What are the differences between a lt-1 and a lt-4?
Thanks in advance,
Aaron

 

Heads, cam, intake, rockers, valve covers, knock module, 4 bolt main and valve springs. I think that's pretty much it. I probally missed a few things.

 

But both have a alunium block and heads right?

 

Heads yes, block no. Unless it was in the Impalla or the car that starts with a C. I can't remember right now. But they looked like the Impalla. Those cars had iron heads and 15 horses less thatn F-bodies. The LT1 from 93-95 had 275, 96-97 had 285 because of the daul cats, the LT4 has an under rated 330. The LS1 is all alluminum.

 

Check out LT4.com . There is a page in there with the side by side comparison.

 

www.malcams.com/legacy/misc/LT4.htm

 

There are some pretty noticible differences...how does the LT4 conversion compare to the true LT4? Reliability wise and power out put??

Also could you use LT4 head gaskets instaed of LT1 gaskets on an LT1?? Or would they work. They seem to be of higher quality from reading that page.

 

The LT4 conversion has the "hot" cam and puts down more hp than the standard production LT4.. Other than that you are looking at a four bolt main versus a two bolt, which in that power category falls into the "nice to have but not neccessary" level, call it the rotating assembly equivalent of supplemental insurance..

Durability wise, I would say depends on the miles of the engine that you put the conversion on.. and of course that you have the skills to do it..

Head gasket wise.. I am not sure of, however if you go with felpro you won't be steering yourself in the wrong direction..

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I am considering a conversion..but it wouldnt be anytime soon..so I was just curious. I had the heads off a little over a year and a half ago and used Felpro gaskets No complaints in that department.. I was just wondering if the LT4s were of superiour quality than the Felpros. Thanks again.

 

I did the conversion when i did the 383 buildup. The LT-4 head gaskets are nice, but nothing special. they are a little thinner, they make the compression 10.7:1 to one insted of 10.5:1.
Some lt-4 conversion kits dont include the timing chain, but i reccomend getting it. If you dont you the the problem I have, ( a vibration when tc is locked up between 45 and 55 mph. The lighter weight timing chain sprocket actually slows down then speeds up causing this. Its hardly noticeable, but I reccomend getting the LT-4.

 

Hmm..what if your static compression is already raised from headwork.. Using that gasket could bump me to 11:1 then? I believe Im at 10.7:1 already. How much is too high for your static CR?

 

I run 11.1:1 It runs fine on pump gas, But ive seen as high as 12:1 on pump gas, as long as you have a really good colling system and a properly running LT-1 it can handle it. I had a choice when selectin pistons they were in 1 point incromints, So it was 10.1:1 11.1:1 or 12.1:1. And I wanted to be sure it ran on 93 so i did 11.1:1 I could have paid 100$ more and got a custom 11.5 if I wanted, but I was content with 11.1.
I had a friend that ran 11.1 to one and he said on hot days it pinged enough for the computer to retard timing and run sluggish. so I would stay less than 11.5 if you want to run 93.