what year ls1 is best?
01 to 04 used the ls6 Block, you can look up the advantages of that via a search.
They changed the piston rings on the 02+ so they wouldn't smoke as much. Ironically, the 01 were too hard or stiff and were hard to break in.
heads were different in 01+ when they went to the center bolt valve covers. the 241's were better than prior years. also 01+ had an ls6 intake manifold.
They changed the piston rings on the 02+ so they wouldn't smoke as much. Ironically, the 01 were too hard or stiff and were hard to break in.
heads were different in 01+ when they went to the center bolt valve covers. the 241's were better than prior years. also 01+ had an ls6 intake manifold.
Last edited by dmiz0420; Jun 10, 2009 at 04:07 PM.
I would reccommend a 98 engine not their PCM. they also had good rod bolts
99,00 no
01, piston rings suck but get a ls6 intake
02, good rings, and ls6 intake and good rod bolts.
So either a 98 or 02. If you need the pcm and all the nuts and bolts get the 02 if you just need a motor get a 98 as you can pick them up cheap as they are usually looked at as the baster child- sucky heads and intake. Swap the intake and heads and you will suprise a lot of people as the cam in the 98's isn't all that bad compared to the rest.
99,00 no
01, piston rings suck but get a ls6 intake
02, good rings, and ls6 intake and good rod bolts.
So either a 98 or 02. If you need the pcm and all the nuts and bolts get the 02 if you just need a motor get a 98 as you can pick them up cheap as they are usually looked at as the baster child- sucky heads and intake. Swap the intake and heads and you will suprise a lot of people as the cam in the 98's isn't all that bad compared to the rest.
Trending Topics
Wow, alot of info I have never heard of on here.
Nothing wrong with 98 blocks, if you are going to rev over 7k id machine out the metal between the lifter oil passages.
01 and newer are best if you are going to use the entire motor, they have the 241 heads and LS6 intake.
Nothing wrong with 98 blocks, if you are going to rev over 7k id machine out the metal between the lifter oil passages.
01 and newer are best if you are going to use the entire motor, they have the 241 heads and LS6 intake.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
They all are pretty close.... but as stated above 241 heads are best as well as LS6 intake...so 01-02 would be the best on paper... but hell all the years are pretty good overall and they all need some fortification to go big power...
Nope only some of the engines had the ls6 block, no real benefit either!
Nope, only the later 2000's had the heads. The 2001 and up engines did for sure though and from what I've researched only the 01's + had the upgraded rod bolts, but some people have stated that later 2000's did while other people have torn apart their 241 headed 2000 engines and they didn't have the upgraded rod bolts.
Nope, only the later 2000's had the heads. The 2001 and up engines did for sure though and from what I've researched only the 01's + had the upgraded rod bolts, but some people have stated that later 2000's did while other people have torn apart their 241 headed 2000 engines and they didn't have the upgraded rod bolts.
Last edited by Super Speed; Jun 10, 2009 at 11:14 PM.
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Kings park New York
I'd go with maybe the 03'04 blocks used in the vettes and gto's mostly all ls6 blocks that had the oil passage in the crankcase and the ls6 intake and better cam than previous years y not go newer or GMPP for the LS6 engine for 6k Y not hold out and get a great block/engine drop in and go and help out the general.
All the changes don't amount to a hill of beans IMO.
Oh, and if you're looking to buy a complete engine, I would seriously consider SDPC's GMPP engines. They come with a warrantee and are like $3500 and that's with everything intake to manifolds and oil pan.
EDIT: I'm wrong. They are like $6,000. Don't know why I thought they were that low!
Last edited by Sharpe; Jun 10, 2009 at 11:54 PM.
I would say 01-up. Upgraded rod bolts, better intake, but smaller cam. When I bought mine, I knew the 98-00s had a bigger cam, but prolly gonna change the cam anyway so IMO just for the intake its worth it. Even then, some small slight differences.
In all truth, a 99-02 will do you good. You can say what advantages what years had, but you'll end up forged it in the long run lol
I would say a 2002 block, and you have a chance of an LS6 for that matter. The only real advantage to that is better water jackets which will only help if you are PUSHING that motor hard.
