whats the most powerful (or after a cam swap) commonly available LSX motor? I'm considering selling MY LT1 to Help fund an LSX swap. also, does anyone know if GTO LS1 manifolds fit on a thirdgen?

TIA-

Eric

on www.ls1tech.com I've seen "cam-only" LQ9s with LS6 intakes and long-tube headers put down 450 rwhp.
I have posted on here before where a cammed LS6 with '00-'02 Z28 exhaust manifolds put down over 400 RWHP through a manual trans and a Ford 9" axle, both using synthetic lubes.
And I have a thread on here showing porting and polishing stock exhaust manifolds.
Getting a cammed LQ9 over 400 RWHP using ported manifolds should be no challenge at all.

so an LQ9 would be the best?


there was a thread going with pics of the different LSX manifolds, I did a search but I couldn't find it, anyone know which thread I'm talking about?

I'm pretty sure GTO manifolds will not fit. Most use the 4th gens or Hawks long tube swap headers.

Compared to LQ4s, LQ9s are rare. But because of this, LQ9s bring a higher price that most guys won't pay, so LQ9s are easier to find. LQ9s are not as rare as LS1s or LS2s or such, and thus are much cheaper than those. Plus the LQ9 has more potential.
The main difference between LQ4 and LQ9 is pistons. The LQ9 is basically an iron-block LS2 with different cam and different combustion chambers.
That's why I think you should consider the LQ9.

does about $2000 sound high for an LQ9 minus accessories and ECM?

I'm gonna try the GTO manifolds when I get a motor, only because I have ready access to pair, then I'll know for sure.

also, has anyone used the GMPP drive kit?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-19155067/

or is it just as easy to get a fbody drive setup?

In the exhaust forum somewhere I read that LS2 manifolds will fit if you trim the drivers side motor mount a little (not sure if they meant Vette or GTO LS2), and then somewhere else I read that GTO headers will not work at all. Let me know what you find out, because I have a set of LS2 headers off my GTO motor and maybe somebody could use them (although the LS1's probably differ from the LS2's).

That's way high. www.lkqcorp.com will sell you a complete LS1 for that. LKQ gets about $1200 for an LQ9, and they charged me $800 for an LQ4. I chose that because the LQ4's dished pistons are the better match for the small combustion chambers of the TEA stage 1.5 LM7 heads.

LS7 is the best motor available. 440-460whp stock depending on the dyno and trans over 550 with cam/headers/tune. Not quite commonly available tho.

LS2 would be a great choice if you can spend the cash. Good heads on them, aluminum block for light weight, 6.0 liters displacement. easy 430-450whp cam only depending on cam.

LS6 is nice if you can find them as they have good head castings on them but smaller displacement 5.7L. About the same hp if not abit more than the LS2 from the factory.

best bang for the buck right now is the Iron 6.0's mentioned above. LQ9 LQ4 etc. Fairly cheap and strong internals/block.

Newest motors are the 6.2L LS3 based motors. Finding one of those from a new truck would be awesome but they would still bring a good dollar. Potent setups tho. I've seen 500whp cam only.

Good budget setups that can move well with cam swap and maybe some head work is the 4.8/5.3 truck motors. generally discarded, these gems can be bought on the cheap and worked over to make good power.

what about the ls9

Good luck finding one from a trashed ZR1 lol

yeah well the LS9 would be the baddest of the bad but the availability of those is almost non existant. LS7's have been found and purchased so atleast there realistic

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-19201990

here you go

Wow so now its a crate?? thats cool but totallly not worth that cost. I built my 800+hp motor for half that cost.

I love it how they take $50 off and make it seem like a deal, it's still 23000 dollars, and IIRC thats without any accessories!

I'm still looking for that thread with the pics of the different manifolds with no luck so far.