Which is better? Lt1s are a lot cheaper and body is same basicly right? So wich should I buy?A 98 z28 is 3 or 4 grand more expensive than a 97 lt1 z28, the LS1 is 20hp @ the flywheel better thats great but with that 3 or 4 grand thats saved on the car price I could buy some nice mods to make a lt1 REALLY fast couldn't I(le2 OR GM LT4 conversion etc), I dont know what to do advice please.

 

You'll get greater gains on an LS1 than you will on an LT1 for the same dollars spent. From what I've seen, a heads and cam LS1 will out perform an LT1 H/C car. But, as always, how much have you got to spend?

 

I'd go LT1just because 20 fwhp is nothing.Mods for an LS1 are twice as expensive as LT1 parts. Plus the LT1 block can handle much more Than a stock LS1 aluminum block.

 

Well, for starters a LS1 is bringing quite a bit more than 20 flywheel hp to the table. They're underrated like hell. Your average LT1 is around 240-260 rwhp on a chassis dyno, your average LS1 is around 290-310 rwhp (equaliing or often surpassing their crank hp rating numbers)... Reality is more like a 40-50 hp advantange on average...

IMO a full bolt on LT1 will be doing pretty well if it can squeak out a win on a stock LS1 everything else being equal...

I'm not a expert but I would argue with serious heavy mods the performance differences shrink on average, but the LS1 still seems to carry a small lead when reaching the heads/cam level too.... I'm not up on the average results reached with typical forced induction setups for either though personally...

 

I have one of each and in stock trim with only exhaust and cai modified on both, the LS1 is obviously an upgrade. The advantage of the LT1 is its reverse cooling but it's drawback is that optispark under the water pump. With the LS1 it isn't just a matter of a few hp and tq numbers, it is also where they occur. The LT1 is just plain fun low end grunt whereas the LS1 puts it a little higher in the rpm band. If I have to choose one over the other, I'd want my LS1. For my 2001 engine, I can buy an $1800 kit with heads and cam to make it a very driveable 405 hp C6 contender. I also consider that my 95s LT1 parts are going to become rare a bit sooner than my 01. Another important consideration is the brakes on these cars. I suggest researching between the years. There were significant changes between the 94, 95 and 96 LT1s. As for the LS1s, there were some year change upgrades to consider as well if you don't hold the idiot gauge downgrade from the 98s against them.

In my contested opinion, with late model camaros, newer is better and depending on many factors, a newer Camaro can readily be worth a few thousand more.

Regards

 

I agree with you on everything else but this. Stock LS1's on average low to mid 13's pretty much stock, and if a Full bolt on couldn't beat that then they are doing something wrong, plain and simple.

I can honestly say that if I knew I was going to have as much money as I do tied into this setup, I would have just bought a LS1 car from the getgo. I don't think it would be "that" much faster, but i do think it would be faster. If ya have the money, go LS1.

 

Get the best you car you can afford. If you can afford the LS1 spring for it. If not, you wont be disappointed driving a LT1 car. You can always modify it to satisfy in the areas where you think it lacks.

I'd even suggest gettin a nice low milage (>50,000 miles) LT1 over a 100,000+ mile LS1 if they were both the same price.

 

LS1 definetely has its advantages, but choose which ever you can afford better.

 

You've already got this topic on "General F-Body Tech & Info"..... no need to post it in both places.