I drive a 2000 SVT Contour, but my real love is camaros. I know that the LS1 motor can be very different. I have heard stories of cars rolling off the line with 12+ rwhp more than the car ahead of it or behind it. I looked thorugh the site and didn't find much, so i was wondering if anybody knew why this happens?

 

Build and casting tolerances... thats the only explaination. Otherwise they make more power the newer the year in stock trim. But ive seen #'s + - 20hp. No real reason

 

Thanx Dave i appreciate the input.

PS: Anybody wanna trade a 2000 SVT Contour for an LS1 Camaro

 

camaro? all i have is a firebird.. sorry its not what ya want

 

The differences in the same model year are due to dyno tuning coupled with the fact that the SAE correction factors aren't perfect. Other than that, GM has QC and I'm willing to bet that all LS1s being pumped out in the same year put out within plus, minus 10-HP, which is about 3 percent. that is why Chevy has a QC dept, to make sure there is a low amount of varrience in the motor. for what it is worth, the Vette MOTOR and the F-body MOTOr for 2001 and 2002 are identical

 

I think it mainly has to do with how the owner drives. I drive my car like a rape ape and i pulled the numbers in my sig, My freind dynoed his 02 z with dynamouth exhaust and he only pulled 305 rwhp, and they are both m6's

 

he dynoed right after mine, and he drives his car pretty easy.

 

I wasn't aware that how hard you drive your car had anything to do with the power you put out on the dyno. Please correct me if I am wrong

 

You're not wrong. There are many things that can affect power output of a car, even similar year cars. How hard you drive it is not one of them.

If the guy with the 02 was getting knock retard that is just one simple explanation for the power difference.

 

I'd like to agree with you on this, but I have to go with PhantomTA on this one .....................not all motors are built equal --- regardless of GM's Q.C. department. Unfortunately, not every piece is exactly the same size, shape or weight .................there are differences --- it's a fact of life, and very unrealistic to believe otherwise. Now are these differences huge?? Well, no..............but they're enough to make >10 HP difference between two "identical" cars + motors. Just a slight over-bore, or slight under-bore could mean the difference between a little more friction, or a little more compression, or a little more displacement in the engine, right?? While it may be almost negligable, it's certainly measureable. How about when a crankshaft is made .................what if one particular crank requires a little more "meat" to be removed to balance it than another crank --- this would leave it lighter, which in turn is less rotating mass, right?? .......................so, point being, even small differences can eventually add up to some motors putting out more power than others. THEN, once you add in transmissions with different tolerances, gears/differentials with different tolerances, lighter/heavier driveshafts, axles, tires, rims, etc., you can see where rear-wheel horsepower #'s can be very different.

 

you also have to bring into consideration, location, dyno model, software used, weather.. lots of stuff..

it is very rare that I see anyone who has done bone stock runs..
I have done two at two different shops on two different days.. I got similar numbers .. but they werent the exact same.. I know for a fact that my car should show btw. a 305-310 on a dyno...

I have pulled 307 and 305 a few thousand miles later.. I dont baby the car but I dont beat on her either.. Heck, the type of gas you use can make a difference as well.. For example, I find that Mobil gas (which is owned by Exxon) feels better in my car than Exxon.. And I use Exxon 9 times out of 10 here.. I only use Exxon Shell or Mobil. Thats it.. Just a preference and a cost thing..

I will dyno with Exxon in it in a couple of weeks.. Will see from there.

But I really think that along with all of this "dynoing" you should also go to the track and have a cross comparison....

I will go to the track as soon as I get tubes installed on these ET Streets.

 

Hey Redz, dont forget that your friend still had the factory lid, either way, I hear he is a really cool dude.