I'm curious.. what is better? LS1 or LT1? Which is an easier swap? Is it easier to get power with an LS? I'm trying to find an engine right for me but there are so many choices. Can anyone help?

 

This has been covered a few times, you'll get various answers. In my opinion, the LS is better.

What you'll find, is that there are 4 types of 3rd gen people:

1- those that wish they could do either an LT1 or LS1 swap

2- those that did an LT1 swap and are happy with it

3- those that did an LT1 swap and wish they had done an LS1 swap instead

4- those that did the LS1 swap and never got the grin off their face

 

Hmmm... you know I like #4. That sounds like my kind of engine haha. I like the fact that the LS engines are complete aluminum as long as you get a car motor and not truck motor.

 

Wow - I think it's been a WHOLE two weeks since we've had this thread! (Sorry - it's been one HELL of a week, & I've gotta "decompress" somehow...)

Keep reading the FAQs Binky. The 6.2L that I'm dropping into my GTA is aluminum from top to bottom, stem to stern - and was original equipment for a 2008 Escalade...

 

Binky? lol alright. These are really sweet motors and I'm in search of one at the moment. Nice all aluminum from Escalade I did not know that. I think I'll start checking those FAQs a bit more haha

 

Don't let the iron blocks turn you away, they're just as good as aluminum. You can bore them out more than aluminum too.

 

what's an lt1

IMO if you don't build up a gen 1 motor with a quality aftermarket intake (ie not the tpi setups) then you might as well skip over the lt1 and jump right into ls based engines. Not worth the opti hassles for an lt1 or the similar price to purchase as ls motors.

 

I like my LT1, I also like my LS1.

It all comes down to how much money you want to spend, if you are on a budget and want a step up from bulding a Gen1 motor, go with an LT1....don't let everything you read about the big bad opti scare you away, there is nothing wrong with the opti. Remember, the LS2s (6.0) also came in the trailblazer SS as well as the GTO and vette. Plus the 5.3 that was in the normal Trailblazer was aluminum as well instead of iron.

 

Once you get the scent of an LSx, its hard to get rid of it....

I'm trying to go budget on this build, but we know budget & cars don't go together.

But if it brings a bit of hope, I'm grabbing a running, complete (including harness and ecu) 5.3L for $400 today. Just the start, but I'm going to do my best at keeping a running total for what this ends up costing

 

Two years ago I was asking the same question. I wanted to upgrade the current ZZ4 clone computer q-jet 350/TH700 to EFI T56. In order to make more power than I have now, the LT1 would have needed upgrades. The LS1 does it stock, and weighs less in the process. I went with the LS1/T56, plans changed, I picked up another car to put that in. Even before finishing that, the bug hit again, and in December I picked up a 2000 LS1/4L60E that will replace the 350/TH700 (hopefully this summer). $2k for complete drop-out (including the complete front cradle). Of course, it'll take some more to get it installed (mounts, exhaust, speedo drive box, etc.).

Point is the prices are coming down.

 

I've been undecided whether or not to swap out the LT1 with a LSx. As of now, I'm staying LTx with the next motor(that could change though). Reasons don't all have to do with money either.

1. Obviously already have the ltx stuff in my setup. Having to figure out another system and connect/wire everything up wouldn't be too much fun.
2. Exhaust. I like ceramic coated headers. In order to have them for the LS1, I would have to buy the stainless headers, ship them to my place to make sure they are the right size because there were issues with those headers before, then ship them to a place to get them coated, then ship them back to my place. Then have to make my own 3" y-pipe or have someone make me one. With the LTx, I can simply buy the exhaust I want. Coated longtubes(dyno dons) and a 3" ypipe(mufflex).
3. Software is nice, cheap(mostly free if you are a little bit of a hacker), and easy to work with for the LT1. Its nice to reprogram the LT1 computer by flashing its memory with a laptop and using a logging/recording program that will record data from the sensors/readings every second for something like 20 minutes. Don't know about the LS1, it probably has similar programs, but doubt stock TPI does.

 

you're forgetting the fact that a cam only ls1 will outperform a heads/cam lt1. That's the biggest selling point along with weighing close to 100 pounds less than an lt1 at the same time.

 

LS1 is better, LT1 is cheaper both make good power.It all comes down to how much you want to spend.

 

I do want an aluminum I think because I want the light weight. And I like the fact that there is fairly easy power with an LSx. I may not quite have the money to do both a head and cam job at the same time so I'm very interested in that. I do believe I saw an LS1 motor on Craigslist for $800 complete with the harness but the engine had a slightly high amount of miles on it.

 

My car originally was a 2.8L V6 then converted to a weak little 305 that blew up. I know the harness is still the 2.8 because half of it was unplugged when I went to pull the motor. So my car doesn't have LTx or LSx parts in it.

 

I have been running Lt1s for a long time now and from a performance stand point they are VERY good from just a bolt on or to a fully built set up!
However, if you are starting from scratch why would you want to spend your hard earned cash on an Lt1 to give you 285-360 hp when you can have 360-400 for the same price? In addition to weight loss with the Ls1.....
As i stated i am an Lt1 guru but the logical solution is to get the most for your money

 

Oh ok cool. Thanks

 

I'm with him, I also love the lt1 beaing that I had a 396 96 ta and a cam and exhaust only 96 b4c camaro that went low 12's with gear and traction but if starting from scratch go ls1 and if low on funds go carb. Cabr will be quicker and cheaper but efi will be a lot more driver friendly but more expensive.

 

Ok thanks this helps a lot!