Another Block Option To Make LS Power Swaps Easier?? Check It Out.

[slownova]

uses LS pistons, SBC rods.

[XLexusTech]

read this months hot rod

[BonzoHansen]

I think the biggest draw for me is a big inch setup that can use a decent ring package.

If I read the article in the new Hot Rod correctly (and that info is indeed correct) it uses LS pistons and LS rings. If so does that take away a major plus in your book?

[Mike Norris]

"If I read the article in the new Hot Rod correctly (and that info is indeed correct) it uses LS pistons and LS rings. If so does that take away a major plus in your book?"

Only if you were to use the current available pistons needing a 6.125" long connecting rod. I would use a 5.85" or 6.0" long connecting rod to be able to have a lower ring package as well as keeping the oil ring out of the piston pin area. Basically a SBC spec with an LS valve reliefs.

Hopefully that makes sense.

"Distributors are readily available for the LS platform, so that is not an advantage either."

I mentioned using an SBC distributor only on a cost basis and some folks like the old school way of doing things. The available distributor from Wegner is cool but quite pricey and not too many folks want a front mount distributor for an SBC as it strays from the original SBC look. I personally would keep fuel injection and a crank trigger.

Mike Norris

[Steve Chryssos]

Racers will go for it. Someone might have $800 tied up in just a gen 1 oil pan, or big money tied up in a set of Oliver billet rods. The list goes on. Those are just a coupla examples. An entry level Super Comp racer might be looking to step up from his conventional small block. But he doesn't want to worry about bellhousing bolt pattern, a new motor plate, pan clearance or accessories. A set of shallow angle, symmetrical port gen 1 heads are big money. So where we might see an expensive conversion block, racers will see a firm foundation for cheap conversion heads. And if they planned on stepping up to a race block anyway, the cost is a wash. But they can now top off that block with truly affordable high flow LS heads. Small block racers will dig it--especially bracket racers. They have a plug & play mentality.

And for the street enthusiast, remember that there are literally a million-plus pre-existing gen 1 installs out there. So even if this block turns off 95 percent of the street market, the remaining 5% adds up to A LOT of happy customers. ...sheer numbers. I spent a lot of time sorting out my gen 1 406's 1 accessory drive system and oiling system--even my frame side motor mounts have been tweaked to make room for my steering rack. A lot of those parts are custom machined. So I'm licking my lips a little at the prospect of using this block rather than starting over. And I already have an LS1 sitting on the floor of my shop.