LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

How big are the combustion chambers on LT1 heads?

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Old 03-19-2003, 08:37 PM
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How big are the combustion chambers on LT1 heads?

I was thinking of getting LT4 pistons, they are 10.8:1 on 54.4 cc combustion chambers. I thought that LT1's had 58cc combustion chambers. So can someone help me out, I hope that i am just wrong.
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Old 03-19-2003, 08:45 PM
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The chambers on my heads were right at 55 ccs. The LT4 gets a bump in compression from shallower valve reliefs.. at least that's what I remember reading.

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Old 03-19-2003, 09:38 PM
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Is there such a thing as an "LT4" piston? I don't think so, aren't they identical to the pistons in an LT1?

Rich Krause
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Old 03-19-2003, 09:44 PM
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Originally posted by rskrause
Is there such a thing as an "LT4" piston? I don't think so, aren't they identical to the pistons in an LT1?

Rich Krause
Maybe we should start writing everything term-paper style, with footnotes and the whole 9.

* Combustion chambers are almost identical (there was a negligible .4cc difference) Volume for LT4 Combustion chambers are 54.4cc's.....

*A gain in compression ratio, from 10.4:1 to 10.8:1, comes from machining the valve pockets in the pistons shallower than the LT1's.
http://home.tir.com/~steveher/lt4.html

This is where I read that bit of info... I'll find out about the pistons... I'm curious too.

-Mindgame
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Old 03-20-2003, 01:31 PM
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i went to the gm site and the LT1 pistons had a diff part# than the LT4, i dont have the numbers off hand. The only difference that i got was the LT4's are 10.8:1 and the LT1's are 10.4:1. I was just thinking i would go with the LT4's in a rebuild to get a slight commpression boost. Here is the LT4 piston.


12528830
High Performance Piston
This piston is for the 5.7L LT4 engine (high silicon) aluminum. This 350 .030 over-size bore, pressed pin, high performance piston has a 10:8 compression ratio with 54.4cc head chamber volume.
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Old 03-20-2003, 05:50 PM
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Thumbs up

Wish I had checked back with this thread before spending time searching that down.

Thanks for the confirmation.

I try not to post something unless I'm 100% sure it's correct. If I'm not, I'll be sure to say so.

-Mindgame
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Old 03-20-2003, 06:05 PM
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Thanks, now I know.

Rich Krause
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Old 03-20-2003, 06:39 PM
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I used to think they were 54cc. I asked competition motorsports...however...and they said they have cc'd many lt1 heads and they are usually 57-58cc.

Joe
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Old 03-21-2003, 12:01 PM
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Originally posted by Formula03
i went to the gm site and the LT1 pistons had a diff part# than the LT4, i dont have the numbers off hand. The only difference that i got was the LT4's are 10.8:1 and the LT1's are 10.4:1
If you read a little closer it should state the LT4 piston has shallower valve reliefs.

As far as volume of either chamber is concerned, it depends what standard you want to use, oem production specs, or blueprint/engrg. specs. Blueprint specs are 54.0 & 54.4. 99% of oem production blocks and heads will have extra material on them on purpose. Figure appr. 2-4 cc extra. Don't recall the numerous number of posts of this nature I have posted here.
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Old 03-21-2003, 12:46 PM
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yeah yeah yeah what ever. lt4 this lt4 that....the only thing thats any better on the lt4 than the lt1 are the heads. the pistons are of the same material. hyperputic (or whatever the crap is) they suck.

anybody that tears a engine down to build it back up for a performance gain...is stupid if they use the factory pistons. spend 200 or 300 extra bucks and do it right. .3 increase in compresion ratios might give you 3 or 4 hp.

if your going to do it do it right. forgred
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