I am purchasing another Camaro as was wondering, which would be better and why?

Lets say I bought a LT1 car and added the LT4 package http://www.paceparts.com/product.asp?0=0&1=0&3=55996

or a LS1. Which would be faster? I am looking at getting one of these cars in the low 12's and wondered if it would be cheaper to pick up a $3500 LT1 car, spend $3000 on this package or just buy a LS1 car? I know the LS1 car would have to be modified to get the low 12's also, but which would have more potential?

What are the pros and cons to each one of these?

Thanks

Tom

 

Having no personal experience with this I can only tell you what I have read.
The LT1 will be the better bang for the buck, although I would say that the aftermarket for the LS1 has grown to be nearly as large as the LT1 - the LS1 parts are a tad more expensive.

It won't take much to make an LT1 equipped car as quick as it's counterpart - and will take just a bit more to make it faster.

The LT1 can be had for cheaper initially - but the LS1 is a better engine.............at first.

It's a real tradeoff.

 

LS1 has more potential to a point. The heads are better, the exhaust manifolds are better, especially on 01-02 cars, they are easier to work on, dont have an opti, come with bigger rockers, and put down ~ 300rwhp stock.

LT1 is cheaper to purchase, parts are cheaper, they are bitch to work on, they have a opticrap, they have $h1tty exhaust manifolds.

If all you want is low 12's Go with the LT1. Throw a nice cam, headers, p&p the heads, and get some Drag radials and you are there, for like $3000.

Oh yeah, the LT4 Kit is a waste, you can get a cam and your heads/intake ported for way less, and make way more power.

PS, i love my LT1

 

After doing heads/cam, the ls1 doens't have anything over the lt1. They do put down about 40-50rwhp more than the lt1 stock.

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LT1 is cheaper to purchase, parts are cheaper, they are bitch to work on, they have a opticrap, they have $h1tty exhaust manifolds.

The opti isn't that big of a deal, I'd rather change it every 75k miles then have piston slap everyday. It is a b*tch to work on, but hey its worth it. If you want low 12's the exhaust manifolds don't matter because you'll be running headers.

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If all you want is low 12's Go with the LT1. Throw a nice cam, headers, p&p the heads, and get some Drag radials and you are there, for like $3000.

This is a good idea, but not even close on the price. Here's a breakdown.

Lloyd Elliot heads/cam/ported intake $1500
1.6 rr's $225
30lb injectors $220
Gaskets $150
Head bolts(arp) $55
Header gaskets $20
Plugs/wires $70
CAI $150
Stall(assuming auto) $465 from midwest
gears $175
Jet hot headers $500
y-pipe $150-200
catback $250
o2 extensions $45
drag radials or et streets $350 mounted
Tranny cooler $40
Some sort of tuning(pcmforless is great) $75(unlimited email)
laptop to car cable(so you can scan it to get a good tune) $65
Lower control arms $85
Pushrods $36 from cmotorsprts

Thats all a little over 5k, but should get you ~400rwhp and low 12's with a decent 60ft. Also you need to think about how many miles is on the motor and tranny when you install this.

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Oh yeah, the LT4 Kit is a waste, you can get a cam and your heads/intake ported for way less, and make way more power.

PS, i love my LT1

The lt4 kit is a waste.

 

I have the LT4 stuff, I would go a different route.
Not saying it isnt good stuff but for the money, there are better avenues now!

 

This is all I have to say. Click

 

FYI--this is an LS1 dyno graph, totally different unless I am missing the meaning of the post....

 

The origional poster asked if he should mod an lt1 or ls1. Several people posted expected gains for the lt1 so I showed him what a bolt on ls1 with a cam could do on stock heads. With some aftermarket heads on that car it should be pushing upwards of 500hp as opposed to

 

But if that LS1 went to the track wouldnt he not hook up with his stock supension and espesially stock tires. That Lt1 probabley will put it to the ground.

 

I'm pretty sure they have slicks and some suspension work done to that car. I'm guessing since it was a shop car and that graph was kind of advertisement that they figured only the HP mods needed to be mentioned to show how X mods can equal Y RWHP/RWTQ.

That is amazing though that a LS1 can hit 450 RWHP on stock and untouched heads. If you want the cheapest route then find a decent mileage LT1 and give it a good heads/cam package and bolt-ons. But if you can justify spending a few extra dollars for the car then get a older LS1 (many 98's can be had for 8-11K). Autos are easier and cheaper to get low 12's so for that I would recommend:

3500-4000 stall torque converter
Shift kit
Tranny cooler
LT headers
Lid
SSRA or FTRA
Catback or cutout
Drag Radials or slicks

That alone could get you low 12's at a decent elevation and cooler air. But add a ls6/lsx intake, pulley and a little suspension work and your gonna be flirting with high 11's if the air is cold enough when you run. For a Manual you have to add 12 bolt rear, new shifter/clutch and since they don't have torque converters you may need a mild cam unless the driver is top notch.

Good luck. There is no bad decision here. LT1 or LS1 are good for your goals so either way you should end up smiling when you see those timeslips.

P.S. My car just turned 60K miles and I have no piston slap or optispark. I guess I got the best of both worlds WooHoo. Point is not all LS1's have piston slap (mine doesn't) so if your gonna buy one make sure you start it up while it's as cold as possible to see if that car does or not.

 

An ls1 with the t-rex cam huh?

A motor that can barely idle, has no low end torque, get's 4 mile's to the gallon and will fail all emission's tests.

Why would you want that


Go with the LT1.

 

Some wouldn't want that. But then again some people live where there is no emission testing. Some didn't buy a F-body to get good gas mileage and don't care about that either. For a daily driver probably not the best but for a track car then why not.

But all the bolt-ons and a 224/224 114 lsa cam with a good tune can get ls1's to about 400 rwhp, still be emission passable, have plenty of torque and still get decent gas mileage. All without touching the heads.

LT1 is still a good idea but don't discredit the LS1 in the process. Mod for mod I say LS1 but dollar for dollar you have to go LT1.