LT1 vs LS1 in 94' Camaro
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Teching In
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LT1 vs.LS1 in 94' Camaro I'm looking at dropping either a Lt1 or Ls1 in a 94' V6 Camaro. I understand if I am to drop in a LS1 into that year that there are about $1000+ worth of additional parts needed for the swap. But with the Lt1 I believe there are only a few adds and ends. Is it worth the $3k+ for the Ls1 over the LT1? Both will be mated with a 6 spd. This will be a daily driver so I'm not looking to go all out with this vehicle except for BPU. Thanks
if this is going to be very basic, the LS1 will get you farther with minimal upgrades. To attain 350rwhp the LS1 needs the very basic upgrades while the LT1 will require far more. If you dont mind swapping heads, camshafts etc. then the LT1 will be for you, but if you want to make the whole performance aspect as basic and easy as possible, the LS1 may be a better option. It all comes down to head design .. and the LS1 just has better heads from the get-go (and a better stock ignition setup, no optispark etc.) and is also lighter....
But then again, the LT1 is an iron block that can be far more durable if you ever decide to boost
just my $.02
But then again, the LT1 is an iron block that can be far more durable if you ever decide to boost
just my $.02
With the money he saved from the LS1 swap he can get heads/cam...which would put him at 400 RWHP with the simple supporting mods with that. A full heads/cam swap will probably bring you about 3500 for all the parts needed etc. You don't need to get new heads, you can get the stock ones ported etc., which are just as good as anything else.
TECH Enthusiast
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From: St. Peters, MO
I disagree. Go LS1. I am a big LT1 advocate, however you need to swap almost all of the parts to get the LT1 in there that you would need for the LS1.
LT1
-Motor
-Tranny
-ECM
-Radiator
-K-member
-Exhaust, Air intake system
-Driveshaft
-Re-wire some to get the gauges to operate properly
LS1
(same as above, just different K member, ls1 spec'd exhaust)
-Custom made air intake system, this is the only real difference and it can be done a couple of ways. I have seen people who modify the rad. core support for the airbox, or go with a FTRA kit which would take car of that.
Granted the LS1 is a tad more expensive. But with just a cam and all other bolt ons you can be pushing 400rwhp easy....trex anyone? Just look at the cam-only dyno archives to get a picture.
The LT1 would require some extensively ported heads, cam, and a little luck to get 400rwhp. Just look at all the guys on here who try and then scratch their heads when it doesn't make it.
Bottom line the LS1 has more untapped potential from their stock heads which would save you tons of money down the road. Until you decide to do a Heads/Cam swap on that. But even still, the LS1s make more HP because of the 15* heads vs the 23* on the LT1. I'd go LS1.
LT1
-Motor
-Tranny
-ECM
-Radiator
-K-member
-Exhaust, Air intake system
-Driveshaft
-Re-wire some to get the gauges to operate properly
LS1
(same as above, just different K member, ls1 spec'd exhaust)
-Custom made air intake system, this is the only real difference and it can be done a couple of ways. I have seen people who modify the rad. core support for the airbox, or go with a FTRA kit which would take car of that.
Granted the LS1 is a tad more expensive. But with just a cam and all other bolt ons you can be pushing 400rwhp easy....trex anyone? Just look at the cam-only dyno archives to get a picture.
The LT1 would require some extensively ported heads, cam, and a little luck to get 400rwhp. Just look at all the guys on here who try and then scratch their heads when it doesn't make it.
Bottom line the LS1 has more untapped potential from their stock heads which would save you tons of money down the road. Until you decide to do a Heads/Cam swap on that. But even still, the LS1s make more HP because of the 15* heads vs the 23* on the LT1. I'd go LS1.
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2004
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I'd say neither. You can find a used LT1 or early LS1 car for dirt cheap now. Screw investing the money converting a V6....if you already have the title, sell it and put the money towards a used 95-99 car. If you don't have the title, sell it anyway or trade it in on the aforementioned.
