Selecting an LSx engine
07-24-2014, 06:28 PM
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Selecting an LSx engine Suppose you want 400 rear wheel horsepower. Some LS engines will give you that right from the start, but they cost a lot to begin with. On the other hand, you can get 400 rwhp from even the LS1, but you spend a lot of money on engine upgrades.
Is it cheaper to start with a lower-end motor, like an LS1, and upgrade it to 400 rwhp, or is it cheaper to just start with a higher-end motor, like an LS3, which would require minimal upgrades to get to that goal?
(Assume that any upgrades needed or desired would be done all at once at the beginning when the base engine is obtained. In other words, it won't be upgraded bit by bit over time, but all at once at the start.)
Is it cheaper to start with a lower-end motor, like an LS1, and upgrade it to 400 rwhp, or is it cheaper to just start with a higher-end motor, like an LS3, which would require minimal upgrades to get to that goal?
(Assume that any upgrades needed or desired would be done all at once at the beginning when the base engine is obtained. In other words, it won't be upgraded bit by bit over time, but all at once at the start.)
07-24-2014, 06:34 PM
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lq4 or lq9 with a cam swap will get you around 400hp for a fraction of the cost of a ls3 or ls2 you do sacrifice on the weight but makes up for having a stronger block. iron block can take more than a aluminum block
07-24-2014, 08:48 PM
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If 400 crank hp is ok you can do it with a stock LQ9 and tune, exhaust.
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...#ixzz21ehbAsre
If you're upgrading cam etc, to get 400 to th rear, go with the cheaper LQ4.
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...#ixzz21ehbAsre
If you're upgrading cam etc, to get 400 to th rear, go with the cheaper LQ4.
07-24-2014, 11:23 PM
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I realize I didn't give any other info, but I'm definitely going with an aluminum block. Weight is an issue. The transplant car is a Porsche 944, and weight balance is a crucial ingredient of it's handling. An aluminum-block LS engine only weighs about 70 pounds more than the stock non-turbo engine, so it'd be out of the question to go with a heavier block.
In fact, I'm going to say that weight is more important than power for what I want to do. I want more power, but not at the expense of handling, which was the main reason I got the 944 in the first place.
So with that in mind, is it cheaper to start with a cheaper aluminum block LS motor and upgrade it to 400 rwhp, or start with a more expensive motor that's almost there to begin with and then take it the rest of the way?
In fact, I'm going to say that weight is more important than power for what I want to do. I want more power, but not at the expense of handling, which was the main reason I got the 944 in the first place.
So with that in mind, is it cheaper to start with a cheaper aluminum block LS motor and upgrade it to 400 rwhp, or start with a more expensive motor that's almost there to begin with and then take it the rest of the way?
07-25-2014, 06:22 AM
#7
I want to say something about putting the words "Porsche" and "cheaper" in the same thread but won't go there.
Pretty much any 6.0L or larger will get you where you want to be. All depends on what sort of deal you can find. I would steer away from LS1 motors because they are not only older, but the LS2/3 stuff is vastly improved in many ways and will hit your HP goals more easily.
As to which is "cheaper" it really depends on what sort of deal you can find. Don't forget the prices of swapping accessories if whatever you buy doesn't fit your application.
You are going to pay more for an aluminum block and the newer the motor the more expensive it will be. You might want to make a choice between cathedral and LS3 style heads, that can make a difference in how the car runs on the street. Especially if you have exhaust limitations on the car.
Pretty much any 6.0L or larger will get you where you want to be. All depends on what sort of deal you can find. I would steer away from LS1 motors because they are not only older, but the LS2/3 stuff is vastly improved in many ways and will hit your HP goals more easily.
As to which is "cheaper" it really depends on what sort of deal you can find. Don't forget the prices of swapping accessories if whatever you buy doesn't fit your application.
You are going to pay more for an aluminum block and the newer the motor the more expensive it will be. You might want to make a choice between cathedral and LS3 style heads, that can make a difference in how the car runs on the street. Especially if you have exhaust limitations on the car.
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07-25-2014, 07:15 AM
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Another consideration might be the car you are starting with. The non turbo 944s have a higher rear end ratio and might be happy with a smaller, high revving motor. An aluminum L33 can be found at less than half the cost of an LS2/3. It will only be about 350hp at the crank with cam upgrade, but as I found out, all the tq/hp isn't worth much if you overdrive the tires.
07-26-2014, 01:37 AM
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Another consideration might be the car you are starting with. The non turbo 944s have a higher rear end ratio and might be happy with a smaller, high revving motor. An aluminum L33 can be found at less than half the cost of an LS2/3. It will only be about 350hp at the crank with cam upgrade, but as I found out, all the tq/hp isn't worth much if you overdrive the tires.
07-26-2014, 04:29 AM
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I want to say something about putting the words "Porsche" and "cheaper" in the same thread but won't go there.
Pretty much any 6.0L or larger will get you where you want to be. All depends on what sort of deal you can find. I would steer away from LS1 motors because they are not only older, but the LS2/3 stuff is vastly improved in many ways and will hit your HP goals more easily.
As to which is "cheaper" it really depends on what sort of deal you can find. Don't forget the prices of swapping accessories if whatever you buy doesn't fit your application.
You are going to pay more for an aluminum block and the newer the motor the more expensive it will be. You might want to make a choice between cathedral and LS3 style heads, that can make a difference in how the car runs on the street. Especially if you have exhaust limitations on the car.
Pretty much any 6.0L or larger will get you where you want to be. All depends on what sort of deal you can find. I would steer away from LS1 motors because they are not only older, but the LS2/3 stuff is vastly improved in many ways and will hit your HP goals more easily.
As to which is "cheaper" it really depends on what sort of deal you can find. Don't forget the prices of swapping accessories if whatever you buy doesn't fit your application.
You are going to pay more for an aluminum block and the newer the motor the more expensive it will be. You might want to make a choice between cathedral and LS3 style heads, that can make a difference in how the car runs on the street. Especially if you have exhaust limitations on the car.
Exhaust is indeed a limitation. These cars were intended for single exhaust. I'm sure dual setups exist but I've never seen a complete dual exhaust all the way back that included dual cats, dual pipes, and dual mufflers. I've seen one system that had dual 2.5" pipes, dual cats, but they fed into a single muffler. On the other hand, I've seen other 944/LSx conversions with a single 4" pipe all the way, which seems to make more sense to me than dual 2.5" (more cross section area with a single 4" than with dual 2.5"s).