so im considering buying another engine for my 99 z28 seeing as mine is at 230,000 and counting althought its super clean inside and runs great burns nothing, that being said i wanna start thinking about up grading. i wanna do an ls2 swap but god i cant find an engine for a decent price! lol ive seen ppl go with cast 6.0 or do a 5.3 swap nut i dont like the idea of the down grade in cubes to a 5.3 or the added weight of a cast 6.0 or is it actuly worth it to go 6.0 cast?? im wanting to build a good all around car 400+ hp not a dragster but something that handles great but can run ina strate line too. im just not shure what to do engine wise and was looking for some advice, ive been thinking about just tosing a gm hot cam ls6 springs and lifters ls6 intake dubble roller timing chain high valume oil pump and maybe do a head swap not shure yet but let me know what you guys think? thanks!!

 

Rebuild the LS1 you currently have, and do a heads/cam swap. This will more than meet your 400hp goal. No need for an iron block unless you need a new block anyway, and no reason to step down to a 5.3L when you already gave a 5.7L.

 

You can find a H.O. 5.3 RPO L33 for alot cheaper than an LS1. They are aluminum blocks with factory 243/799 heads and 10.1 compression, throw an LS6 intake and a mild cam and easily get to your power level and it will be a direct swap.

 

I agree with RPM. If you're sure you only want 400 HP, there's no need to go bigger cubes. Four-hundred-plus RWHP is easy with a H/C, stock displacement LS1. I wouldn't even consider decreasing the displacement, though.