Please close mods

[pencero]

Re: Lt1 vs Ls1 cost and power (In details)

I'm trying to tell you again & again you'll end up spending 1/2 as much time and money dropping in the tpi lt1 because its 'obsolete' but the LS1 & 5.3 conversion is the 'in thing' right now so it will eat up your budget on parts. For all that extra money the LS / 5.3 only gets 2-3 mpg better on the interstate. Stock the pfi lt1 should get 20/21 on the interstate all day. Consider emissions laws in your state before continuing. The pfi lt1 will pass stock but modified would fail some states emissions tests. If emissions tests are an issue in your area then maybe the LS1 / 5.3 is actually a better choice since it seems like you want to plate your car for the street too

 

[online170]

Re: Lt1 vs Ls1 cost and power (In details)

Wise words above. Listen to these guys.

 

[Bowtieheart]

Re: Lt1 vs Ls1 cost and power (In details)

I can't argue with that, very wise advice from wise people. I'm going to call around today and get some prices on the Ls/Lt1/Tpi and make a rough list of parts and prices and I'll post my findings and we can go from there. I really appreciate all the input. I'm sure you guys will help me to pick the right choice that I won't regret🙂

 

[maven]

Re: Lt1 vs Ls1 cost and power (In details)

Id like to know more about how an LS is twice as much money to do as an LT1.

I just dont see it.....$15 trans adapter, $50 mount plates. $225 oil pan, $275 headers. Am I missing anything else that the LS needs and the LT doesnt? I dont think so....and the header one is obviously only an issue if you were using stock manifolds on the LT1, if you plan to run headers regardless then the additional expense is even less.(Hooker Gbody SBC headers are like $170) So apples to apples Im looking at $405. If I am way off Id like to be corrected..... The benefits of a 5.3 are worth $405 to me.


Like I mentioned before I think its really gonna come down to what these engines are changing hands for in your area when figuring out which best fits your budget.

 

[lilbowtie]

Re: Lt1 vs Ls1 cost and power (In details)

HERE YOU GO!!

LS1 COMPLETE DRIVETRAIN 2001 - $1000 (chesterfield)
© craigslist - Map data © OpenStreetMap
I have a complete LS1 from a Silverado that was hit hard in pass. Side have pics motor still in vehicle 84K miles COMPLETE WITH HARNESS AND COMPUTER! 586-725-3564

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Re: Lt1 vs Ls1 cost and power (In details)

I'm trying to tell you again & again you'll end up spending 1/2 as much time and money dropping in the tpi lt1 because its 'obsolete' but the LS1 & 5.3 conversion is the 'in thing' right now so it will eat up your budget on parts. For all that extra money the LS / 5.3 only gets 2-3 mpg better on the interstate. Stock the pfi lt1 should get 20/21 on the interstate all day. Consider emissions laws in your state before continuing. The pfi lt1 will pass stock but modified would fail some states emissions tests. If emissions tests are an issue in your area then maybe the LS1 / 5.3 is actually a better choice since it seems like you want to plate your car for the street too

Places that are strict about emissions want all of the emission systems of the donor motor installed. In such an area you would need a complete donor car for either a LT1 or LS to swap over the complete OBD1 or OBD2 emission systems. That means all the sensors, stock exhaust manifolds, all the cat converters that come the motor came with. Also need to install the more advance and complex EVAP with a gas tank pressure sensor and a OBD port installed under your dash. LS would probably be harder since they have more complex low emission systems that must be retofitted into the older car to be a legal swap (most LS swaps I have seen are not done legally). In this case your best bet would be just to buy a E-Rod LS3 crate motor kit, DBW and all. I have read many times that with LS swaps you are better off installing a 4L60 transmissions behind a LS than adapting an older transmission to it.

In my local junkyards I don't see LS motors too often, I guess they get bought up quickly. However there are quite a few LT1s sitting in the yards near me. Of course a Vortec headed gen1 SBC would be just as powerful as a LT1. Vortec heads were designed after the LT1 heads. They have the same ports and combustion chambers only difference is they are standard flow cooled.

 

[pencero]

Re: Lt1 vs Ls1 cost and power (In details)

yes I also had a stepside and loved my vortec motor, although I have driven the LT1 and it seems more suitable to a g-body overall but the power was very similar. I was never able to get the same kind of impressive mileage out of my vortec 350 although a friend of mine was doing 3-4 mpg better than me w/ the same engine on a regular basis & I still don't know why to this day lol. I think the best I got out of it was 19mpg

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Re: Lt1 vs Ls1 cost and power (In details)

Driving habits have a very large effect on your MPGs regardless of how your fuel is injected or what your motor block is made of. Stomp on the pedal alot and your MPGs are going down no matter the type of engine.

 

[Bowtieheart]

Re: Lt1 vs Ls1 cost and power (In details)

So this is what I have so far and feel free to help me with these price lists if you notice any errors.


Ls/5.3/6.0 Truck motor-$400
Factory Harness-$60
Transmission-$250
Motor Mounts-$50 (Extreme 4x4 or something like that)
Trans crossmember-$200 or so Iceman
Painless/Down River/? Harness-$1,000 (looked at a couple vids of diy harnesses and it's better to pay upfront on this one lol)
Plus all the emissions things to make it carb legal (yes I live in a state ran a bunch of smog nazis)
Or buy a whole Ls equipped parts car for around $3,500-$4000

Lt1-$400
factory Harness-Same
Trans-Same
Motor mounts-None/Stock Sbc
Wiring harness-? Not sure what's needed
Plus all Emissions parts
Donor car for about $2800

Tpi 5.7-$400
Factory harness-Same
Trans-Same
motor mounts-Stock
wiring harness-Modify both stock harnesses to work(seems like a lot less work than the other motor swaps listed above)
Plus all emission parts
Donor car- $500-$1000


These prices are without the mods needed to accomplish my speed goals, just to get it in. My next to do thing is post my list of cost and specific parts that would be used to accomplish my speed goals for each motor swap. Again, feel free to chime in anytime.

 

[Bowtieheart]

Re: Lt1 vs Ls1 cost and power (In details)

This is the build layouts and will be the post where I will edit based on your guys feedback with prices.


Tpi/5.7
Stock 350 block bored to 355 or 383- will contact machine shop today if they are open for prices.
Heavily ported and polished stock heads with 202 valves- Same machine shop.
Edelbrock Performer Tip intake and base plate- $810
Cam-Lt1? -$50 junkyard
Headers- HED-66481-$780
0411 Ecu for tuneablilty (should plug right up right?)-$250 with base tune