

Dan

 

Since you're on a budget, I'd go with the LT1/LS1. LS1 if you could do it though.

 

6spd LT1,

You can say your old school

 

If you're patient, you can get decent LS1s in your price range. A guy on another board just scored a TA with 83k on it, good condition except for a dent on a door, for 5,000 off ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

I've seen other decent LS1s go for under 8k.

No need to get a "ragged" LS1, just watch the for sale sections of all the boards and Ebay. Be ready with cash in hand to jump on a deal when it comes up, and Carfax/inspect thoroughly to make sure you don't get a flood baby.

And don't be afraid of cars with >100k on them. Cars in areas outside the northeast can get driven >25k highway miles a year and still be in good shape if well maintained. It's all about the maintenance, as I've seen cars of all makes that looked like disasters with <50k on them.

 

The LS1 will be your best bet if your goal is to eventually hang with a 400rwhp LS1 Vette.

A LT1 could do it, but it will take some more modding.

 

Another vote for 6spd LT1...But will take a lot of $$$ to get to the power level you mentioned.

 

Whichever motor you choose, you are going to have to spend some money to keep up with your friends modified LS1. You can get an LT1 for pretty cheap these days, but if you keep your eyes open, you can find an LS1 in good shape for a affordable price.

 

I agree, he spent about 15g's to get 400whp. I can assure u I will do it for less.

How much Hp and I gonna need in an F Body to beat his Vette?

My brother had a 93 LT1 with Procharger, SLP Headers, Flowmasters and more and only ran a 13.2@107. His car was an automatic and fully Dynamatted with a heavy duty stereo. My friend says his is gonna run 11.5's at the track but he never ran at the track and his pop with a 2002 Convertible Vette kinda run neck and neck. He has Cartek 3x Cam and head package with headers LS6 intake and supporting mods.

Would an LS1 F Body with headers and Supercharger take him out?

Dan

 

Wow.......your brother should have run much faster than that. I ran 13.8@100 with the small mods that I have. Could be the driver.......



No.......I don't think a blown LS1 with headers would come close to 11.5. Although he probably won't either with his Vette. I'd say low 12 would be in order.

A Blown/heads/Cammed/Full Exhaust Camaro would surely put his foot in his mouth though.

 

I highly recommend the LS1 for going 11's. Head work, cam, intake, headers, torque converter = mid 11's.

For that, I needed a completely new engine. I think there's I've got $7000 in heads and shortblock alone. Stock block LS1's will go mid-11's with just a cam, valvesprings, and porting on the existing heads. ...and there are now new budget LS2 GM heads on the market that flow 300 cfm on the intake side! It's quickly becoming the engine of choice for going fast on the cheap.