What are your thoughts on them?

are they daily drivable?

Any computer tuning needed? What kind of improvements woudl see on stock heads but CAm, springs and pushrods, possibly headers, intake, and performance exhaust?

Sorry figured it would be a little easier checking it here then lt1 section.

 

if you like a daily driven pretty decently cheap package thats going to pass emissions and run pretty stock with a decent increase in power, the LT4 kit is for you

but many would argue that you'd be better to just port the stock heads, use a more agressive cam, and you'd be better off... but maybe not as daily drivable.

but a kit designed for your car by GM can't be bad

 

That doesnt mean its any good either, GM also designed the optispark, the Aztec, and the 3.4L DOHC.

Eric, are you refering to the LT4 Hotcam Kit for the entire LT4 package?

The Hotcam kit is a decent value for the money although the cam is sorta smallish and the springs they supply are marginal at best.

The whole package with the heads and all isn't much to brag about either. The heads flow pretty mediocre for their volume plus they require the LT4 intake.

All depends on your goals, if mid 12's (on average) is fast enough then the LT4 stuff is fine. If you want more then you're better off spending your money elsewhere IMO.

 

I think Eric would be damn happy going 3 seconds faster than he is now...mid 12's sounds pretty good huh?

 

Well I am looking for daily driveability, hence why I try not to get too much into the motor, but like said it was made by GM(yeah I know my dad replaced a 3.4L DOHC with 50k on it 2 months ago, timeing belt, trashed the motor)

I was going to hold off on the heads, or maybe get soem ported stock lt1 heads(seen them float around this board a little). I am not looking for 11s or anything, 12s woudl be nice, but I am sort of looking for low 13s, and driveablility. Most likely a 6-speed w/ 3.42s, headers, maybe 2.75 I pipe, high flow muffler., CAI, some other minor bolt ons.

I also am wondering on computer tuning woudl a 95 PCM work fine?

 

btw I was also wondering about cam, srpoings, and pushrods... stock heads, and intake.

 

I use pcmforless through Brett and it owns.

 

You can hit low 13's without much trouble in good weather with a few bolton's. Specifically a full exhaust + cold air kit + drag radials

The Hotcam kit w/bolton's will get you on average mid 12's as I mentioned earlier. True alot of people have gone faster with this combo but alot of others are still running mid 13's too. Its also pretty drivable. On my friends 93Z you'd never know it was in there aside from the slightly lopey idle.

Stock programing works but its far from ideal. If you can borrow a laptop + cable you can have the PCMforless guy send you a file and then upload it yourself. I'm not a huge fan of mail-order programing but the Hotcam + stock heads combo is so common he should have it down pretty good.

BTW did you get an LT1 or something and not tell us?

 

9 out of 10 guys who buy the hotcam kit, wish they had gone bigger down the road.



driveability is a matter of tuning, so as long as you get a good tune, MOST cams should be fine.



i personally dont see any reason why someone would choose the hotcam over an aftermarket cam, such as one of the smaller XE packages. its not much more expensive, and it saves you alot of money/hassle down the road when you get tired of the weak hotcam.



as for LT4 heads.........its already been discussed.......they are a waste of money. the only reason anyone buys them is to say "i have an LT4" which isnt really impressive in the first place.


for the price of a STOCK lt4 heads, you can have your lt1s ported/polished to flow WAY more.

for the price you pay to buy and port/polish lt4s, you could buy custom AFR heads that will outflow the ported lt4s again.

 

thanks for the info on the heads...

I wasn't planning on buying anything for heads, maybe some used ported ones since they seem to not be too badly priced.

I forgot how easy it is to tune the computer on lt1s, I would look more deeply into getting a laptop(been kinda wanting one anyways)

So you guys are saying the LT4 cam is pretty mild? I do not have to have anything extreme, that it really hurts daily driveability, i owuld also like a cheaper clutch to be able to hold up to this power on a 6-speed.


As for the want for lt4 info, I was considering a swap, not sure if I will do it or not just looking at my options, and I would kick myself for not doing something while the motor was out, and I would feel that much better knowing I have some fresh head gaskets, on the motor, some looked over heads, so its pretty solid mechanically.

What got me into this found online junkyard with a 95 lt1 w/6speed, and PCM and harness 39k was ran and drove, all pulled out for as one piece and ready for a direct swap. $2750.

i am looking to need a lt1 radiotor, hoses if needed, K-member, guages, and springs. Off the top of my head.

 

Yeah, the Hotcam is pretty mild. Altough if you're doing the swap I would get the motor in the car and running before considering any internal mods. I'm sure you'll have enough issues to deal with as is. Some headers would be a good idea though...

<Disclaimer: I've know you've heard this before but I feel somewhat obligated to mention this.>

I'm sure you realize from an economic point of view it would be cheaper to sell your V6 buy an LT1 car right? Not to mention a hellva lot easier.

I know you're concerned with the reliability of LT1's but parts aren't too bad if you shop around and contrary to what everyone else says I dont think they're that hard to work on.

FWIW my car has been quite good to me in terms of reliability. In the past 2 1/2 years I've owned it the only non-consumable item's I've had to replace on the motor were a $99 waterpump and a new radiator for $170. With nearly 175K on it now its not exactly low milage either...

 

hoses will cost about 100 bucks for the goodyear hi miler package, which includes all coolant hoses except for the heater core hose which you must get from a dealer or a junk car... dealer price is mega $$$ though

 

Yep, I have heard it....

I just exploring the option, I figure maybe $4500 for a lt1 w/6-speed with 39k, and In my car which I think has some benefits over an average z28 with weight. I like my color.

engine/tranny/pcm
$2750
lt1 crossmember and motor mounts
$150? Junkyard?
LT1 Fuel lines
$30?(might be included with motor) Junk yard
Walboro intank pump
$150?(stocker may be included with motor)
Lt1 radiotor
$175?(what you paid Jason)
Hoses
$100
Cooling fans
$80 Junkyard
Relay harness for cooling fans
$20? form Junkyard
Clutch
$500(assuming stocker is bad)


$3955?

I will be getting a lower mileage lt1, in a lighter car, keep my color .

It probably will not work out in the end I just want to get some numbers together, curiosu since I have about $500 worth of the swap already done on my car (rearend, brakes, driveshaft, and Catback)

 

re-use your stock pump, its the same i believe

 

I hear you need a v8 fuel pump... but that could be 3.8L to lt1, seems alot of stuff is interchangable between 3.4L and lt1