I am going to do a swap the 305 in my 92 rs for a 350. I have the block ready to be tanked and bored and the engine will be carbed and with the head/cam combo and compression he wants to use should be close to 400hp at the crank. The only thing about the combo that I'm not too happy about is that it is a hydraulic flat tappet.
Today, my friend that is going to build the engine for me scored an lt1 longblock and says that he could build this engine for me instead if I wanted. There would be no additional cost involved to do the lt1 or sbc. We have all the parts laying around already except for the cam. Both blocks are his and he will give me the one that I want. the lt1 has stock heads and intake (from a 97 camaro) but he will pull it completely apart to check it out anyway. The heads on the sbc are 292 castings with an awesome port job on them.
Which should I build? My goal is to have a weekend warrior that is capable of running an 11 second pass every now and then with a 100 or so shot of nitrous. Either engine he builds will have all forged internals.

All criticism appreciated

 

i would go for the lt1

 

Any particular reason? With some porting work, would the stock 97 camaro heads be up to the task?

 

fuel injection as opposed to the carb, unless you're going to throw a carb intake onto the lt1 and go that route.

 

He says that he can do a FI setup with parts that he and his friends have from other cars. He has a good buddy that is a fuel injection whizz. But I know little about it, thats why I'm here. I really have to trust him on this one

 

The LT1 comes with heads and intake that are in the same league as H/P street aftermarket stuff. If you're going to keep the entire LT1 engine it could save you a good chunk of $$ if you want a 400hp engine as your goal. Alum heads are preferred by most guys, but the LT1 iron ones are supposedly good too.
But if it's only the longblock that you'll be keeping, it would probably not be worth it. If you already have a carb and intake for SBC heads and you want a roller cam, then just buy a roller SBC block that your carb and intake will fit onto.
Whether it would be worth it depends how complete the LT1 is. An LT1 doesn't need much done to it to make it a monster.

 

I am mutual on that decision. I would go the old school route, only because it would save a hassle running the computer and wiring for the LT1. Although, since your friend is doing all the work, then maybe going LT1 isn't such a bad idea. One thing I don't like about the LT-1 is the placement of the opti-spark. If for any reason your waterpump decides to leak, it hampers the operation of the opti-spark because of it's terrible location. The reverse flow cooling is an amazing feature of the LT-1 though. Sounds like either engine is going to be a monster with the right parts.

 

I just talked to my buddy again. The LT1 is a complete running engine. The only thing that he doesn't have is the injection system and the computer. He swears that he can get his hands on a FI setup for free (not a TPI) and his buddy will do the tuning. I just hope with some porting work that those stock heads are up to the task.

 

LT1 heads have a lot in common with vortecs, as far as the chamber and port design are concerned. If you do everything else right, low 12s maybe high 11s are within reach.
If you're going to rebuild, might as well stroke it. Take the $$ you saved by not having to buy heads/intake and invest in a forged bottom end.

 

What money saved? I have two sets of heads for the sbc (World sportsman II and GM 292 fully ported), an intake that I picked up for free, a set of forged pistons and crank that were also free, and the carb. I was ready to start the sbc build when he got the lt 1. I just wanted to know if I should keep the lt 1 heads or drop the coin for some trickflows or something. I want high 11's but I don't want overkill. If porting and n2o would get me there, then thats what I will do.

As far as the sbc stuff, My friend says that he can trade off some of my stuff for machine work and tranny rebuild with some of his racing buddies.

I definately will have all forged internals though cause I'm gonna spray the ***** off of it.

 

this will help you a bit click here> home the man is awesome gets numbers from stock Lt1 heads like no other especially for the money.i know that others exist and are just as good but one conversation with this man and you will be boxing up your heads and shipping them to him.