you guys have any ls1 experience?

[WDoherty]

Just wondering if any on this board have also worked with or are knowledgable on the ls1. Reason i'm asking here is you guys are usually honest and i can get a more unbiased opinion than on an ls1 forum. I've been visiting ls1tech.com recently and these drag racers are making nutty power. Their claiming just basic stuff like bolt ons and a cam will net you over 400rwhp. What experiences have you guys had with the weaknesses of these engines? Some are claiming up to 650rwhp on stock internal engines with turbo set-ups, but i suspect they are also using meth injection or 100 octane fuel. Its seems that most add comp 918 valvesprings to prevent valve float, and if they want to rev over 7k to upgrade the rod bolts. Are these high quality engines, or are they problematic like some older products? I've only driven 5.3 and 6.0 liter versions of the 3rd gen motor in trucks and liked them just fine, the 5.3 idled like my lexus, and pulled about just as hard, the 6.0 pulled harder with a manual in a 3/4 ton 4 x4. Are these guys making them out better than they are? Are there secrets they don't mention? Or is it a really fantastic motor?

 

[AmmoJammo]

300rwkw?

hmm, maybe if you bolted on a supercharger, and thicker head gasket to lower compression...

 

[UZZ30-Québec]

you can make 650WHP on any stock engine

The question is, how long is it going to hold?.

 

[WDoherty]

you can make 650WHP on any stock engine

The question is, how long is it going to hold?.

no, i don't think you can.

 

[UZZ30-Québec]

a guy here as put 22PSI in a stock Hyunday accent engine, so yes, i really beleive you can easily double the HP and more on any stock engine.

some last 10 seconds, some last 1 year, some last a lot of time.

the LS1 is a good engine, just double check your bloc/heads number to ensure that you have good breathing heads and a decent well casted shortblock.

 

[Pro]

KEC here in WA get 450 horsepower from a LS1, custom cam, 750 holley, dual plane manifold and MSD ignition system and sell the whole lot for $AU5500.

for a brand new crate engine - that's a damn good price for the power.

 

[WDoherty]

yeah pro that's why i brought it up, power per doller, instead per cubic inch or L or whatver. It just they are everywhere here in the states and especially all over ebay many with low miles and already connected to a t-56 and with an uncut harness and pcm. I think i'd still prefer to do a 1uz, but i like to research various options.

 

[AU-LS400]

In standard form, the old Gen III LS1's and now the LS2 and all the other Gen IV variants, are very understressed.

Much can be gained, especially in the LS1, from a good tune, exhaust and CAI.
Many thousands of the third and fourth generations of the smallblock Chevy have been used in the GM Holden down here since 1999, and they have proven to be very strong, smooth and powerful (and light in all aluminum form) for a very basic pushrod V8.
I was one of the small group who first bought the LS1 Edit tuning software for Holdens to Australia a few years ago, and there are now many more methods of gaining much more power from them.
As you probably know, the current Pontiac GTO is an Australian GM Holden Monaro exported to the US, as well as many other parts of the world as Chevy Luminas and Vauxhall Monaro VXR.
Here are a few sites to check out down here about these engines.

http://www.ls1.com.au/
http://www.ls1-australia.com/forum/
http://www.chipmaster.com.au/
http://www.marksworkshop.com.au/
http://www.gdperformance.com.au/
http://www.starrperformance.com.au/
http://www.harrop.com.au/performance_products.html
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/

 

[WDoherty]

thanks, i'll check them out. Yeah, that cracked me up when some guy on ls1tech.com from Dubai said he had a Lumina SS and thought it was like our GTO, it funny to me because the last lumina's i remember here were early 90's and well, not a performace car. How does the ls1edit work for you, does it really give you full control of the engine?

 

[AU-LS400]

thanks, i'll check them out. Yeah, that cracked me up when some guy on ls1tech.com from Dubai said he had a Lumina SS and thought it was like our GTO, it funny to me because the last lumina's i remember here were early 90's and well, not a performace car. How does the ls1edit work for you, does it really give you full control of the engine?