As I mentioned in your other identical post in the ls1 section...I'm finishing my lt1 to ls1 swap this week and got an awesome deal on installation labor and on the ls1/t56 setup and I'm at $5000+. However, if you are looking to go the lt1 route...I have a complete pullout:lt1/t56,radiator,hoses, all acces,wire harness,ecm,kmem,tranny,exh manifolds with cat and "y",steering rack+linkage,etc. I'm very reasonable on the price IMO. The motor has brand new alternator and optispark dist w/taylor plug wires and bosch plugs. Motor needs rebuild, I know where to get a new 383 stroker kit w/gaskets for $700 which should put you at the ~400hp mark. PM if interested....need to get rid of it soon
I posted this exact question last week in a different forum last week. My '94 will need a refresh soon, I asked opinions. With $3,500 to spend total on everything (clutch, new sensors ,accesories) While saving money, the LT1 would be a monster with used parts. I do ALL my own mechaic work so I save a ton of $$$. Besides, the LT1 sounds soooooo good! Too bad it takes all the special tools to take some of the internal parts out and for the install. Aside from that and having 100lbs more weight and metal heatsoak prone intake manifold there's not much wrong with the LT1 compared to the LSx motors.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 549
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From: St. Peters, MO
The ONLY problem(s) with the LT1 are the following (and I'm gonna leave out the opti **** because with proper care it does alright)....
-heads and head development limit performance ten fold....3500 isn't even close enough to get a good flowing set of heads....290+ (which will be needed to make some really good numbers/times)
-computer won't see 7k+, need accel, fast or similiar to rev up that high
With that said....if you can find an LS1 shortblock/tranny setup for cheap (~1100)....plenty to choose from if you search hardcore, and just stuff a good cam/valvetrain and bolts ons....better numbers and times can be had. I won't even discuss after a good set of heads on top of an LSX mill.
I'm not at all saying the LT1 doesn't have potential, it's just that the money required for heads that are necessary to outperform LS1's are out of most peoples price range and require some custom pieces (flycut pistons for different valve angle, custom intake, valve covers etc). It's almost a moot point. If you can, go LS1...just my .02.
-heads and head development limit performance ten fold....3500 isn't even close enough to get a good flowing set of heads....290+ (which will be needed to make some really good numbers/times)
-computer won't see 7k+, need accel, fast or similiar to rev up that high
With that said....if you can find an LS1 shortblock/tranny setup for cheap (~1100)....plenty to choose from if you search hardcore, and just stuff a good cam/valvetrain and bolts ons....better numbers and times can be had. I won't even discuss after a good set of heads on top of an LSX mill.
I'm not at all saying the LT1 doesn't have potential, it's just that the money required for heads that are necessary to outperform LS1's are out of most peoples price range and require some custom pieces (flycut pistons for different valve angle, custom intake, valve covers etc). It's almost a moot point. If you can, go LS1...just my .02.
Originally Posted by GhostZ
I'd say neither. You can find a used LT1 or early LS1 car for dirt cheap now. Screw investing the money converting a V6....if you already have the title, sell it and put the money towards a used 95-99 car. If you don't have the title, sell it anyway or trade it in on the aforementioned.
My sentiments exactly. People, most of you have no idea about the money, and aggrivation of doing a swap like this is. We did a similar swap in my buddy's 89 mustang coupe (4 banger to 351W) and it was carbed! Total pain in the ***. Its the little **** that kills you. Sell your car, find and LT1 or LS1 and be done with it.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Maypearl, TX
Chad, where are you located? There is a shop here in the Fort Worth, TX area that does LT1 or LS1 conversions as it's main attraction. Reasonable pricing. PM me if you're nearby, or just interested. He'll talk a blue streak with you if you're just interested in the tedious work that's involved with these swaps. He'll put them in just about anything. I was at his shop not long ago and he was putting a built LS1 with a Magnacharger in a C? Jeep...
Originally Posted by METALBEAST
My sentiments exactly. People, most of you have no idea about the money, and aggrivation of doing a swap like this is. We did a similar swap in my buddy's 89 mustang coupe (4 banger to 351W) and it was carbed! Total pain in the ***. Its the little **** that kills you. Sell your car, find and LT1 or LS1 and be done with it.
TECH Resident
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 997
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From: Iglooville, Canada
Originally Posted by 25thAnnivTransAm
Not really. Take the extra money saved from an LS1 swap, and build the LT1 into a monster that puts down 400 RWHP.