Damn You LSX Guys...

[fishtail8]

I've been debating for a long time about what to do for the next bullet I put in the car, and the more I research, the more an LS based plant grows on me. Now just to be me, I 'd have to put a carb on it instead of adding the injection and harness to the car. Carbs are fun to me, I seem to enjoy the tinkering.

Now, how does one decide which platform to base off of? I'm leaning towards going off an all aluminum platform which means LS2, LS3, LS7 ish?

Which would be the best to keep basically stock with a cam and head change?

[HotRod68Camaro]

Depends what are your goals and how much do you want to spend?

[Cannon]

If you like tinkering with a carb, you will love tinkering with the gen III/IV EFI stuff!

But anyway, I would just get a dirt cheap ironblock truck motor LQ4/9 all complete with accessories and harness etc. and get familer with the stuff before you shell out money on an aluminum motor. When I say dirt cheap I mean it, I got my complete intake to pan with accessories even AC, 5.3L from an 05 silverado with only 50k miles for just $600! Nobody wants the ironblocks cause they all want the lighter aluminum blocks and so you can get the ironblocks for cheap.

[monza]

I think the budget will answer the which LS? platform to go with. You won't regret it just dive in at your budget.

You enjoy dinkering with carbs, seems crazy ...but once you get the LSX of your budget, you can play with lots of other things on your car that will gain performance not just keep it idling and running smooth.

[Memphis]

LQ4/LQ9 with L92's

[fishtail8]

To clarify some points for the guys above, the goal for the car has always been to eventually be able to run 11-50-11.60 so I don't have to cage it. If I want a faster car with a cage I'll go buy a rail.

In planning the next Gen I engine, I was leaning toward an N/A big inch aluminum block based build, using some pretty whizzy rotating parts and some heavily done cylinder heads. Getting 500-550 reliable crank hp would be sufficient enough for this car.

My feeling is, that for what I'd spend on the Gen I to get where I want it to be, I could do an LS and possibly spend less and gain more? Make any sense?

I've spent some time on LS1Tech and reading internet stuff, but you can only ingest so much information at once. That's why I called on some of you for a bit more info.

So, budget wise, doing a 10k Gen I doesn't faze me much, you spend what spend to get the desired result. At this point big inch LSX is making sense.

Dave, maybe I'll run into around the province sometime, that's provided they keep these damn snowstorms from coming back!
Thanks for the help fellas.

[Steve1968LS2]

I would pick a HP level you're looking for first.. then find the best engine to reach that goal for the least amount of $$$$

For example, if you need 500 HP then you don't need an LS3.. you could go with an LS2, LS1, LS6 or even something oddball like a built 5.3L.

If you want 600 HP then you will need one of the never, bigger and hence more expensive mills.

So what HP level are you looking for?

[fishtail8]

Steve, I'd say 5-550 would put it where it needs to be. I'd likely base it off of 6L stuff for the extra cubes. Did a bunch more reading today, and still on the fence.

How much heavier is an iron block 6L vs. alum 6L vs. all steel SBC?

[Cannon]

Are we talking 5-550 crank HP or RWHP? cause 550 crank HP is gona be cakewalk out of just a heads/cam stock bottom end LS1.

[monza]

Just saw your location we'll see you around some time.

You'll be happy with the LSX once you dive in, good luck with the decision.

[fishtail8]

Cannon, 550 crank would be enough to put the car where I want it to be. It doesn't weigh all that much, and would only get lighter with an LS.

I knew they were easy, but who'd have thought this easy.

[DCx]

i say get some thing with a 4.00 bore so you can run bigger heads. texas speed has cnc ls3 heads for cheap! these things flow something like 360cfm at .600 lift. but then again you are stuck with finding a ls2, lq4, lq9, ls3...

i almost wanna cannibalize my ls1 in favor of square port heads, more cubes, and better flow.

my engine at the moment should be close to 500 at the crank. im running an ls1 with texas speed cnc ls heads, a texas speed magic stick 3 cam, and a victor jr carb intake with a 750 holley hp street.

[AintQik]

Bizarre dual post

[AintQik]

I made 505 rwhp on my mild LS2 and 763rwhp on 9psi. The motors are just sex. They don't leak, everything is O ringed, no worries about changing cams and stuff just unbolt it and bolt it back. They get good gas milage, even my 800 horse one got over 20 on the highway (3mpg on the dyno @ WOT ) The only sense to use a Gen I block is for good ole days and classes. I have a Gen I in my 67 because I work on so many dang LSXs I just want to see something different. I like the ole school big block, leaky thing sitting in there. Just brings me back.

So, what the others have said makes very good sense. I've built a bunch of these and ya gotta be honest with yourself or this does not work. In other words if you say 550 crank then get into a PP measuring contest with your buds its going to throw you off course and off budget. If you want to carb it fine, but the intakes aren't cheap. So, figure that into your thoughts. Also you need a box to run it, so start looking at them and what motors they are capable of running. Different tooth reluctor wheels. Then decide if you are going to stay N/A or not. This is important. These things absolutely love boost. If you stay N/A then spend a bit of time and money on heads. If you are going to throw some boost at it don't waste too much time and money on heads. You will beat your goal with mild head work and 8 psi by a longshot. If you go N/A remember the LS3 will get you closer than the LS1 and 2, but there are some clearance issues when running a big cam with the heads. Easy fix, just notch it, but you have to deal with it. LS3 heads flow like mad out of the box and with a nice cam and headers you will be there. But, the newer motors will be harder to find and more expensive. I would not bother with an LS7. $ for $ they are just a big ole pain in the arse. They do have wow factor and they run like scalded dogs but at a price. Once you get all educated up, look for a deal. Before you look, know what works with what. For example knowing all I did about trannys, I found an LT1 T56 for $100. At $100 I knew it was not ideal and I would spend $1000 making it work, but it was worth it. If you find an LT1 motor for $200, that's probably not a good idea, but if you find say an LS1 for $1500 that might be worth it and you can make an on the spot decision based on your research about what you need to do to it to get to your goal. In that case it would be a pretty aggressive cam, extensive head work, compression, good headers, and a little luck from the horsepower gods. Compare that to a 20k mile 08 Corvette motor for $3500 and you actually might have a better deal in the latter. With that, you can slap a cam in it, slightly work the heads and you are good without needed a bottom end build. Bunch of crap, maybe one nugget you will find useful.

rj

[fishtail8]

Dc and rj, thanks for the info. I always think you can never get enough research done. I doubt I'll go boosted with the car, as if I get the N/A number it'll be in cage territory and that's as close as I want to get it.

[birdonnos]

i went with a lq9/4l60e swap in mine along with a full groundup resto so my budget went on everything i had to start from the frame up, so far i am pretty happy with it. its a iron block 6 liter from a truck with aluminum heads and a custom comp cam, ls6 intake and 1 7/8 inch headers into 3 inch true duals with 2 chamber flows. heres the link i think you would be happy going with any LSX based motor, i built a lil 347ci motor that put 452hp to the rear wheels in my 1998 ramair.

enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCJVoarvuIA

[srh3trinity]

It looks like the LY6 is a nice option. I had bought an ebay lot with a stock LS1 cam, heads and cam not to long ago that I bought for the intake and I was going to do a 5.3L buildup. I sold that off for a profit and I picked up a L76 intake and I am going to pick up an LY6. From what I have read, the L92 heads are some of the best out of the box. I am still researching the VVT. The LS series of engines have really impressed me.