I have it at last, I have been chasing this 1991 V6 RS Vert for close to 6 years, missed it by hours back then. my nephew beat me out of it - blasted punk, lol. He blew the motor to pieces last month, plus the front end is SHOT!! but it is mine now and it was way cheap. 98% complete. and relatively good shape. so now I am trying to decide, LT1? 5.3? or 6.0? I have a 4L80E, and I have a theory to build a full hidden frame under it. so that I could throw a little more HP at it. I'll get pictures up soon. any thoughts on which drive train to go with? it will be EFI with Electronic trans, for sure, I have a proven system on that here is my truck build http://www.gmtruckcentral.com/articles/lt1swap.html

 

Congrats! I think you should put whatever you want in it. I personally like inexpensive, while not giving up much performance. Ideally, when I eventually need a new engine for my TA I would love to get my hands on an LS3. Seeing as how thats not very cheap at all, I'll probably try to find something wrecked with at least 5.7L and snag it. I saw a wrecked 98 LS1 Camaro on CL last week. The guy only wanted $1,200 for the engine, ECM, wire harnesses, transmission, and full rearend! Too bad I'm not ready for that yet.

 

well I like the feel and all of the SB motor "LT1", but I keep thinking a "6.0l with a LS1 intake and moderately crazy cam". or the hot ticket around here is a 5.3L with 16lbs of turbo boost = 550hp on the ground, ya kind of short lived but dang insane for a while.

 

I forgot to mention that I'm also a fan of longevity and dependability. That would rule out a turbo 5.3L for me, but maybe that's just me. If I ever have to swap out my 305 for something else, I don't want to have to swap engines again for AT LEAST 10 years. Maybe the 6.0L would be cool. Maybe a 454 out of a wrecked Silverado.

 

I have to correct my previous statement. I made it sound like I would stay away from the 5.3L. I don't know if I would throw a turbo on it, but I did some more research and I like the 5.3. It sounds good and produces enough power to get my blood pumping. Plus, there's plenty you can do to it to make it really wild if thats what you're looking for. I will definitely consider a 5.3L when it's time for me to replace the 305. Hell, I'd much rather have a modern 5.3L than a 20 year old 5.0L. HA!

 

zactly my thoughts, I have gone through the "issues" of an LT1, and it is kind of disappointing to be honest, I had high hopes. if I knew then what I know now, there would be a 6.0 residing under the hood of the pickup. may possibly end up doing it anyway. I am leaning towards a 6.0, LS1 heads / intake, and a "SMALL" camfor the Vert. I like the looks of BlueZ's engine bay. and I do have an 80E already??? I believe that the LS series motor conversions are cheaper than the LT1 when you are starting from scratch. I previously had a TPI motor in the pickup, so to go LS would have been more work for me, the LT1 was almost a direct drop in after the distributor conversion. more on that later

 

pictures at last

better pictures here http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinbend...7630532116546/

repaired the link above

 

wow I must have B O no comments???

 

well I have decided to stay with tradition, and I have a 40K "95 LT! in a create, freshen it up first; plus a "98 4L60E that I will build up myself.

 

congrats dude. i love mine and it's a great feeling. smile every time i get in mine. i can understand being excited for a car held in your family, one day i'll get mine.

as for motor suggestions, i'm not an automatic kind of guy, and older motors have their issues i don't want to deal with so my Vert will eventually go like BlueZee28's with an LQ9 and T56.

Good Luck

 

well shucks I guess I am going to go with a TPI 305, found one local rebuilt, polished up wiring, ECU, and accessories, everything to make her go. before you all start basshin me, hear me out. I am going to concentrate my money on doing a light restore, IE interior and paint. make it a nice ride, I got a GTP for playing.

 

Nothing wrong with a 305 if it's built right. See Brisk's 88'. He's done nothing to to the bottom end and it's bad ***!

 

- agreed nothing wrong with it. 305's are great for cruisers and laid back riding.

 

Why? there is no advantage to the 305. From a V6, you will still have to do a harness switch. It certainly won't add to value of the car. My 305 was a pig, no power and bad gas mileage. was reliable I guess, and easy to work on, but I would stay with the V6 if you are going that rout. Plus the car guys will constantly bash you. Just throwing it out there. Sure, unlimited funds, go LS1, but 350s are everywhere and cheap.

 

Here we go!

 

ya what you said,

CRAP!!!! there has always gotta be a smart "donkeys exhaust port" in the FREEKing croud!!!!

If I had unlimited funds I would put a supercharged LS7 - $25K or an LS9 - $30k, but then I would probably say screw it and go with a Porsche or A Ferrari, maybe even a Lambo to make it a triple shot. LMO

I was asking for advice until --- well shucks I guess I am going to go with a TPI 305, found one local rebuilt, polished up, wiring, ECU, and accessories, everything to make her go. before you all start basshin me, hear me out. I am going to concentrate my money on doing a light restore, IE interior and paint. make it a nice ride, I got a GTP for playing.

 

well darn, shifted gears again. the dude with the TPI started acting kinda flaky, had to pay his friend for ?? something before I could look at the motor??? the more he talked the colder my blood ran. I had to call it a bad deal and walk.

ended up at the local dyno shop head a hanging looking for ideas. when I saw the hired hands '92 IROC in the corner, hood up and an LT1 peaking out from under the hood, and realized that that is what I wanted all along. turns out that the 7K LT1 was coming out and a 5.3 was going in. so I bought the LT1, K frame, both loaded as in the car for $200 less than the TPI "rock on"

I talked to the dyno dudes, last week they suggested that I use a 4L80E (one of which I do have) for this build. I am getting things pulled into one place and prepped for the start of her rebirth.

 

thanks man, nice Vert, I have always liked that color, but I dont think I will do the change. LOL. Ya LQ9 is cool but I cut my teath on 327's, I am an old die hard SB gear head, and I don't really feal like relearning this late in the game. It is kind of like I told the wife in answer to her question "would you remary if I died" my answer was simply "no, it has taken you 33 years to train my a$$, and I ain't gonna go through that S&!^ again" LOL

 

Thanks man - I used to be a die hard old school chevy carb guy I didn't want to change until I had a friend of mine that made the new school change and though I fought it I eventually realized how much more power one could get from new school as well as the efficiency. Not only was the motor effortless on power, and less damaging to the motor over time, but got good mileage ta' boot. Just seemed like a win win all around except the additional sensors, and programming. But that's why you have great communities like this and LS1Tech, that hopefully won't tell you to buzz off, or read the faqs, or treat you like your stupid for trying to learn (though sometimes that does happen on both sites). My first new school was my TPI and though it wasn't a power monster I could see the possibilities. Though my IROC will stay carbed (LSX carb conversion), I'll probably never go back to old school.

I agree about the wife thing though. My wife has asked me if I would ever re-marry and my response was/is "hell no, it was hard enough trying to make you happy, what the hell makes me want to try from scratch to make someone else happy."

 

LOL dang we think alike ?sort of? well the rest of the story, I picked up the 7K LT1 for $650 plus my afinity for small blocks kind of a no brainer.