aight so what do you guys think? i can score a low mileage LT1 and t-56 for about $2,500 right now, but i could also get a low mileage LS1 and t-56 for about $4,500. is it worth spending the extra two grand for the LS1? ive ridden and driven cars w/ both motors, and really either one are great hp machines. i guess what im really asking is the two grand worth the extra 15-20'ish horsepower from the LS1? i guess in the end ill prolly be doing some mods to either one, but as a stock motor, whats youre opinion?

 

You should be able to get the LT1 and trans for $2000. Get it and put the extra $2500 into a good rear with gears and some good tires, a cam and some headers, and you'll take any stock or lid/catback LS1 anyday.

 

In stock form there is a much greater difference in power output. More like 50 to 60 hp diff. However the LT1 swap will be cheaper in the end and will allow you to retain a of of 3rd gen features like motor mount location, and headers.

 

i was thinking the LT1's were 300 hp and the LS1's were 315 to 320 hp. i didnt think there was a 50-60 hp difference in the two.

 

Lt1's are GM rated 275 flywheel HP

LS1's are GM rated 315-345 flywheel hp depending on the vehicle.

Both are said to be underated

 

Both are underrated. A stock LT1 makes about 300 at the crank or just there under. A stock LS1 makes 350 to 360 at the crank. Both are the same as their vette counterpart so you can go by GM's rating for the vette. Plus, stock M6 LT1 cars put about 260 at the wheels and M6 LS1 cars put down over 300. Severly underated. My roomates 02 SS makes my 95 Z look like a civic.

 

i see! well hell, now im in a bind. decisions decisions! hmm, i dunno what i will do now. i might just go ahead with the LT1 since i almost have that much saved up, throw on some headers, heads and a cam. then i could just have up for more after market goodies.... hmmmm...... i havent seen a supercharged LT1 third gen yet!

 

FORGET ABOUT HORSEPOWERE FOR A MINUTE!

If you ever work on an LT1 then aN LS1 you will love the LS1. It is a big enough difference to think about.

And don't forget about the LT1's opticrapper. Change 1 and you'll cuz it, change 2 and you'll swear you'll never do it again, change three and you'll go by an LS1.


Just my 2 cents.

 

And you had to change 3 optisparks why?!

When we swapped in my LT1, it had about 30K miles on it. I have since added another 20K to that in the humidity of the texas gulf coast, never hesitating to drive it in the rain, and I have had ZERO problems with the optispark. Everyone bitches about the opti being a piece of crap and how its so hard to change and get too, blah blah blah, it takes an hour, MAYBE two to swap one out.

lilthurmy, don't base your decision to get an LT1 or LS1 SOLELY on the fact and LT1 has the Optispark. That is retarded.

3ZZZ, I posted this in the LS1 thread but I'll post it here too, how is an LS1 any easier to work on? The only "easier" thing is the plugs. But if he gets the LS1 he's going to have to get either custom headers or use stock LS1 manifolds with custom exhaust work. How does he come out ahead?

 

this may sound stupid but what is a optispark

 

The distributor used on the LT1's, it runs off the cam shaft and has a bad reputation of going bad because its located under the waterpump and has a tendency to collect moisture in the cap. Its not even as bad as people say it is, I had mine off in a matter of 25 minutes, about the same amount of time for installation.

 

you want something simple, go with the lt1, you want something custom, go with the ls1, at the HP end of things, it wont matter once you start throwing dollars and mods at it.

you can also delet the optispark with some aftermarket coil systems available, i myself have the LTCC made by bob baily. it retains the optical part of the opti but gets rid of the voltage part, which is the main cause of opti failure, something about it creating a rust like effect or something. convert to the LTCC and ls1 coils and practically never change yoru opti again. theres also a deltateq system which deletes the otpi and replaces it with a crank position sensor. either way there are lots of options.

 

we have a 1996 collector edition vette with the LT1 in it. the car has about 30,000 miles on it, and we've owned it since 97, and have never had any problem from it. plus it runs really well considering we've put headers, full exhaust, forced air induction, and done some computer work to it. im basing everything im saying on this car, just because the LT1 runs good. the motors i am looking into buying have about this same exact mileage, so unless the car has just been given complete hell in those 30,000 miles, i dont see anything going wrong with the LT1 anytime soon. but i guess if the opti goes, then it goes. but i seriously dont see it happening anytime soon, if ever. (knock on wood!)
my car is not a daily driver, just something to break out on the weekends and smoke some of the local supercharged ricers running around here. it will also never see snow or rain. so im seriously thinking about going with the LT1 now.

 

Both engines are a great choice. If you are committed to a lower budget get the LT1. If you have a few more bucks the LS1 would be a great choice.

