Quite a random thought and maybe this is even in the worng section. But its a shame the L98 cant produce the power these other motors can because in my opinion TPI with long tube runners is a far better looking motor then the LT or LS motors.

thoughts?

 

I think that TPI are better looking espically in our cars and such. it just looks so....... official? i don't know i just like them.
however the L-98 and the LS series names sound pretty cool.

 

No doubt TPI wins on looks. You have to consider that when the TPI first came out in 1985, it was cutting edge technology. Today, not so much, but they still perform good. A little work on the heads and runners to increase flow helps in the power department, but to build big power, most people use an LT1 or LS motor, but they just don't look at home in a 3rd gen engine bay.

 

I agree TPI looks the best, although lts and ls look good, they just don't look good in our cars

 

LS intake is no "looker", that's for sure- a lumpy plastic "turd" between the cylinder heads. The LT intake is at least clean looking and very "buttoned down" in it's appearance. It requires no cheesy plastic engine cover to hide it's appearance. But the TPI intake is the best looking of the bunch, in my opinion. It's metal artwork. Still looks almost as good today as it did when it first came out. It's appearance has stood the test of time even if it's performance hasn't.

May I interest you in a Holley StealthRam?? It ain't too shabby looking either. Just a hint of old-school tunnel ram in it's design, although it's sadly lacking the appropriate dual quads on top.

 

The HSR does look good and performs well. Just don't have the $$ to get one right now, but definitely on my list of future upgrades.

 

TPI if built correctly can produce good numbers. LS and LT engines perform well in large part to how well their cylinder heads flow. Look at stock TPI heads Vs a set of LS heads, huge difference. There is also a huge difference in flow of the stock TPI unit vs LS (or LT) intake. Their cam, exhaust and compression ratio are almost always better. If you were to use a set of comparably flowing aluminum heads, the same CR and exhaust specs and a ported manifold, you would find they are pretty close and that TPI can still be used in some performance applications.

 

I'm going to have to stray from the pack and say I think the LS engines look far better in 3rd gens than the TPI. To me, they look like they belong together.

 

I think the TPI looks better, but the LS certainly doesnt look bad in these cars or anywhere except for the coilpacks...

 

This is "tech"???

IBTL with this vote, in order of preference:
Best: TPI
Second: LTx for it's clean "tight little package" look
Last, LS. Intake is no art work, coil packs = ugly, and with the low valve angle (wide heads) I just don't see that "tight little package" at all. Water pump is no beauty queen either.

 

while tpi looks the nicest, the first thing that comes to mind when i see the lsx intake is - power. she's no pretty face, but its hiding something serious under the ugly

 

In stock forms, TPI has it all over the ls, but I've seen way, way more drool-worthy ls motors in hot rods than tpi motors. Get rid of the coil packs and get real valve covers and the ls starts looking really good.

 

Sorry for bringing up an old thread but i wanted to add my 2-cents.

To me its a very circumstancial question. I agree with the post above me, stock for stock TPI wins no doubt. My 2nd favorite would be LS and 3rd would be LT. However, I do believe if you can relocated the coil-packs and get some sweet looking valve covers on there, the LS starts to win out real quick. Im not a big fan of the LT motors in any department. Theres a reason motors last as long as they do in the market. The 350 was an amazing design and has been a proven formula since 67'. The LS series is an amazing design and is running on 15 years now with no sign of stopping. The LT is okay, but its too little too late, and it shows with its meager 6-year run. Theres just not enough advantage there to make me want it over an L98 in my oppinion, and the looks arent much to speak for either. Any old school muscle small block or big block with a carb easily out-shines the LTs theyre just not lookers. Theres way more aftermarket and honestly more potential for/in an L98 than an LT1 and cheaper at that. The LS is a whole new design with amazing characteristics and aftermarket, its worth the upgrade if thats what youre looking for but theres really no point in stopping halfway and taking the LT motor anymore. The aftermarket understands this too obviously, you can find 350 and LS crate motors everywhere, hard pressed to find an LT.

In my oppinion the best thing that came from the LT platform was the cheap and convenient used junkyard T56s that bolt right up to our old school 350s, 305s, 383s, etc haha

 

I'm not going to argue that the "LT" AKA, Gen II is the best looking, but there are some facts here that are way off...
If you're going to judge a motor by it's run length, then know this:
L98 duration = 7 years
LS1 duration = 7 years
LS2 duration = 4 years
...before major design changes. The LS1 version of the Gen III SBC was superseded in '05 by the Gen IV LS2. Either way, both motors were produced for only one year longer than the Gen II engine.


Are you saying in looks? "Out-shines" in power/performance? Because if you're talking performance, that is not true at all. Even the "mighty" LT-1 barely matches the performance of the LT1.


Actually, the best thing that came from the Gen II SBC was the head port design, which laid the foundation and led to the head port designs that now, help give Gen III and IV engines such awesome power and torque on such small cams. The Gen II engine was the turning point in cylinder head advancement, that made today's motors possible...and the motivation for that design work (for the Gen II/LT1), came from the LT5/ZR-1. Source: Corvette from the Inside, by Dave McLellan and Heart of the Beast by Anthony Young


As for what looks best. I don't mean to challenge your opinion. Just wanted to clarify some things that you might find of interest.

 

sorry LTx or LSx cant compare to a polished out TPI ... this one isn't done yet.

 

5-13-12 pic