What's so great about LSx engines?

[motorholmes]

Check out my cam card:

No pre-Gen III engine can possibly have .553 valve lift with a cam that has -8.0 degrees of overlap @ 0.050 (that's negative overlap) on a 112 LSA.
This is my custom grind camshaft from Howard's Cams in Wisconsin. I had a similar cam on a split pattern in my LS6 powered pickup, which got 20 mpg hwy with 3.73's. I chose a single pattern for the 5.3 due to the excellent exhaust flow of the stock heads, and I'm running a carburetor this time.

Just got it today
Hoping to achieve ~400 hp, 420 tq, and 25 mpg in the GP!

 

[G-Body_Vet]

I've been talking with my engine builder lately about the LSx engines. If I weren't so deep into this 455 that's the route I'd be going. Don't get me wrong, I still like brute torque of the older big cubes but the LSx has so much more potential. It's a few hundred pounds lighter, better mileage, better drivability, and they can be had for way less than what I'm spending on my Poncho build. On another note it's easier to find a eng/trans combo than spending out the *ss on a built OD unit to handle 550+ ft lbs of torque.

Even the stock 4.8's and that nobody wants are light years ahead of anything that came in a g-body. Small bore, short stroke makes for an excellent turbo candidate too.

My next project will def be LSx based.

 

[motorholmes]

I got my 5.3 with 65,000 miles on it for $250! And the guy threw in coil packs, yellow ls6 springs, and comp 7.400 pushrods for $100. Plus I can sell all the fuel injection stuff off it.

With the carb setup I'm looking at maybe under $2000 in the engine compartment. I'll have a better pricing list when I get my build thread going. I do miss having a big block though.

Keep up with your build thread, I'm going to need to see a lot of what you're doing!

 

[G-Body_Vet]

I got my 5.3 with 65,000 miles on it for $250! And the guy threw in coil packs, yellow ls6 springs, and comp 7.400 pushrods for $100. Plus I can sell all the fuel injection stuff off it.

With the carb setup I'm looking at maybe under $2000 in the engine compartment. I'll have a better pricing list when I get my build thread going. I do miss having a big block though.

Keep up with your build thread, I'm going to need to see a lot of what you're doing!

Personally I'd keep the fuel injection if I were in your shoes. The way I see it is like taking a step backwards from a good foundation. Do you mind if I ask why you're leaning towards a carb set-up? Is it the extra work for the fuel system or having the computer reprogrammed?

 

[dogsht]

In tank electric fuel pump system for a gbody because of the GN/Ttype & 4.3tbi Monte is cheap and easy. Literally plug & play. Its cheaper easier safer quieter more reliable than an out of tank electric with sump or cell. BTW thats regardless of whether you are doing fuel injection or a carberator.

If I started another project gbody it would probably be a turbo 4.8. Just curious how much is out the *ss for an overdrive to handle 550TQ? Having had both a turbo fuel injected and a carbed big block gbody Its hard to say which I liked better.

 

[Dave V]

I got my 5.3 with 65,000 miles on it for $250! And the guy threw in coil packs, yellow ls6 springs, and comp 7.400 pushrods for $100. Plus I can sell all the fuel injection stuff off it.

With the carb setup I'm looking at maybe under $2000 in the engine compartment. I'll have a better pricing list when I get my build thread going. I do miss having a big block though.

Keep up with your build thread, I'm going to need to see a lot of what you're doing!

Personally I'd keep the fuel injection if I were in your shoes. The way I see it is like taking a step backwards from a good foundation. Do you mind if I ask why you're leaning towards a carb set-up? Is it the extra work for the fuel system or having the computer reprogrammed?

there are plenty of computer programmers out there to re do the computer. I used the factory fuel setup for my 350 tbi swap as the 4.3 pump was a perfect match. al i did was use the efi tank and run a return line.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

I
If I started another project gbody it would probably be a turbo 4.8. Just curious how much is out the *ss for an overdrive to handle 550TQ?

What I've been looking at is either a stout 2004R or a 4L80e. The 2004R starts getting expensive once you exceed 450TQ from everything I've been seeing. Not only that, but a higher stall lock-up converter will set you back $500+. I've been looking at CK Performance and Bowtie overdrives mainly. I hear CK is the place to go for a bulletproof 2004R.

The 4L80e is a different animal too. Heavier and needs a dedicated trans controller, but can handle the power. I've heard it doesn't fit in a lot of cars either without some tunnel massaging.

From what I've been gathering either one of these set-ups will get you in the $3k range or more when it's said and done.

On another note, I've been kicking around the idea of a Tremac TKO600 since it's rated at 600TQ. Pricing starts around $2k for it too. Of course then there's the bellhousing, clutch, flywheel, etc to worry about.

I think it's just one of those things you have to eat once you start making serious power.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

there are plenty of computer programmers out there to re do the computer. I used the factory fuel setup for my 350 tbi swap as the 4.3 pump was a perfect match. al i did was use the efi tank and run a return line.

That's what I was getting at too. It's not a difficult task to accomplish these days. Honestly you can probably have those two items taken care of for less than the price of the carb & intake conversion.

 

[dogsht]

CKPerformance is good. I got a shift kit from them back before anyone else had one that would hit hard at wot but not harsh as part throttle. Bowite not so much. Nice website, good for some parts, or a 700-R4. That said I had Lonnie at http://www.extremeautomatics.com do two 200-4Rs for me. He was involved in much of the hi performance 200-4R parts development from the beginning.

He has one with the billet forward drum needed to handle torque in excess of 500 foot pounds for $1,995 and comes with a one year warranty. He got me a factory "D5" lockup converter built up to 3,000 stall with anti balloning plates furnace braised bla bla for $300. Not the top of the line but it worked great for me and fit my budget. Unless you have big dollar heads and a monster cam that should be well into the torque range for a Pontiac 455.

Both my cars made over 500 foot pounds of torque and ran with suspension mods and drag radials for 1.8 60 foot and held up well. My 509ci Caddy powered 442 made around 570 foot pounds and hit much harder than the turbo car. I used it for almost 9,000 miles before selling the car. The Caddy probably makes a little more torque and at a lower rpm than than your Pontiac 455. A 4.3" stroke will do that for you. Gawd I miss that car it was ridiculous fun to drive.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

CKPerformance is good. I got a shift kit from them back before anyone else had one that would hit hard at wot but not harsh as part throttle. Bowite not so much. Nice website, good for some parts, or a 700-R4. That said I had Lonnie at http://www.extremeautomatics.com do two 200-4Rs for me. He was involved in much of the hi performance 200-4R parts development from the beginning.

He has one with the billet forward drum needed to handle torque in excess of 500 foot pounds for $1,995 and comes with a one year warranty. He got me a factory "D5" lockup converter built up to 3,000 stall with anti balloning plates furnace braised bla bla for $300. Not the top of the line but it worked great for me and fit my budget. Unless you have big dollar heads and a monster cam that should be well into the torque range for a Pontiac 455.

Both my cars made over 500 foot pounds of torque and ran with suspension mods and drag radials for 1.8 60 foot and held up well. My 509ci Caddy powered 442 made around 570 foot pounds and hit much harder than the turbo car. I used it for almost 9,000 miles before selling the car. The Caddy probably makes a little more torque and at a lower rpm than than your Pontiac 455. A 4.3" stroke will do that for you. Gawd I miss that car it was ridiculous fun to drive.

Thanks for the input! I'll look into them out when the time comes. I really want the OD without breaking the bank. Who knows....there just may be some KRE heads in the future too