I am buying an LT4 shortblock from a local. He says it has forged pistons, its bored .40 over making it a 357, and that it only has 2K on it.

Now I am wondering, if its a shortblock that means I just need heads/cam/intake manifold correct?

I am pretty sure I am going to go with the powdercoated LT4 intake manifold from Summit. However I am clueless on the heads and cam.

I want this to be streetable, and I have a 4L60E that was rebuilt within the past 5K miles.

I also realize I will need a tune, would a mail order work from PCMforLESS or Madz28?

Any advice you guys can shed on this project would be most appreciated.

-Z28WannaB

 

A short block is just the assembled block, typically minus the cam and timing components. If it is used though, you will most likely get the cam and timing chain,etc.
A long block will typically include heads, cam, but not intake, in some cases.I could be wrong.
To run the intake you are talking about you'll need to run the LT4 head. Your cam selection is completely up to you. You could run the lt4 hot cam kit or maybe the 224/230 grind like many others on the board. What is "streetable" is more personal preference as every ones opinion is different. Sometimes what is streetable at the time becomes a PITA later.
If you haven't bought head/cam yet, you could talk to Lloyd Eliot and he could most likely set you up with something that would outperform the LT4 conversion, unless you wanted the lt4 heads and then have more work done to the heads. Lloyds lt1 heads worked over will do better than stock lt4 heads but the lt4 has more potential when ported and compared to the lt1 head worked over.

 

He said it just needs a cam/head/intake manifold to get it going.

So I should check out Lloyd Eliots offerings? I figured 500 for Cam and Intake manifold, what is a decent set of heads going to run.

Is a 224/230 much bigger than a hot cam?

Wouldn't it be more cost effective to just buy the stock LT4 head and throw that on? I notice you can get an LT1 head for like 250. Then you figure 700 for port job and I'm already spending 950.

Would stock LT4 heads flow enough for a 357?

- Z28WannaB

 

Yes, just alittle 218/228 and .525 lift with 1.6 rr or .497 with 1.5rr.

 

It depends on your thoughts but for the same money you can get Lloyd to port those stock castings and flow better than Stock lt4 castings. If you buy the LT4 head you'll need to spend anothr 200 or so for the matching intake.. You are already up to 1600. The LE@ package costs about that much and you get a cam and fully ported heads with springs too match with titanium retainers. Everything good needed to make you . Nicest guy to talk to, try it. You'll be surprised at this guys honesty. He won't sell you something you don't need.

 

I'm so confused on what to get, I don't want to cheapen my setup too much. But I want to be able to make my project running sometime this year.

So the head has no significance besides its ability to flow? For example putting a ported LT1 head won't cheapen my motor besides the fact that if I want to flow more I have to get a bigger set of heads?

Also if I port the LT1 heads won't I have to port the intake manifold as well? Or can the intake manifold flow enough for that ported LT1 head?

If not will the LT4 intake manifold bolt up to the LT1 head?

Thanks, I've gotten some great responses. I've read some searches but they generally seem to be too personalized.

- Z28WannaB

 

The ported LT1 heads that Lloyd does can support well above 450 fwhp, the streatable cam you put in will be the limiting factor.
The LT4 intake is specific to LT4 heads and both intakes will support that power level.
Mind you if you're trying to build the full engine you're gona need more stuff, like timing set and cover, hub, balancer, lifters, pushrods....The only good thing bout that short block is it's 4-main.

 

Pretty much. The lt4 valves are a bit lighter and the head will give a little bit higher bump in compression. Lloyd does offer a few different packages. Try his site www.eportworks.com

Althoguh it wouldn't hurt to port the intake, it isn't neccessary.The stock intake can support a lot of power but I am not sure just how much. I did have Lloyd port my intake. The runners were worked a bit along with a 58mm bore for the TB. He removes a lot of the obstruction going thru the throttle bores.

The runners are raised on the lt4 head. I believe it helped the flow by improving the short turn radius. It will bolt up but I don't think the ports will match up. I have heard of others fitting a stock lt1 intake to lt4 heads by doing some grinding.


If you are on a budget, Lloyd is extremely competitive and would be much cheaper than LT4 head/cam/ and lt4 intake and still make more power to boot. Check his site out and talk with him.

 

You do realize that the primary difference between an LT4 and LT1 and the ones that made the power difference are the heads and cam with the intake being different but no better and just there to match the heads(poorly at that). What I am saying is do not pay any more for this than you would an LT1 because you are not getting anything more. I do believe it is a little different crank but the stock LT1 crank is good to more power than all but the wildest forced induction numbers so I would hesitate to call the LT4 crank an upgrade and even if it truely is it is one there is no chance you will need.
The ported LT1s for the $950 you figure you would spend would outflow the stock LT4s.

 

here are some of the differences between the two. http://www.malcams.com/legacy/misc/LT4.htm

 

Yeah I was unable to find a website for him, does he only accept e-mails?

- Z28WannaB

 

Click on this link www.eportworks.com . It should take you right to his site. I clicked the link, so I know it works.