Lets talk about what's faster. Stock for stock we know the LS1 is faster. Bolt on for bolt on the ls1 is faster. The bolt on record is faster for the ls1. The cam only record is faster for the ls1. The stock displacement record is faster for the ls1. And the all out worlds record is faster for the ls1. How far you want to go still favors the LS1 anyway you want to look at it. Other then price that is. But even still, it's not cheap to make a 9 or 10 second car no matter what you start with.

Might be even more fair to say that if you want the faster of the two platforms with the newest technology then get the LS1. Try driving a LS1 with a nice size cam, big stall and true duals. Modest street manners my a$$

You can say that about any platform. LT1, LS1, 5.0, 4.6, ect. You can make a LS1 fast for a reasonable price IF you know what to buy and where to buy it. But again, you can say that about most platforms.

Now that is something we agree on

Something else we agree on. Although I don't street race because it's dangerous and illegal. I have a family to support and I live 25 minutes from a great 1/4 mile track. My best so far is 12.310 and after 200+ passes I do believe I have have gotten every last bit of ET my current setup is capable of. But that's easy to do with an auto that dead hooks on M/T street radials.

Nice thing about LS1 cars is that they are finally getting affordable for the younger crowd. I have heard of several people buying them for less then 10K. Although for a nice low mileage one you're still looking at 15-20K. But I have a feeling that after the new Camaro arrives the LS1 fbodies will get even more affordable.

 

Here's my input.

My brother had a 93 Z28 A4 with an ATI Procharger at 10 psi, SLP Headers, Exhaust, Chip, Throttle Body and CAI.

He put down 350 RWHP and ran 13.2@107.

My friend Ed had a 99 Firehawk M6 with CAI, Exhaust and DR's and ran 13.3@106.

My friend Matt has a 97 Vette A4 with Cartek 2x Head Cam Package, 3.90 gears, RPM tranny and all the bolt on's and puts down 395 RWHP.

My other brother has an 02 Z06 with Vararam, LG LT's and Borla and put down 393 RWHP.

Make what you want out of those mods but my bros's 93 Z28 felt the fastest because he was putting down 490Lb Ft of Torque.

The Z was about 10 years ago so it's hard to just but as far as I can remember it is still the fastest feeling car I've been in.

I had a 94 Formula A4 and it felt faster than my 87 Grand National pushing 17psi.

I'm getting a 94 Z28 Wednesday again and I couldn't be happier.

Dan

 

gut the cat

 

You already answered yourself. Torque is what gets you moving, horsepower is a theoretical number that describes how well an engine can work at a given RPM under load, based on torque. Torque is what you are feeling. Imagine that same procharged camaro setup like that LS1 car you were referring to, DR's, gears, a blower cam and mild stall or even some pocket ported heads. Go even further and imagine it having a stick and not an auto, less rotational losses and no slippage. Sounds like there was alot more in the setup, but I dont know the details, just going strictly by what was on your post.

Part of the reason you feel that car was so fast was because of the torque arm. Think about it. You hit the gas and that 490 ft. lbs tries to rotate that rearend, instead lifting up the chassis right under your seat. Torque gives you that snappy feeling, and it is all being shot up right under your a$$ Thats why the TPI guys love their motors, lack in horsepower but they love the off-idle torque...makes the car fun to drive. 5.0 Mustangs didnt feel as quick but were walking over the 305 TPI and some of the 350 cars. Less torque and no torque arm...

Horsepower just means the motor can work so well at a certain speed under load. Horsepower is what keeps you moving, torque is what gets you moving. But if you got a car with plenty of torque but lacks in the horsepower department, it will feel really quick, but in reality not accelerate so quick at speed. Make sense? High horsepower cars might not feel as fast if they are lacking torque...torque is what makes the powerband more or less violent. The suspension setup and gears (torque multiplier) can also affect how much of that torque you feel in the passenger compartment. Make sense?

 

If you want to acheive more then 500HP go for the LS1. If your gonna buy an LT1 buy a 96 / 97 year becuase there alot stronger, and have more HP. I love the LT1 becuase everybody has an LS1. Sound wise the LT1 is way better. If your racing and want top speed the LS1 is the chioce but who wants to spend the extra money when the LT1 goes 157MPH and the LS1 goes 166MPH who cares

 

Torque is the ability to move an object.

HP is the rate at wich Torque is applied.

 

I love my LT1, but I would love even more to own an white or navy blue metallic ls1 powered Formula, WS6 or T/A. I do not like the 98-02 camaro's appearance very much.

You cannot go wrong with an LS1 it's better than the LT1 hands down, aslong as the LS1 you're looking at is healthy.

 

I don't mind the LT1 engine. I mean the power is decent the mods are resonably inexspensive. But if I were to do it over again i'd go LS1.

 

Like many of you i've had both types of car. The LS1 is a superior engine is virtually every way. But thats what makes the LT1 so unique, its the last of old sbc engines. Chevy will never make another engine like the LT1 and they will never again make another engine that will sound as mean as the LT1.

So when you buy an LT1 your buying the best of the old generation and if you buy the LS1 you get the oldest of the new generation.

Thats my take, my C5 is far superior to the Camaro but even with its expensive exhaust system it doesn't sound quite as good as the old catback

 

Far superior is a bit of a reach. They have the same motors and gears you know

The only real advantage the Vette has over the fbody performance wise is the lighter curb weight. But solid rear axle makes the fbody a better vehicle for drag racing. The better suspension on the vette makes it a better road course vehicle.

So on the street or on a road course the C5 vette is "slightly" superior. But at the drag strip the LS1 fbody is "slightly" superior.

 

His camaro is an LT1 and his C5 is an LS1. It is far superior.

 

Wow I totally missed that. I thought he was talking about LS1 Camaros but I see that he was referring to his old LT1 Camaro.

My bad. Sorry about the mix up.

 

This is a good way to explain it to the average guy but in reality what makes a car run is torque at the rear tires. You can add more gear or more TQ to do that, problem is more GEAR mean more RPM which really leads you down the road that you need more HP! You can have LESS TQ but more RPM and have the same HP but the car goes quicker because it has more gear. Hence more TQ at the tires.

Bret

 

Quicker where? Off the line quicker or down the entire 1/4mi quicker or from 0-150 quicker?
Since this is f-body/LT1 related, please supply examples using LT1 cars with related drivetrains?
Thanks

 

Quicker everywhere. Go pick up a physics book it's not going to be too hard to find in there.

Or we can just ask dhirocz for his proof for his examples as well. Odd that I'm singled out for examples by you of all people? Imagine that

Bret