ok guys i have a big decision to make and could really use some advice on this please, I have a 94 z-28 LT1 with 320,000 km/s on it, I am the original owner on the car and and have few minor mods to it, bbk 58mm TB with RK Sport SS Ram Air Hood Fully Functional, Hurst Quick Shifter with original T56 Transmission, Frame tied in with 3inch magnaflow catback exhaust and stock headers, with SLP camaro shocks and springs. The car still runs like a champ was doing 14.5's @ 100mph at the dragstip last summer with no oil leaks on the motor still running incredible with all those km/s on it, my problem is i want to get the car around 425HP-500HP range while still being a daily driver in the summer since im in canada and the car has to be stored in the winter, My budget i am working with is 8-$10,000 to do my engine and tranny mods,,,i already have a 9inch rear end lined up...so my question should i rebuild the tranny and lt1 or should i get this, A low km 425 HP LQ9 6.0L iron block, with the proper oil pan to clear your cross member, the LS1 intake assy. cam, springs, push rods, and a C5 serpentine system ( less a/c ) a re-built T56 with bell housing with my hurst shifter, a HD LS7 HD clutch, with stand alone LS engine wiring harness and re-programmed computer, and engine adapter plates for a price of $8900 canadian,,, or i can take the money i have and rebuild my lt1 and tranny but im thinking its going to cost me more to rebuild,,,let me know what you guys think please....

 

You are looking for 425HP - 500HP at the flywheel, or at the rear wheels?

 

im looking for 425-500hp to the rear wheels,,,which i know i lose around 15% of hp through the drivetrain...so i figure a 500HP motor would be perfect that way it wouldnt be less then 425HP to the wheels

 

I had the same dilemma and debated and debated to stick with the LT or go LS. My car has as sits 357,000km with full exhaust and suspension was running 13.8-9s at a 103mph also 6 speed. The cost factor going to an LS is huge if you dont have a parts car with everything you need to convert over otherwise buying parts cant get REAL expensive quick. To give you an idea i just spent around 7k on my motor. All forged 355 with afr heads, custom cam, valvetrain, ported intake, tb, ewp, gaskets, etc etc. Its not cheap to build an lt1 but its bolt in and go. If you truelly want to go LS you are much better of buying a wrecked ls1/t56 car down south or even a non wrecked car and converting the k member, steering rack, fuel lines, harness etc etc. The also ****ty part is you have to find an LS1 style t56 which are hard to find and not cheap. If you had an auto it would be as easy a spacer and a new flexplate and your ready to go. Another guy on here from Kitchener with a 97 WS6 did the LS1 A4 swap to his and he had about 6-7k into his for a stock engine. So you figure 6-8k for a built 400+rwhp lt1 or 6-7k for a nearly stock ls1. Plus you have to factor in the ls style trans, new clutch, flywheel, hydraulics etc.

The truck motors are easy to find for a good price but finding all the fbody accessories is whats going to cost you alot of dough. By the time you figure in buying the accessories your almost better off getting a ls1 complete.

All in all up what you want to go with and im not trying to discourage you from going LS but its alot of money and effort changing everything over.

 

Still not sure what you want.... confusing answer. Appears you want 500 HP at the flywheel, so you can see 425HP at the rear wheels.

 

you can surely get a lt1 to 500hp at the flywheel for less than 9000, so in that case rebuild and save money/ modding

 

Yeah basically that would be perfect 475-500HP at the flywheel that way i can get 425 around to the rear wheels...

Also if i were to push my LT1 block to 500HP do i need to strengthen the block it self,,,because this car i still want to be a daily driver in the summer......

 

yeah i get ya i really appreciate the help as i said this is what i can get with a new tranny low km 425 HP LQ9 6.0L iron block, with the proper oil pan to clear your cross member, the LS1 intake assy. cam, springs, push rods, and a C5 serpentine system ( less a/c )with a re-built T56 with bell housing with my hurst shifter, a HD LS7 HD clutch, with stand alone LS engine wiring harness and re-programmed computer, and engine adapter mount plates for a price of $8900 canadian,, the only thing i would need to get really would be a ls style clutch assembly because my LT1 assembly is different and sealed,where as the ls1 you can atleast blead the clutch where as mine you cant ....so basically all i would need to is that and i should be good to go cuz the computer comes programed too...its all the but the hydraulic system for the new ls7 clutch,,,

 

heres another question i ask is how good of gas mileage will i get with a 500HP LT1 ?????? i know atleast with the LQ9 6.0 Iron Block i will get around 22mpg which is awesome for those HP numbers but will i get around the same mileage with a LT1??????

 

Like any other vehicle- it depends on how you drive...but probably not too much lower than stock if you are cruising- driving it spirited- of course your mileage is going to suffer quite a bit.

 

Your also going to need an LS kmember, steering rack, and fuel system setup as it not the same. Is the 6.0 stock or modded? Stock they were what around 345hp advertised not at the wheels? If the 6.0 has heads/cam with all the ls1 acc, computer, wiring harness, t56 its not bad but you figure you can go on ebay and buy a ls1/t56 drop out for about 4-4500 us stock mind you just so you have an idea. Might also be a good idea to look at the pricing of cars in the US. If you going to spend 9k on just a motor you can buy a modded ls1 car for that price and its done you dont have to do the dirty work. I know alot of people are partial to there cars and im one of them but makes sence if your going ls to buy a ls car then have to change everything from lt to ls and costly.

As for fuel economy its all dependent on how radical you go with the heads/cam. Im running a mild 223/230 cam and afr heads and should be in the 400rwhp ballpark and should be close to stock mpg on the hwy but city its going to suffer regardless if its lt or ls. I get about 26mpg or roughly 450-500km to tank all hwy cruising at like 110-120km. I dont even bother clocking mileage in the city haha

 

thanks for the replies and all the help guys,,,ill do some more researching and see what i come up with....