I have recently received a healthy tax cut(that will show up in my paycheck every week ) and promotion at my work, making it worthwhile to blow some dough on my 91 Z28. Ive only had the 383ci LT1 in my car about a week or two....but now at work they want to use my car as a driving "billboard" for the business so to speak. So, I want a car that really stands out in all aspects. The stroked LT1 is nice, but Im looking for something REALLY unique. I know plenty of people have done the 396ci stroker in a 4th gen, but how many have u seen in a 3rd gen??? Or, I could possibly get my hands on a slightly used LS6 for a "decent" price....Ive done the numbers crunching, and either project will be about the same. It just depends on what parts I use for the 396 LT1. Which route should I go?? I dont know too much about the LS series of engines, other than that they are some of the best to ever come from GM. It's nice to have some money to burn like this, just deciding is the hard part for me. I know there are pros/cons to both sides, but I want to hear some opinions from other people. I really value knowledgeable people's opinions on here such as Willie, TRAX, 25thSS, etc.......Im leaning towards the 396 as of right now...basically because I already have the LT1 to work with.....opinions are very welcomed here...fire away.:hail:
Here's a link for you guys to check out what Im talking about....they are also the people that did my current engine.


Nu-Tek Machining

 

*chanting*

LS6...LS6....LS6....

 

They're a familiar machine shop in this part of the country.

How will adding 13 CIs make your car "stand out"? Have you added up the cost per CI of doing that? Remember, they're invisible. So how would tearing down a 2-week old motor to a naked block, and re-spending all that time, effort and money on cranks and pistons and grinding and small-base-circle cams, make your car "stand out" any more (or less) than it already does (or doesn't)?

Where are you really going with this? How much money is it worth to you, personally, for this "stand out"? Besides that, what kind of goals do you have for this car? Do you realize how difficult, relatively speaking, putting a LS1 type motor in one of these cars is, compared to a LT1? Yes, they're excellent motors; but.....

On a slightly non-automotive note, how does one "receive" a "healthy tax cut" from one's work? Last I knew, unless you happen to be a congressman, the people who decide whether you get a "tax cut" aren't to be found at your work.

Sounds to me like either your work should be paying for this, or you need to re-examine your motivations. You should take a step back and look at it a little more impartially and less starry-eyed.

 

Yup.

 

First, one receives a tax cut at work when they refile the W4 a different way, and are part owner in a business, at least thats how it is in Kentucky. Second, an LS series engine is NOT that hard to install.....if you're mechanically inclined. The hardest part is the wiring. And finally, why so negative>?????? I didnt expect a lecture.....BUT, you do make good points about simply adding 13ci's. But there is ALOT more to it then just adding 13ci's. Its simply the fact that its different. I talked to a guy at NuTek today, and since my motor is so new, I could actually sell it to them for re-sale and let them build me a 396 from an LT4 core for ALOT less. The LS6 would cost me about $6-7K depending on final price, etc....not 100% sure the guy wants to get rid of it yet. The 396 would cost about $1800 more after selling them my current motor.

 

Not a lecture; more of a wake-up call, or a reality check. A suggestion to plant your feet firmly on the ground and evaluate on the basis of cost vs. benefit, not blue-sky (unless you really have literally thousands of discretionary dollars to just drop any way you want, and this is your choice of entertainment). Although, when you get down to it, none of that is any of my business; but like any "advice" relationship even one as casual as an Internet post, you can get better advice when your real concerns are expressed.

Yeah I know about W-4s (employee witholding) and business ownership, both partnerships and sole proprietorships. BTDT for many many years. I also know that at the end of the year, the IRS is still going to get their percentage of your take, no matter what's on the W-4. There's no way to "receive a tax cut", or grant yourself one, business owner or not. But like I said above, that's none of my business, or really important to the subject, except where budgeting is concerned.

What is your real goal here? What is all of this swapping, whichever thing you do out of all your possibilities including doing nothing at all, intended to accomplish? Establish a realistic, specific goal, then start from that goal and work backwards.

So: Viewed that way, at the completion of the job, what will this accomplish for you?

 

Tough choice. Both great engines. You may want to consider a stroker LS1 if you really want something unique.

 

While Im not saying anymore about my tax cut other than it boils down to them taking less tax out of my check.....I have decided to go with the 396 LT1. I can get it done ALOT cheaper than the LS6. The Z06 owner wants to sell it now that he has the C5R block, but wants $9K for it? All in all, Im looking at about another $1200....not bad at all....even if it is just 13ci..lol. I still dont understand that.....a 396 stroker is way different from a 383. I mean after all, a 383 is "just" 33ci bigger than a 350 right?:lala: Thanks for all the advice....Ill have some pics of the motor thats in my car now hopefully today or tom. and more of the 396 after its installed.......

 

Ouch

Enjoy!!

 

Yeah, he's proud of it I guess.....lol Heck, I could build a SERIOUS motor for that much......maybe an alum Dart block...punched out to 427ci....etc etc. Im just going with the 396LT1 since I already have delt with the place. They are going to buy mine and build me a 396 LT1.....and it should be just as streetable as my 383 is now....just alot more torque...

 

I see you already made your choice but what about a 382 stroked or all bore LS6/LS1. That combo stands out in fourthgens and would really stand out in a thirdgen. Power output will be about the same as the 396 (550ish) so you will still go down the road with the same amount of authority. 396LT1 4th gen guys are running 11's all day long so you should be looking at those times as well.

