I would rather get a 98-02 camaro and forget the headache if I wanted an ls1, otherwise I say build a nice lt1 that will kill the ls1 by all means.

 

Turbo LT1

 

Remember if you do this you have to pass smog on the year of the new engine.Previous posts have seen 429 hp out of an LT1 with cam and heads ect.,so why?You will save 100 lbs. with aluminum block with the LS1.

 

lm7?

 

CAst Iron block version of the LS series...used in trucks

 

got it, use like a 6.0 iron block and bolt on some l92 heads or something like that?

That swap is cheaper for the engine, but for us guys that are lt1's, we'll get nickle and dimed to death by the time we get the intake, trans, ignition, accessories, wp, wiring harnes...etc etc etc.

I would see going LM7 if you are already ls1, but lt1 to lsx to me is still more expensive. The ls3 engine brand new is about 6000 from GM, and that would still require a lot of accessories.

I'm curious for people that have done the swap, how much has it cost? had I known how much i was going to spend on this lt1, I might have gone a different route.

 

http://beckracingengines.com/perform...21_333_188_194

This is a link to a 396 from Beck racing engines. It is on special from what it said in the news letter, I don't really know alot about the company but it is worth looking at to compare.

 

Specifically, the LM7 is the 5.3L iron-block LS -- it was in the Silverado from '99-07. There's also the LQ4, LQ9, L76, and several others of varying displacements and features. All have iron blocks and are considered part of the LS family.

 

I had kicked around the idea of slowly building an FI LQ9 over the next couple of years. But I'm not sure I want to leave my LT1 behind. I wave the LTX flag proudly and I probably won't stop modding until I hit a major plateau.

 

 

it would be similar in cost to swap in a stock ls1 and build a bad lt1, i mean at normal prices - not your brothers got a friend who can get a....

i pondered this a bit, and went with the lt1 hands down

holy dead thread too

 

Power comes mostly from the heads and cam.I would think a 383 LT1 with the
right cam and a set of AFR heads should make you happy.

 

I have also been pondering the idea too before i get too knee deep into making a bad lt1. My motor does have very high miles and for the money to build a forged 383 lt1 h/c it would just as much as converting it to an LS. I had a buddy give me an awesome deal on some AFRs and well thats leading me to put the h/c on my motor and when it dies ill go LS 100%. Like most are saying cost wise lt or ls its going to be close but you will have a motor that make awesome cam only power vs lt h/c power and no more OPTI. Its all up to what you want out of the car.