I would say a 2002 block, and you have a chance of an LS6 for that matter. The only real advantage to that is better water jackets which will only help if you are PUSHING that motor hard.
the newer..the better. 98 to 99 had smaller oil passages and were more prone to letting go. 2000 is a hit or miss year but some 2000's had the better 241 heads(not much better) they also has a smaller camshaft as the 98-99 engines had the c5 vette cams. 01 had the ls6 intakes, some had ls6 blocks and had stronger rod bolts. 02 is pretty much the same as 01 but they came with MLS head gaskets. the 00^ also had better flowing manifolds
all the 98 sensors and engine wiring harness. some 98's had a different front end harness(one with the headlights and fuse box) which means some of the pins are different. i swapped a 98 ls1 into a 98 v6 car and had to change to front end harness because it wouldn't let the one side of the motor fire up. but all 99 and ^ v6 and v8 front end harness's are the same. you best bet would be to get a 99^ front end harness and engine harness. they are easy to switch out and it's worth it
This is like the most fucked up full of misinformation thread I have read on here ever!!!
Just to cover a couple things.
98 computers are a little harder to tune but unless running F/I a decent tuner should have no prob.
A few 01/02 f-bodys had LS6 blocks but in reality there are trade offs for the "bay to bay" bulkhead breathing you hear about for the LS6. Like some builders won't sleeve the LS6 cause they consider them weaker.
01-02 got the better rod bolts not 98 as posted. I have a 98 so I know but mine spin 6500 no probs so far.
There isn't 5HP difference in all LS1 heads. The LS6 243 castings are the desirable OEM heads for these cars.
Yes LS6 intakes came on 01/02 cars.
LSwon...Yes some track cars like at Bondurant that max run on a track had oiling issues but the they fixed the prob by running 15w-50 oil. Their oil temps ran excessively high for long periods. This is not something we should really be concerned with on a streetcar though. I can go into more detail but this post is long enough......
Just to cover a couple things.
98 computers are a little harder to tune but unless running F/I a decent tuner should have no prob.
A few 01/02 f-bodys had LS6 blocks but in reality there are trade offs for the "bay to bay" bulkhead breathing you hear about for the LS6. Like some builders won't sleeve the LS6 cause they consider them weaker.
01-02 got the better rod bolts not 98 as posted. I have a 98 so I know but mine spin 6500 no probs so far.
There isn't 5HP difference in all LS1 heads. The LS6 243 castings are the desirable OEM heads for these cars.
Yes LS6 intakes came on 01/02 cars.
LSwon...Yes some track cars like at Bondurant that max run on a track had oiling issues but the they fixed the prob by running 15w-50 oil. Their oil temps ran excessively high for long periods. This is not something we should really be concerned with on a streetcar though. I can go into more detail but this post is long enough......
Last edited by SOMbitch; Jun 12, 2009 at 12:51 AM.
This is like the most fucked up full of misinformation thread I have read on here ever!!!
Just to cover a couple things.
98 computers are a little harder to tune but unless running F/I a decent tuner should have no prob.
A few 01/02 f-bodys had LS6 blocks but in reality there are trade offs for the "bay to bay" bulkhead breathing you hear about for the LS6. Like some builders won't sleeve the LS6 cause they consider them weaker.
01-02 got the better rod bolts not 98 as posted. I have a 98 so I know but mine spin 6500 no probs so far.
There isn't 5HP difference in all LS1 heads. The LS6 243 castings are the desirable OEM heads for these cars.
Yes LS6 intakes came on 01/02 cars.
LSwon...Yes some track cars like at Bondurant that max run on a track had oiling issues but the they fixed the prob by running 15w-50 oil. Their oil temps ran excessively high for long periods. This is not something we should really be concerned with on a streetcar though. I can go into more detail but this post is long enough......
Just to cover a couple things.
98 computers are a little harder to tune but unless running F/I a decent tuner should have no prob.
A few 01/02 f-bodys had LS6 blocks but in reality there are trade offs for the "bay to bay" bulkhead breathing you hear about for the LS6. Like some builders won't sleeve the LS6 cause they consider them weaker.
01-02 got the better rod bolts not 98 as posted. I have a 98 so I know but mine spin 6500 no probs so far.
There isn't 5HP difference in all LS1 heads. The LS6 243 castings are the desirable OEM heads for these cars.
Yes LS6 intakes came on 01/02 cars.
LSwon...Yes some track cars like at Bondurant that max run on a track had oiling issues but the they fixed the prob by running 15w-50 oil. Their oil temps ran excessively high for long periods. This is not something we should really be concerned with on a streetcar though. I can go into more detail but this post is long enough......