I'm looking at both these engines, one engine is the 96 l31 vortech out of a suburban with a blown head gasket, the other is. 95 lt1 out of a camaro from a junkyard, my question on these at which would be easier and can make more power? My goal for the engine is atleast 500hp and for it to be a daily driver. On the l31 I want a tpi, not a tbi. So which would make better power and would be easier to swap in and build? Either engine I get I will tear completely down and rebuild from the ground up. Please anyone add your input, I needs to know so I can decide and pay who ever has the engine that will be best.

 

They both have advantages/disadvantages.

Advantages of Vortec:
Gen 1 heads/intake compatible without any machine work
Easier to find a 4 bolt main block
Better ignition system

Advantages of LT1:
Stock with aluminum heads
Stock with a much better intake ($300 in porting will be enough to support any power level)
Cheaper to have heads ported to reach your desired power level than it is to buy comparable Gen 1 heads for the vortec block.
Stronger bottom end in stock form (although it won't hold up to 500 horses)


Neutral:
The LT1 and Vortec heads flow pretty close in stock form.

I think the LT1 could make the power for a lower budget. I'm looking for about 460-480 crank horse out of an 355 LT1; my bottom end is seriously over built to handle nitrous though so you can't compare my budget to a N/A motor budget.

I'd vote OBD 1 LT1 swap. Settle on a little less power, for 2 grand you can have a top end that will support 450ish crank horse. Re-use the stock crank, spend $900ish on pistons/rods/rings and have a completed long block. Just remember the optisparks aren't fun to change. On another note, they don't go bad nearly as often as people on the internet make it seem. Spend the money on a good one the first time it craps out and don't worry about having to replace it.

 

well either way i go im going to rip whatever engine i get apart and build it to make that 500 power, including the bottom end reinforced, top end, intakes ported, heads ported, better internals, bolt ons ect. but like i said, i want fuel injection, i dont like the throttle body injection like the 96 l31 has on it now.

 

and to be all honest i may end up even stroking it to a 383 to make it easier to make the power i want

 

found the intake i plan on going with if i go with this vortec,

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WND-7542/?rtype=10

 

You're not going to hit 500 crank horse out of a remotely street-friendly 350 without a power adder or stroking it.

You're talking about a very expensive motor build (easily 6-7 grand) for a high school kid, if you can swing it then kudos to you. But do not forget your trans and rear won't hold up to that power. Plus that power is useless without good tires and chassis/suspension. All said and done, expect 10 grand or more before you can enjoy the car.


Oh and I don't think you'll have much luck reaching your power goal with that intake manifold --- even on a 383.

 

Trust me I know and see the cost and it's not going in any time soon, it won't be till a few good years down the road that I will even think about dropping it in. In those years I will be building the engine, trans, and rear as I already have plans for all. And as far as the busy mods I already have plans for those and are currently working on those. But it seems like lt1 is my motor to go then.

 

If which case you won't be using many of the parts in the stock engine ( if you want the engine to last )
so you may as well just start with a bare 4 bolt block and buy the correct Hp parts.

Been done but on a serious 383 with good heads and a serious cam
http://xtremecarzone.com.au/index.php?showtopic=386

 

That's pretty interesting to read.

No matter what you choose to build, the stock crank will be fine if you keep it stock stroke (but then as I said before, good luck reaching 500 horses and driving it on the street). I wanted to build a stroker out of my LT1 but I was paranoid my heads wouldn't breath good enough for any serious top end (Trick Flow 185cc 21*) without some serious porting... all said and done I was looking at an extra $2,000 in my build.

I'll be running the stock crank in my splayed block and looking to do right around 800 crank horses on nitrous.

Bare block is defiantly your best bet.

 

do like im doing, a vortec gen 1 with an lt1 intake......
you get the benifits of the abundant aftermarktet for gen1 parts for the long block, great flowing vortec heads, and the updated lt1 intake and dont have to deal with an optispark (which looks cooler than the tpi IMHO)

 

Yes they can. Its been done many times before.

Again yes you can its been done before. 500 crank is 400-420whp thru most trannys. 500whp is a different story. Can be done with some cubic inches and built bottom end and still drive on the street.

If you want a stout LT1, contact Lloyd Elliott or Advanced Induction. Send those heads to either of them and ask for full port job. Actually Lloyds LE2 package could possibly do 400whp. LE3 definately can. AI's full port job can easily do that as well.

Its QUITE common for LT1's to make 400-420whp with heads cam ported intake. They are aggressive, do require some converter if an auto but they do exist.

For a cam, go with custom grind by AI or Lloyd to match the heads. OR contact Bret Bauer for a custom grind through bauer-racing.com. Very good with LT1 motors.


If you went 383 on a built bottom end, then you can do this alot easier.

 

my plans included lyod actually, i was going to send him my heads and intake for porting and order the e3 package as i thought it was well worth the money for the power increases. my plans for the lt1 or the vortech if i get it are to rip it apart, bore the block .30-.40 i have decided, get a bigger stronger crank, agressive cam, ect. i plan to go all out on this engine to make it a torque monster that also has alot of hp to get me up to speed. tranny is going to get the same treatment, ripped apart, rebuilt with a shift kit, corvette servos, yank ss3600 converter, then throwing a locker in my rear end to help hold it down and contain the power. when i do this im going to do it right so that i can take this engine anywhere in the states i want to go, while sounding and looking good while doing it you know?

 

This. Lloyd's packages are amazing work for the price. The only way to really get better prices is to port them yourselves. He's a great guy to talk to as well. I ended up having someone local port my heads for cheaper cause he knew me, but I wouldn't have hesitated to go with Lloyds LE1,2, or 3 package.

A.I. is definitely better though, but they are also more money. Even Lloyd has said as much. You can't beat Lloyds prices, and while AI is better they cost more. You get your money's worth with both of them though.

I ended up buying the LE cam from Lloyd though. 226/232 @ .050" lift.

Nothing is in the car yet though.