Hey guys, so I'm thinking of replacing my T5 which is on it's last legs with an LT1 t56, since I'd like to use the opportunity to upgrade. I've been told previously here that I should really consider the future of the car so that I don't run into later expenses (regret? lol) and I have been doing so. An LS swap seems out of budget, so I've been researching two options.

Currently, my car has a 350 goodwrench with lousy compression. I've read the "Goodwrench Quest" which I'm sure a few of you have already read, and it got me thinking of keeping my current engine. Right now I have the stock motor, Performer intake with Edelbrock 650 carb and I have shorty headers I got for free to install in the spring. In that story, they got some pretty decent street numbers for only about roughly $1000 new. I've been searching Craigslist, and so far it seems that I could possibly piece together a vortec intake/heads & new cam for about $6-800 if I take my time over the winter.

But, the problem I have is that the Goodwrench requires one of those special adapter-style flywheels, since it's only a 2 piece RMS. Which sets the entire thing back a bit, and makes me consider the idea of finding an LT1/T56 pullout/salvage car.

I'd like to also make my car fuel injected in the future, and have a friend that will get me a complete TPI setup which I was thinking I could use for parts and invest in a Weiand Stealth Ram. However, would this 268H Energy Cam play nice with that kind of system or be impossible to tune?

Ultimately I'd like to pursue a streetable, mid-300 HP engine, 6 speed t56 and fuel injection either soon or next year. But I'd like to definitely redo a good portion of the drivetrain this spring or replace it altogether. The goal for the car is to be a nice daily driver for now, but only for another year until I complete school. Then it'll be a cruiser for when I feel like going out of state, so I'd like to get decent gas mileage out of doing this work too.

I should say I have also considered an LSx swap like an LM7, but I don't feel completely confident I could keep that within my budget right now after the research I've done.

Thoughts are appreciated as always! Thanks!

 

If your goals as you stated are to be met with reasonable cost, the LT1 is a very good choice.

The ONLY possible downside to an LT1 is peoples overexaggerated complaints about the Opti, and simply using the eficonnection 24x setup will completely eliminate that. No matter what you do you're going to need a good intake manifold setup, and heads, the LT1 takes care of all that, cheaply.

 

This. People used to rag on LT1's. The aftermarket support for them over the past 10 years has turned them from lousy performers into vicious motors. I honestly wish I would've built up an LT1 instead of my current SBC because of all the awesome things you can do with them.. higher compression while still running pump gas, fuel injection (if you like this), easy to get a 396 stroker setup for them with easier clearancing, 1 piece RMS, mates up to LT1 style T56's obviously with ease, and the heads can be potent with port work from someone like Chad Speier/Lloyd Elliot/Ai to make some serious power. Oh, and they're cheap to find since everyone is busy bowing to the LS1-God.

 

If they've figured out a solution to the optispark I'd say go that route for sure. They're a helluva motor with ported stock heads and a nice cam.

I had an LE2 headed, LE3 cammed '97 Camaro and it ripped! I sold it because I was sick of dealing with the damn optispark though, that thing gave me so many problems. My '94 TA was the same way, f'ing optispark.


Edit: I just went and looked up 24x from eficonnections. Holy crap! Didn't even know about that!! Wish they had that when I had my car, I may never have sold it lol. Nah just kiddin', happier with the Nova That look's freaking SICK though!

 

Thanks for the help. I've read I can and can't use the same clutch as my T5, which is true? I may find an Lt1 t56 for now to solve my transmission ordeal and then see if I can find a engine soon. I've seen a few great deals recently for as little as $1700 for a corvette Lt1 / T56 combo, so they're out there.

My car was originally automatic, and then converted to a t5 hydraulic setup. So I have pedals and stuff.. if I find an lt1 t56 with bellhousing, flywheel and clutch would that be ideal? Just saw one for $750. I think I'd be half way there, correct?

thanks =]

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...-possible.html

Even a stock LT1 blows my mind very stout SBC. knock on wood i never had any problems with my Vented opti. cheers.

 

Haha well, my T5 just recently "grenaded" behind my mild 350 goodwrench. That's been an entire story altogether. I bought the car off it's previous owner, Yor, and have had to do a ton of work since then. Not that he did anything wrong, but the owner before him certainly made some... interesting decisions. The T5 has always given me trouble. It's whiney in 1st/second, bogged a lot.. but was stout on the highway and never gave me problems there. It had definitely been abused though, and I've known it to be on it's last leg. Upgrading to something stronger is the ideal solution.

April will be the 2 year mark in this "project" that has basically become my obsession. In that time, I've done:
- New clutch assembly
- New 3" aluminum radiator (old stock one busted out in a cloud of white smoke one day in front of my house.. was an interesting sight)
- New gaskets on top end
- New heater core
- New water pump
- New valve covers
- New alternator (err, two.. blew a 110 amp Powermaster chrome one that was neat while "working on wiring after a few beers" .. never again)
- Carb rebuild
- Complete tune up
- Fixed a noisy exhaust leak
- Completely went through engine bay wiring. It was a disaster before.

Actually, the photos below pretty much sum up the engine bay mess that was, and where it is now =)

 

If you're gonna find an LT1/t56 donor car, and just drop it in, then I like the idea. If you're gonna BUILD a motor, then basically an LT1 is just a SBC, for performance purposes. The intake is just an intake, nothing special, and the heads are basically vortecs. The only benefit I can see with an LT1 is that you can find one cheap, and drop it in. (with some swap labor of course). Once heads and cam swaps get involved, it's really just an SBC. nothing magical about it at all.

 

Abubaca is right... but remember hte LT1 intake is a good one. The SBC equivalent for just the intake and fuel rails costs as much as an LT1. If good EFI is a priority and you cant be bothered to switch to a Gen III+ setup... the LT1 is still cost effective. If you're totally rebuilding one from scratch... its much less cost effective but can still work well in the right situation.

Super rams have to be sourced used and have weird fuel distribution problems

Minirams are $1000 just for fuel rails and intake, also have some distribution problems inherent in the LT1 intake design, but GM programmed around it. The TPI computer will not.

Holley stealth Rams have some apparent quality control problems

TPI is RPM limited, and therefore horsepower limited in NA applications.

FIRST is still a long tube runner setup, and is, IMO, not enough of an improvement over TPI, especially for the cost.

And of course the achilles heel of the LT1 is... the optispark. But all things considered it's still not a terrible option.

Then there's the single-plane EFI options, which seem very effective, but you run into hood clearance issues real easy.

 

I always catch sh_it for having the same attitude. Although, I will concede that the reverse cooling does allow you to run much more stout compressions than a standard flow SBC. Other than that, no biggie. And, I had no idea the EFI 24X was that spendy. If I was hell bent on an LT1 and wanted to ditch the Opti, I'd go Delteq's, which still ain't cheap but less than $2K+.

 

I have had no issues with the opti, it is a good motor, and get cheep with ECM. I like the power. I'm going to build the heck out of the short block, port heads and intake, and down the road if I feel the breathing is holding it back I'll throw some big heads at it. but it all depends on where you want your power, at a point big heads will only make power in a RPM range you art using.