Keep this reasonable, and by that I mean tangible. Don’t go for one over the other if you know you cant afford it. If you cant afford either take the lowest priced setup and keep the rest of your money bills and what ever you have to pay for.

So you choose which engine would you put in your thirdgen if you had the chance?
> why did you choose that engine?
> what additional parts would you choose with the available left over free spending cash that you have saved up?

Remember, try and keep this tangible and not some kind of dream setup.

 

1) weight savings (engine weighs about 20~30lbs more than my 3800), no opti-crap.

2) long tubes & hi-flo cats and t-56 if possible, or transgo otherwise. Tuning definately.

 

LT1

Much cheaper to do initially.

The point where the LS1 will become faster per $ spent is faster than most on this board are willing to go. (do you really need a 9 sec NA car ?)

Optispark problems are highly exaggerated. Kinda like denting SLP's to get em to fit.

Off the shelf thirdgen headers fit.

 

LT1

Almost a direct bolt in with a change to stock SBC motor mounts vs having to spend 200 bucks on a set of custom made mounts.

Can use the stock k-member making the dent for the A/C compressor vs using a tubular k-member so the accessories will clear, this saves about 600 bucks.

LT1 is 285hp at the flywheel, LS1 is 320 at the flywheel, that in itself is not worth the extra 1500 bucks people are selling the LS1's for. 1500 for 35hp

I put the LT1 in because it has been around, it's the same basic block as a standard 350 chevy and I've heard the horror stories about the piston slap in the LS1 and know some people who had to deal with it and it really sucks. The Opti? blah, don't get it wet and it will be fine, there are several replacement parts that are as good as the coil packs (Delteq). The money I saved by going with the LT1 I got headers and y-pipe, a whole dash cluster and wiring, new console, 3" exhaust, LT1 radiator and fan setup and it took me about 3 months to finish vs some putting LS1's in that has been going on for more than 6 months and mine is on the road and theirs is still sitting in the shop. The car drives great, pulls hard and is very enjoyable to drive.

This is the main reason I went with the LT1. With simple mods like a cam, port the heads and intake, bigger TB and some tuning on the PCM, the LT1 can be faster than the LS1 and you will spend like half the bucks doing it.

 

I vote LS1.

Realistically, you can pick up a LS1/tranny combo with all sensors, wiring, ECU, accessories, and shipping for around $4~5k. It's lighter than the LT1, which I prefer for balance issues, gets great gas mileage, and puts down over 300 hp to the wheels in factory trim. Factory k-member can still be used by notching it for the AC compressor or you can use your original AC compressor with a special bracket. There is tons of aftermarket support for both engines (LT1/LS1) and now that the LS2 has been introduced, it's only a matter of time before prices for LS1 upgrade components start to decrease.

 

Vs getting an LT1/tranny combo for half the cost

Most are under 300hp at the wheels take off the parasitic drivetrain loss and they're only 325 at the flywheel stock.

I just think the LS1 is still a tad pricey, best bang for buck the LT1 is the better combo.

 

i dont know i got my 6.0 block with heads for 450 and pieced together everything else for under 1500 for my 6.0 heads cam ls1 so i think when you are looking at the price of these motors people are going of ebay prices or new gm crates. down here there is a place called lkq best core that can get you a rebuildable longblock ls1 5.7 or 6.0 for 450-600. spend a few dollars on rings and bearings and get a few accesories from the junk yard and your ready to go. these guys that spend 4k or even 5k on a ls1 and 4l60 need to send some of that extra money down here

 

Yes, the LT1/tranny combo is definitely cheaper. redbird_400 was asking what we would choose though, and I would spend the extra money for the LS1. For me, I can see how the extra cost would provide extra benefit. People have different ways of looking at the "bang" in "bang for the buck."

As far as the 300 hp at the wheels, I will admit I do not have first hand experience dynoing an LS1, but I have seen others' dyno sheets.

I've also heard that the 01/02 F-bodies' HP ratings were actually RWHP, but I have no facts to back that up. It's hearsay.

Still, I stick by my original decision.

 

the engines were drasticly underrated.. its not uncommon for all years to come close, or sometimes exceed the factory flywheel hp at the rear wheels.

not to mention, most people doing the swap, wouldnt leave it stock anyway....

 

LS1 all the way.At a truck salvage ner here,you can pick up a 6.0,computer,and harness for $1500.Keep in mind,that's no tranny,but still a buy in my opinion.HP and cost aside,think about your future plans.I don't think there's a soul on this board that doesn't want more power,myself included,and my 406 put 543 to the flywheel on it's dyno day.I don't know how interested anyone is,but a couple of months ago HotRod magazine did an article on the LS1 and it's inner workings.It is a damn impressive design.There's nothing I could imagine that could break a properly built and maintained LS1.The heads have port potential to 220cc or better,and the chambers are phenominal in design.
So I guess my opinion is,that the LS1 is in all our futures whether we are ready to admit it or not.The LT1 is still an excellent engine,but if it were my dough,I'd go LS1.As a matter of fact,I'm pretty sure I've built my last 1st gen. small block,and probably own the last carb I ever will.

As far as upgrades,I'd probably start with a cam and headers,then as time and money allowed,I'd upgrade the intake and port the heads.

 

my vote goes to LT1, i'm not saying the lt1 is better, i just think it's a better deal for what i want to achieve on a budget.

but if i had the money my vote would go to ls7

 

This argument seems to always come up, its an easy comparison.

LS1 - Better engine PERIOD, but costs a lot more.

LT1 - Nice upgrade fromt the SBC but not a revolutionary engine, Costs LESS.

If you have the moeny go with the ls1 if your on a budget go with the LT1. No matter how you look at it, it usualy comes down to, what you pay for is what you get. Both will be a huge inproment from what you got, just sit down and figure out what your goal is and how much money your will to spend.

Justin

 

Yes!

 

I voted LT1. Even though I just watched a 97 Camaro with headers, exhaust, cam, and a few other small things get beat by a stock ls1. I am buying my lt1 because its cheaper and easier than the ls1 to install. The lt1 however to make my argument of buying it worst has no where near the options to add horse power on. 2 performance intakes and only 5 different aftermarket heads to choose from.

 

I voted ls1. It was a hard choice. It seems weird because i have a lt1 ..but the ls1 is lighter and shows less hp loss to the ground more topend hp and peak hp as well as better fuel economy and reliability. however...

This is not true at least not when comparing these two engines. The lt1 as said puts out an underated 285 and the ls put out an underated 325. Now I cant see were im getting what i paid for with only a 35hp difference and a 2k price diff. I would never pay 2k for 35 hp. If i did i would have less hp than i have right now with the lt1.

What i would pay extra for is potential... The ls1 responds better to like mods than the lt1

 

Of course I voted LS1.

For me I'd rather spend the extra $$ for an LS1 because most LS1's will have less mileage than most LT1's (used). Agreed?

Installing either into a thirdgen is not easy but doable for probably anyone reading this. The single hardest part of my swap was the motor mounts, this just took some time and would have went smoother with an extra set of hands. The wiring for me was easy, but everyone has the option of sending it off and having that much less to do. The rest is nuts and bolts and typical for any motor swap.

Good luck.