Keep your eyes out. You might get a good deal on an LS1 on ebay.

 

Another reason I say the LS1 is better than the LT1 is bolt location. Granted there is more room in a 3rd gen versus 4th gen.

But advantage to LS1 is bolt location. Example header bolts. The LT1 are so close to the tubes that you custom fab wrenches to get to them. LS1 are several inches away from the tubes.

Shoot doing a simple plug and wire change is a pita on an Lt1.

But the LT1 is cheap and that always helps.

 

they sell that spark plug tool on ebay, its pretty cheap.

and how often are you changing your plugs/wires/headers anyway to justify the cost of a ls1 vs lt1?

 

I didn't find the plug and wire change hard at all with my lt1. Now headers I have to agree on, but headers are always a pain. Not to mention if you want some for the ls1 you gotta cough up 600+ .

 

So you're saying you would rather fork over the extra money for an LS1 just because you can change the plugs easier and headers are easier to put on? Thats retarded.

 

alright this is how it goes the lt1 is cheaper but not as good as the ls1. While the ls1 is more expensive and is better its just like everything else in the world can't have something better and cheaper at the same time. The ls1 will get a little better mpg and make more power to mods(11 sec daily drivers is very very common, just head on over to ls1tech.com your slow if your not running low 12's high 11's). So basicly it comes down to how much money you want to spend spend more get more, spend less get less.

 

Having owned both LS1's and LT1's I would NEVER go back to an LT1.

LS1's are definitly easier to work on, plugs are easier, cam swaps dont require taking the intake off or the pan, there is no valve lash to set, they are lighter, they pull like none other in the high rpm's, not to mention it's wayyyy better looking then an LT1

LT1's aren't that great of an engine IMO. Sure they had their time, but that time is past. Why would you want to take a step back in technology when you could use the new best technology and use it easily? Not to mention their weight and horrible ignition system, plus they aren't very easy to work on compared to an LS1.

The way I see it is sure you're paying a little more for an LS1, but you get what you pay for.

 

It all boils down to how much money you want to spend and what are your future goals for the car?


If you are looking for the cheapest way to make HP, then the LT1 is your choice

If you are looking for a better engine then the LT1 and can justify spending more money, then the LS1 is the choice for you.....

 

For a third gen, the LT1 is the better choice. You can use just about any headers or header/y pipe combo available which in itself makes it better than an LS1 for making power in a third gen because you will have to use the stock manifolds on the LS1. The opti is a bad design. I've already replaced the one in my 94. The one thing I love about my LS1 is the gaskets! I can't stress enough how much better the gasket design is on the LS1! But it all goes down to what your plans are and what you desire from the car. I myself feel like the LT1 has a HUGE advantage because of the header delima I mentioned earlier with the LS1.

 

You can get headers for a thirdgen LS1, but they cost an arm and a leg.

 

hmm alright. well i dunno what i am going to do right now. i could save up and get the LS1, but i wouldnt be able to get it until months from now, maybe even into next. i have about 2,000 saved right now, however 1,200 of that is going to a new paint job. i could have an LT1 by the middle of summer, soooo... i quess im stuck between getting something now, or saving and waiting a little while. anyways, thanks for all of the replys yall!:hail:

 

Here's my personal delima. I share a mix of the same feelings many of you do, either pro LT1 or pro LS1.

I like the fact that the LT1 can use headers and that it shares many similarities with a standard SBC (well, some anyway). The LS1 for overall power and everything and the all aluminum engine is really appealing to me, but..... who knows.

My delima is that how hard is one to install over the other? Overall installation including dropping it in, and making it work in terms of wiring......

I can see all of the points and to some extent I agree with the NEWER IS BETTER way of thinking. I nean, take a 2nd gen. Would you rather put a Tuned Port motor in or an LT1? Its all in how you view what you want the engine to produce overall and what your budget is.

 

The only ones I am aware of are 1 5/8 shorties, which won't make much power anyways. The only other option is custom which is gonna be very costly.

 

sanderson headers

 

I understand that alot of stuff is easier in the swap, and cheaper, But there is a reason alot of 4th gen owners are upgrading to LS1s...The weight difference is one factor, And easier power is another. I mean My friend is stock except for a catback in his 2000 T/A and running 13.1, not too bad.... I mean I would go for either...Its all about how much work you want to do, But if you think you could handle the work, I would go LS1...

 

There are several LS1's that can make enourmous amounts of power with the stock manifolds......They are a good design to begin with......and instead of buying header's you can put that money towards the LS1 itself....