 

I never thought about a stroked LS1....hmm. Nothing is completely final as I would stil have to take out my motor to send back and have the other built. I will look into the stroked 382 LS1. That would definitely be a first in a 3rd gen I think.....maybe a 3500 stall 4L80E behind it..

 

My dream engine is an all bore 382 LS1/LS6. They currently sell strokers kits of 382 and 383 for LS1 set-ups. They retain the stock bore and implement a longer stroke (3.99" to 4.00"). The all bore 382 uses the stock stroke (3.62) and resleaves the block to 4.09" bores. The all bore is the meaner of the two set-ups and revs like a mother and sounds like heaven.

 

I was actually just checking that out....I saw the sleeve kits that allow for a 427ci from a LS1 block...sweet!! Im looking into the stroked 382 right now...waiting on some pricing....can get the tuning done afterwards for $300 including dyno pulls...cheap??

 

Forget cheap if your talking LS1/LS6 stroker. I have a heads and cam 99 T/A. The short take is this on the stroker.

Callies stroker crank the cheap one is $1600
Eagle rods $500
Eagle/Diamond pistons ~$500 to

Before balancing your in for ~$2600 on the rotating assembly.

Assuming you have a block and other supporting stuff...

LS1 heads $1200 or so for a good Patriot Stage II head or $1800 for Pat's LS6 style ported head. The others heads will cost up to $3000 plus core depending on what you want to spend.

My point is I can't find a way to build an LS1/LS6 stroker for less than ~$7,500

LS1/LS6 Big Bore - today has a better record making power than the stroker does.

Dry sleeved Block $1800 from MTI, LS1Speed, Joe Prince, etc there are others that do dry sleeves and most can't do it right. Make sure they have a well proven record before getting a sleeved block $2700 LPE will do you a wet sleeved block. Should be better than the dry.

Use stock crank.

$500-$600 rods
$500-$600 pistons

~$3000 for the bottom end in parts

For strokers the LT1 is more affordable at this point IMO.

Check out www.LS1tech.com and vendors listed to right side, you can get a good idea what the LS1 related stuff can cost depending on how far you want to go.

As for LS6 engines the cheapest I've seen one for was on ebay ~6 weeks ago for $3380 shipped to your door. I've seen several for $4500. Note all were used. Paceperformace has NEW LS6 long blocks for ~$4800 or so, of course you'll need intake, accessories, etc.

I think a 6.0 truck block with heads and cam could be done for far less than the LS6 set up.

PM me if you like

 

what about the callies rotating assembly(the cheap one) and the GTP stage II 5.3 heads??? I can get the used LS1 fairly cheap, depending on the year....hoping to find a 01-02 with the LS6 intake already on it....maybe have the heads ported(CNC) I can get that done pretty cheap?? What would that run like?

 

KY98L,

Let me dig up a few links etc

BTW - I would skip Nu-Tek for LS1 related stuff. Very little about LS1 stuff on their page. Makes me wonder how much they do. Last two Nu-Tek LS1 set ups I heard about were about a year ago. One heads and cam set up made 390 which is very lame for heads and cam LS1. The other was a Big Bore leaked because it had head to block sealing issues. They might be ok, I don't really know. I do know their name never comes up on LS1tech. GTP isn't a sponsor on LS1tech and their name comes up along, if you get my drift.

 

You said you wanted a unique car and with all this talk of bored/stroked LS and LT engines IMO they are still L series engines. THat has beem done before. Granted the bore/stroke would be diffrent but your car would still look like any old ls/lt swap. How about something like an aluminum big block with EFI and an 8-71? That has not been done before and would be extremely unique.

 

I will get the list for ya, might be tomorrow night.

Check this out. It's a good deal on the type of engine your asking about. To make great power the engine needs a ~230/236 XE-R or something like that. Their is also a new LSX intake out that should be much better than the current LS6 on this sort of engine. Might get ~500rwhp without power adders with LSX intake a more powerful cam. My heads and cam 346 LS1 has a 224 XE-R and it's tame. This engine as cam'd would be as mild or milder than stock.

Lingenfelter 383 LS6 Stroker for $9,000 + core

http://www.ls1tech.com/threads/showf...=5&o=7&fpart=1

LPE built LS6 383 complete engine
still under warranty, bullet proof hp from the best
4340 steel crank, light billet rods, cnc heads all the best parts were used. intake to pan + injectors, ported throttle body,

Check on the LPE web site for the Corvette Z06 LS6 383 package.
LS6 heads CNC porting with 2.02 int 1.56 ex valves
Lunati stroker kit, 4.00" - 4340 steel crank, light billet rods,
LS6 block, cam 218/219 560/560, compression 10.7
420 rwhp 412 rwtq corrected threw the cats
i will need a core back


will ship from LPE

9,000 obo + core

 

I never knew there were so many choices for a unique motor.....Ive been looking at the 6.0 truck block. How would the LS6 or LSx intake work on that, if at all?? Im talking to a couple really good race engine builders about the wet-sleeve for the LS1 and how much Id be looking at for a 427ci LS1......then theres the cam, internals, etc...$$$$ Just depends on the best deal I get....If nothing else, I could always go with the 396 LT1....Eveytime I tell somebody that..like at work or a friend, they say, "....a 396 is a big block..." Kinda funny really......

 

well if youve got the money, why dont you go for the slp 427 LS6 based off the C5R? if i had the dough thats definately where id go:hail: