Poor Man's LS2 - For five grand...
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Teching In
Joined: Feb 2009
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Poor Man's LS2 - For five grand... OK- so I've been doing some research on a SBC build that will net 400+whp NA on a $5,000 budget. Some say LS1, some say LQ4/9, some say just muster up the extra cash and buy an LS2. I'd love to hear some head/cam/tune builds that meet exceed these numbers and were build on a budget.
i have an lq forged motor built for boost
used block 350
all machine work $1000
forged crank $900
forged rods $500
forged pistons $800
ARP studs everywhere $800
gaskets $350
bearings $200
now add heads cam lifters oil pump chain pushrods valvesprings etc etc it get pricey, but for the money you can have a badass motor!
used block 350
all machine work $1000
forged crank $900
forged rods $500
forged pistons $800
ARP studs everywhere $800
gaskets $350
bearings $200
now add heads cam lifters oil pump chain pushrods valvesprings etc etc it get pricey, but for the money you can have a badass motor!
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Thats an easy goal to hit, using an LQ4 iron block would be the cheapest route.
My first setup was a stock 01 LS1 block, PRC 5.3 stg 2.5 heads, a 226/232 .609/.604 113+2 cam, a ported FAST 92 and NW 92mm TB, headers and all the usual bolt on stuff and hit 443rwhp.
My new setup uses a forged shortblock which you dont need but its stock size. In that block I use the same heads(milled to 58cc chambers and 11.5:1 compression) with a 235/240 .620/.609 112+4 cam and im running a 9" rearend and chromoly driveshaft instead of the 10 bolt and aluminum driveshaft and made 468rwhp and 435rwtq.
My first setup was a stock 01 LS1 block, PRC 5.3 stg 2.5 heads, a 226/232 .609/.604 113+2 cam, a ported FAST 92 and NW 92mm TB, headers and all the usual bolt on stuff and hit 443rwhp.
My new setup uses a forged shortblock which you dont need but its stock size. In that block I use the same heads(milled to 58cc chambers and 11.5:1 compression) with a 235/240 .620/.609 112+4 cam and im running a 9" rearend and chromoly driveshaft instead of the 10 bolt and aluminum driveshaft and made 468rwhp and 435rwtq.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10
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Thanks for all of the feedback guys. I think I am going to go with the LQ block to get started. Also, this motor is going into a Nissan, so I am going to need to come up with a grocery list of accessories to get it ready to run.
Is there a budget-minded accessory kit available (i.e. alternator, pumps, etc) or is it best to buy parts individually?
Is there a budget-minded accessory kit available (i.e. alternator, pumps, etc) or is it best to buy parts individually?
I've done 400rwhp in cars with a cam and longtubes for years. It doesn't take a full long block build to do that. Old SBC guys just aren't used to making that much power so easy. 
A stock LS1 short block, stock 243/LS6 castings, the right cam, right exhaust setup, and the right tuner will make 420-440rwhp all day depending on the drivetrain.
A stock LS1 short block, stock 243/LS6 castings, the right cam, right exhaust setup, and the right tuner will make 420-440rwhp all day depending on the drivetrain.
Thanks for all of the feedback guys. I think I am going to go with the LQ block to get started. Also, this motor is going into a Nissan, so I am going to need to come up with a grocery list of accessories to get it ready to run.
Is there a budget-minded accessory kit available (i.e. alternator, pumps, etc) or is it best to buy parts individually?
Is there a budget-minded accessory kit available (i.e. alternator, pumps, etc) or is it best to buy parts individually?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10
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CALLING ALL STOCK-BLOCK LS1, LQ4 & LQ9 MEMBERS...
Anyone pushing 400whp+ with an NA stock block, post your heads/cam/intake/exhaust setup along with dyno numbers! I'd love to get some ideas of what parts to start buying
Anyone pushing 400whp+ with an NA stock block, post your heads/cam/intake/exhaust setup along with dyno numbers! I'd love to get some ideas of what parts to start buying