Ls engine or old school engine

[paint2361]

Just wondering how most of you people feel about putting ls engines in old muscle cars....

[67 ls1 vert]

seems like a simple answer. Almost everywhere you look now days you see an LSx engine stuffed in something. Its the new small block for today's hot rods.
You still have the die hard guys that want the old school muscle. It cost more to make power with the first gen small block.

[killer67]

IMO, LS engines are a great platform for easy,lightweight power,reliability, parts availability, and upgrade ability

[Randy67]

With me it depends on your goals for the car, Pro-touring style, then LS is a good choice, more of a resto then the old school. Restomods can go either way.

[paint2361]

I am still really up in the air about a motor... I already have a 60's pontiac engine for my firebird. Nothing too crazy. If I am going to use it i'm going to bolt on some kind of EFI to it...
On the other hand I know how good LS motors are these days....
My firebird is more like an old school pro-touring car.... I like to keep most of the "60's" looks in these cars.

[Ron.in.SoCal]

As mentioned above LS motors have alot going for them, but I really think this is a personal choice. Only you know what your vision and end goal is. If Poncho or SBC is your direction then it really doesn't matter what anyone thinks.

Oh, and post some pics when you get a chance...

[theRG]

Goals for your car and engine, budget?

[Derek69SS]

Depends on what was available in the car... BBC and SBC are everywhere, so any 65+ Chevy I'd go LSX. Earlier stuff, the 348/409 might not have the power potential, but they score big on the coolness factor.

[Randy67]

With the popularity of the LS engines, why would anyone want to put this on one:
http://www.holley.com/forums/entry.p...ock-appearance

[hifi875]

agreed those things are fugly, whats the point of them. anyone who knows even the slightest bit of anything can tell something don't look right. I have my coils exposed and i like it. makes it look different than anything, and confuses poeple.

[paint2361]

I was Looking at used LS's... Looks like a little too much $$ for my buget. I'll stick with my poncho for now....

[sullyman]

I went old engine (Chevy small block, Gen 1 type) because the car was a factory a/c car and I wanted to keep the factory a/c setup (71 Camaro). I have a 5,000 mile LS2-Factory EFI/T56 6-speed/computer & wiring harness from a wrecked 2006 GTO for another project car. I considered putting that in the Camaro but had clearance concerns regarding the newer engine dimensions versus the factory a/c box, so I went with a SBC Gen 1 style setup. Basically a direct bolt in. A SBC 383 (factory roller cam block) with aftermarket EFI (Holley HP MPFI) and TKO600 5-Speed. Researched what it would have cost to retro-fit the LS2-Factory EFI/T56 6-Speed/Computer into the Camaro. Thought I could do it cheaper with a 383/EFI/TKO600 5-Speed combo versus my cost for purchasing the LS2/T56 combo and the additional retro-fit costs associated with putting the LS2/T56 combo into the car (which included an EFI friendly gas tank). In the end, to match and hopefuly surpass the factory Hp/Tq rating for the LS2-Factory EFI/T-56 6-Speed combo and the everyday driving attributes associated with that newer motor/transmission combo, it cost me more money to go the 383/EFI/TKO600 route (I had to address the same EFI friendly gas tank issue with this combo). I could have stayed with a carb, vs EFI, on the 383. It would have been cheaper in the end. However I wanted the driving attributes of EFI. Am I happy with what I have in the old motor combo? Yes (wish it was a 6-Speed versus a 5-Speed). Should I have gone the LS2/T56 route? In retrospect, probably should have (overall would have been cheaper). That being said, my goal was to make the car a more modern driver, not retain the original factory appearance of the car (which a LS motor won't give you). So in addition to costs, it also comes down to a preference of how you want your older muscle car to look (some assemblance of factory original or not).

[yellow1098Greg]

i really love the old school engines and they should be great if takin car of.....but who wouldnt love an expensive new engine with all its technonlogy and easy usage.....i believe its a money issure....for my car....i just built my pontiac 400 but if i had the money i woulda definitly went with a 10,000 dollar new modern engine

[Derek69SS]

i really love the old school engines and they should be great if takin car of.....but who wouldnt love an expensive new engine with all its technonlogy and easy usage.....i believe its a money issure....for my car....i just built my pontiac 400 but if i had the money i woulda definitly went with a 10,000 dollar new modern engine

You can go modern for a lot less than 10k...

[yellow1098Greg]

thats true i was exaggerating but what would you say around 4 to 5 for a good one?

[Taylor1969]

You can go modern for a lot less than 10k...

It adds up pretty quick...

10K seems pretty conservative to me...



induction kit 140
filter 50
headers 390
mounts 75
sparkplug wires 60
plugs 20
t56 mount 350
fuel filter/reg 90
Fuel line 110
fittings 100
Injection Tank/Pump 1200
Oil Pan 400
engine 4500
ls6 clutch 450
Harness/ECU 450
99 Vette fuel pressure regulator 35
AN Fittings, hoses, etc. 75
accessories 900
radiator/Fans 900


10295

[garys 68]

If you're on a budget, consider an iron block vortec motor. The 5.3 and 6.0 truck motors are about 1/3 the price of the LS motors.
I'm doing one now for under $3k.

[Mike1970RS]

I voted old school . I have to many parts to switch to a LSX . I bought a set of AFR 195 Comp ported heads and would take to much of hit selling them . So I will build a 406 and with a roller . It might not make as much as a LSX but will still be plenty of fun.

[H2Ogbodies]

Depending on the car...an LSx build is nowhere near 10K. My 80 Cutlass for example is using a 4.3 TBI tank from a Monte Carlo...swap out the stock TBI pump for an LT1 spec'd one for about $70 and the tank was $50 so that was only a $130 dollar upgrade. Just an example but if you know what will swap, it doesn't have to cost a fortune...I'd get a complete vehicle and do a 100% swap...you can always go laptop tunign later on a stock ECM without having to go aftermarket...at least I don't have to-but knowing a GM electrical service tech who happens to build custom stand alone interfaces helps...

[robertjra]

I'm putting in a l92 and 6l80e in my camaro 1969 got the bouth for 6k comp and all