I am in the process of looking for a decent block for my car, as my Z recently wanted to try being a V-6. I thought it'd be cool to use a block out of a vette, as it is aluminum. I found a Corvette nut here in OK with a couple of aluminum LT-1s he was trying to sell, and assured me that an aluminum block would not work properly, as the accessories won't mount right. I figure he just doesn't want me "wasting" an aluminum block on a Z. Anybody sure that it would work? I think it would, but I dont want to blow the cash and end up being wrong.

 

Not sure what the Corvette guy had, but AFAIK, all factory LT1s had cast iron blocks.

 

Never heard of an aluminum block LT1 before.... Aluminum heads, yes; but not aluminum block. Those are the LS1s with the aluminum block. Maybe that is what that guy was trying to tell you.

 

I, too, have never heard of anything but iron LT1 blocks. 1997 and up corvettes had the LS1, which is an aluminum block, but it is a different engine.

 

I'm betting he was talking about an LS1 block, which would explain why he doesn't think the accessories will mount up. BIG difference betwen the LT1 & LS1 motors and virtually nothing will interchange.

 

I have seen pictures of 1 Aluminum LT1 Block... They're about as rare as the 4 Valve heads that are floating around... I think they were a pre-production or prototype thing only, I've never heard or seen anyone really having/using one.

 

Well don't i feel like a dumb a$$. A guy at a machine shop put the idea in my head. I called to price machine work, he told me it'd be cool if i put an aluminum corvette lt1 in my car. I know there is a huge difference in the ls1 and the lt1. I know i need an lt1 block. It's funny how so many people think they know every thing. Ive probably had a dozen people tell me I can just use a regular 350 block, and think I'm stupid when I tell them it doesn't work that way.

 

mabey its an LT5 block? i dunno is that aluminum? Might be from a ZR1

 

I just assumed the corvette blocks were aluminum, as i was so informed. the corvette guy just told me that an LT-1 from a vette wont work in a z28, because the accessories were mounted differently (all on one side for the z, while spread out on the vette), so the castings were different, and I wouldn't have the necessary provisions to mount the brackets for the accessories.

 

I didn't see the blocks, i made a phone call. But I doubt some one with a few lt-5 blocks would want to be selling them for 300 bucks each.

 

if you keep all your brackets from your old motor you wont have a problem.... it is almost the same block, the vette has the 4 bolt mains... and i think that is about it... the vettes just have an accessory bracket on the driver side... but your brackets will bolt up like on the stock LT1...

 

For a while I was researching putting an LS1 into my Z, if you need any advice on that one it's not really that hard...just pricey.

~Kevin

 

This is about as close as you're going to come to an aluminum LT1 block...

http://www.rx7club.com/forum/attachm...postid=2207471

Eastwood Company's Aluma-Blast paint on the same iron block everyone else has.

 

Too funny!

By the way, if that guy is selling LT5 blocks for $300, I'll take ALL of them!

 

most of the lt1 vette are a 2 bolt main as well.