 

good point flynlow, because im gonna need all the extra $ i can get do the stock manifolds get enough clearence, or is there a reason why i would have to buy headers? i wouldnt have to buy them unless i just wanted to for the hell of it, right?

 

You do not need headers. Get a set of 01 or higher fbody exhaust manifolds. They flow better than shorties.

 

Thats correct, believe they put a set of headers on a 02 corvette and it actually lost 2 hp over the manifolds. Now if your talking long tubes, thats different.

 

does anyone know if you have a tubular k-member you can use long tube headers with the ls1.

 

Doubt anyone knows, but I think the clearance issue with long tubes on the thirdgens with the Ls1's is where the thirdgen A-arms are, on the fourthgens there is a lot of space in that area. I believe that is what is needed, so if you get a coil over suspension on the tubular k-member, im sure you could use long tubes.

 

You're right. You can make more power by doing other mods besides headers, but in the end you are still only handicapping yourself. Why not get an engine that can run any combo the car was designed for. If you're gonna spend all that money, you might as well get the most out of it.

 

hah... if its that much friggin trouble for the ls1 swap... just sell your 3rd gen and get a 98 ls1.... less work for about 2 g's more... plus u get a newer car.... sounds like a plan to me

 

im told i can get an LS1 w/ an auto. transmission for about $1,500 cheaper than i can w/ a 6-speed? ive riden in some LS1 cars w/ the auto. and they run pretty damn strong. of course, the 6-speed is faster as always, but is the 6-speed worth the extra $1,500?

 

Its personal preference, its not that its faster except maybe stock. Once you mod the auto there is no difference. I just don't like driving automatics =/, never owned one in my life. But hyea its true, you usually can get the LS1/4L60E for a 1k-1.5k cheaper than a Ls1/t-56.

 

aight kool, now back to the LT1... its cheaper, and has enough power for what i am looking for. was the opti as big of a problem in the later models like 95 and 96 LT1 as it was in the earlier models? or did gm see the problem in the earlier years and do something about it for the later years? also, how would an LT1 run w/ the hot cam, maybe an lt4 intake and lt4 heads? if i did do this, im might or might not put headers on it, but exhaust would be a must. decisions decisions.....

 

Definatley put headers on while your throwing it in. If you want to save money go beyond the lt4 conversion, get your stock lt1 heads ported for $1000-1200 bucks by Lyold elliot (he'll get them to flow at 280 CFI intake and 210 exhaust WOW, if you already have lt4 heads he can get them to 317 CFI!!!), phone #- (972)617-5671,

grab the GM847 cam:

part # 12370847 from gmpartsdirect (250 shipped, very big cam and still streetable)

specs: 539/558 with 1.5 ratio rockers, 234/242 duration, 112 lsa 234.95

Put some 1.6 Roller rockers on that biatch, bigger springs and valve seats. And go kick some ***. You'll get about 410+ rwhp out of that combo.

LT4 Knock module: part # 16214681

Total cost would be around 2000 bucks, same price as the lt4 kit and you'll be way ahead.

 

damn that sounds like a plan! :rockon: thanks pasky! :hail:

 

Im actually going to do this combo, if you can, when you call Lloyd, ask him if he can seat the springs on your heads while he is porting them so you don't have to goof with them. You'll be better off than the stock ls1 and lt1 guys and be pretty damn fast for the extra $2k.

 

Oh I forgot to mention you might want to put a heavy duty timing set on it, only necessary if you want to take it up to high rpms's, if you stay no higher than 5800 rpm you'll be fine on a stock replacement.

Here we go:

Lt4 Extreme duty timing set:

GM PArt #: 12370835

Only order this if you have a Vented opti system. Will not work for a non vented opti lt1.

 

aight, a vented opti, is the cap just gonna have slits in it or what? and yeah i would like to tach it on up to a redline of about 6,600 to 6,800 rpm. thanks for the part #'s and such. also one other thing i was wondering.... are the earlier model LT1's opti more likely to go bad, than the later model (95-96) LT1's are? one of my good friends told me that, but i just wanted to double check. he said the earlier ones were more likely to go bad then the later ones are because gm saw that as a problem and tried to correct in the later years. but he said some on the later ones do go bad anyways. do u know anything about this?

 

yes supposedly the non-vented opti's are more prone to water damage and crap out. The vented optis have a vacuum plug that comes off the intake (??? not sure if it comes from the intake). Aim for a 95 lt1, the so called "Best year" it has everything the 96-97 lt1's have and its OBD I.

FYI: I've seen used LT1's for $600 bucks on ebay without a tranny. Also, check www.car-parts.com, you can score a Full lt1, wiring harness and accessories off a vette for about $1100-$1300.