LS1 Edit was good when it first came out because it was basically the only way to get inside the Delphi PCM.
But there's better sftware out now like HP Tuners VCM SUITE, and Starr Performance EFILive Flashscan.

http://www.vcm-suite.com.au/
http://starrperformance.com.au/index.php?module=Website&action=Text&content=1120528204656-5841&parentContent=1119935321390-1333

Also, here is the site from the middle east where they sell Australian Holdens as Chevrolet's.
Look in 'Cars' for Lumina and Caprice.

http://www.chevroletarabia.com/content_data/LAAM/ME/en/GBPME/001/G1/1S/1S_home.html?cntryCd=AE

 

[Nick M]

The LS1 family makes very good power for having inline valves in the head. They are not bolt on ready for 400rwhp though. Unless you count things like changing cams bolt on.

And it is one of the best bang for the buck engines available. A 4th gen Camaro with an LS1 and T56 or 4L60E can be had for a very nice price.

But one thing that it isn't is a "Chevy". It is a GM corporate product. That is no different than to say a 1UZFE is a Lexus engine.

 

[AU-LS400]

But one thing that it isn't is a "Chevy". It is a GM corporate product.

Technically yes, its from GM Powertrain, but its still called a 3rd and 4th generation of the small block Chevy...the 1st gen was the 265ci. in 1955.

 

[WDoherty]

i'm watching some on ebay, they may be a bit more expensive than i originally thought, i'd still like to do a 1uz, but its good to know exactly what your up against.

 

[jibbby]

WDoherty - I think the LS! is a great engine...I would love to swap an LS1 in my SC400 and build that up...Wow, would be the word for that.....

The 90's Vette engines are not all that expensive at the yards either. Curious what do you want the LS1 engine for and what are you thinking of doing with it?

Could the LS1 even fit in an SC or LS? Bellhousing? Would the headers fit on the sides? I would love to do that swap... Oh, and yes people are making good Hp off these engines when building, and have been doing so for a long time...

Small block Chevy.....

 

[WDoherty]

nah i am looking at options for my 77 celica gt. Even though i really shouldn't be, given that i still have to look after the sc400 and i don't graduate till december so i don't have the cash anyway. I'll post up a pic of the car so you guys can see what i'm working with. I actually found about the 1uz as a possible swap for the celica a few years ago, but ended up just getting an sc400. The celica still sits around and i've always wanted to make it fast, so one day it will happen, its just a fun car to drive. Ls1's are bad, but i'd fell even better beating one with a 1uz. Dropping an ls1 and going fast in a 2500 pound car would be almost too easy, not even a challenge for speed, almost a grotesque displacement and power to weight ratio, i'd feel as guilty as a viper owner in those regards, which the rest of the world finds 8.3L in 3200lbs a little too much ( a british car magazine i read made fun of it and called it very american). Plus i don't like the exhauast sound of the ls1, 1uz sounds sweeter. Even camaro guys admit that they like the sounds of the 4v 4.6L cobra over the ls1. Lets just say if i feel the need for a 10 sec car, it may get an ls1 with a cam, exhaust and a tune swapped in their, but i'd prefer the 1uz anyday for a driver's car.

 

[Nick M]

Technically yes, its from GM Powertrain, but its still called a 3rd and 4th generation of the small block Chevy...the 1st gen was the 265ci. in 1955.

Yes, it is still called 4th gen from Chevy die hards. It doesnt change the fact that it is a GM product.

 

[turbosix]

Yes, it is still called 4th gen from Chevy die hards. It doesnt change the fact that it is a GM product.

LS1/6 = gen III

LS2/7 = gen IV

 

[Nick M]

Of course the 4.8 and 5.3 are the same family. And the 6.0 was available the same time as the 5.7 LS1.

It is a great engine, no doubt.