Ok, these might seem a bit dumb but I need to ask.

First (and I only ask this cause I'm running out of money on my LT-4 conversion), will the stock LT-1 rocker arms/springs/lifters/cam work with LT-4 heads? Or is it trully going to be necissary to buy the LT-4 Hot Cam kit to make it all work?

Second of all, will stock LT-1 valve covers fit on LT-4 heads? If not can they be modified to make work? I don't like the LT-4 compsite VCs and I polished VCs don't go with my color shceme. I'd much rather just use my stock black VCs if at all possible.

Any input is appreciated

 

Should be able to use the LT1 valvetrain on LT4 heads if you install a set of LT1 rocker studs on them (they are different IIRC). LT4 heads I think have a higher valve cover rail, so I don't know if the stock valve covers will work, but probaby.

 

I hate to break it to you man, but a stock cam with LT4 heads/intake really won't buy you much (if anything).
You can keep the stock lifters if they're in good shape and clean.
You really should hold off until you can pick up a good cam (hotcam or otherwise)
you'll need new springs and you really should go with a good set of roller rockers and pick up a few extra HP.

 

Stock LT1 valve covers work on GM LT4 heads.

 

Well thats what I figured but I thought I'd ask. Pacience has never been my strong suit but in this case I better be otherwise I'm going to be doing this wrong.

At least I can use my LT1 VCs without issue it sounds.

 

You made a poor choice in the LT4 heads and are only making it worse by not supporting them.

Leave the car stock till you have a better budget and grasp of what actually works.

 

Did you buy the LT4 heads you asked about a week ago in this thread?

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=665947

 

I've been doing my research and gathering parts for a while and may have gotten a bit of myself which was the only reason for the questions. IBased on the answers I've gotten here I will take my time and support them like I should. Please explain - why are the LT4 heads a poor choice?


Yes, I did.

 

If you were to go buy a set of new LT4 heads at new price, that would be a "poor decision". For what the heads cost new, you could send your stock heads to Loyd Elliot for a porting job, and they would flow more then the LT4's. In your case, you got a great deal on those LT4s, so in the future, you could also send them to LE, and they would flow more then the LT1 head. All of your stock valvetrain will work, including the covers, no extra expense there. You may not notice a huge improvement with those heads, but a cam change in the future will yield higher HP.

There is a bad taste in this forum on the LT4 stuff. Too many people assumed you could buy the LT4 conversion and "tada" 430HP. That is not the case. The conversion was expensive and it was a better route to go with a LE package, so that is where the bad taste comes from. Below are the flow #s for a stock LT4 head, not to shabby.
Intake---------------Exhaust
0.200--147.0--------0.200--109.0
0.300--197.0--------0.300--133.0
0.400--230.0--------0.400--159.0
0.500--250.0--------0.500--172.0
0.600--243.0--------0.600--177.0

 

I always wondered why in the world they advertised 425+ HP for the stupid LT4 conversion kit, I called summit one day and asked them how you can get 95 more horsepower out of converting an LT1 to an LT4 than you get with a stock LT4... they guy didn't really have an answer for me, haha

 

Well the thing is, I'm not trying to build up a drag car like most. Othrwise I would have stroked the motor, massaged the LT1s top end and Slapped on a Vortec SC. I just want a little more kick in the pants than you're normal run of the mill LT-1 and keep it a daliy driver, and from what I've found this should treat me just fine. I got a nice deal on and LT4 intake manifold off Ebay and ak95ta (thank you again, brother) made me a deal on these heads I couldn't resist.

 

Nothing wrong with those goals or getting a deal on the heads/intake.
The point being that all of the time and money you've invested hasn't got
you any closer to your goal. The cam and lighter valvetrain are the "secret
sauce" that make power with that combo.

My advice is to either hold off until you can pick up the cam you want.
Or sell the heads and intake to someone who wants to port them and
buy yourself a nice cam to put under stock heads with a nice set of rockers and springs.

Those heads and that intake, as-cast are no more useful to you than your stock equipment.

 

And thats exsactly what I'm going to do. I appreciate everyone's input in this thread, I got the answers I needed.

 

In bench racing land the LT4s are a great choice, but they need big rpms or big displacement to work. You are going to give them niether. Here in the real world though even on high rpms stuff I fail to see they live up to the hype.

You assume that the majority opinion is vaguely accurate, it is not. People these days can not seperate advertizing or bought reputation from facts. Look around for posts about

"I just ordered "product x" and I could not be happier"

Not that they have the product in hand, not that they have driven it, not that they have dyno'd or raced it, they are ecstatic about having ordered and tell everyone how great it is. Does that sound reasonable? I hope not.

Show me a case of the LT4s working well and I can show you a case of the LT1 heads working as well or better for less money.

The only good thing the LT4 have going for them is the valves which are very nice.

 

MeenZ28 how much did you have to give for your LT4 intake is it the GM Part# 12550631 or the GM Part# 12550630