So I recently picked up a 98 ls1 out of a vette with a crank for a steal. I was wondering if there are any known issues with this particular year since it's one of the earlier blocks. I'm looking to have a power adder of some sort on it may it be nitrous or turbo or a supercharger. And looking to have about 600rwhp out of it when said and done. I will just sell it if it won't have the means to support my goals. Any cooling or oiling issues with this block? Any info of course will help

 

From what I have read in the past and I am sure there is more.

97-98: Honed only UP to .0040"
99+: Can be bored up to .0100"
The oil galley holes were not as large so it reduce oil capability
LS6 blocks got enarged bulk head windows to better relieve crank case pressure.

Like said I am sure there is more but thats off the top of my head and speaking "bare block only info"

 

My dream would be to build 500rwhp on stock cubes on this block but if it's a time bomb I don't want to build it. If that makes sense to anyone.

 

Also upgrade your rod bolts in the early short block

 

If its just a short block, at works throw a good set of rod bolts and make sure the bearings/rings to spec and a good heads/cam will make 500 to the tire, maybe high 400's if a auto trans.

 

The important things have been covered. It's basically a good block; just not as good as the later LS6. There are threads in here where some of us opened the rear oil passage on the earlier blocks, but, it's not a required mod. Just something we did to improve top end oiling. Upgrading the rod bolts is the only real requirement for what you're doing, as already stated. Just be real careful to ensure the proper bearing clearance afterward...again, as noted already. When you get the stretch required on the upgraded bolts, the force will naturally collapse the rod bearing diameter. So, it's important to prepare for this & to measure the resulting clearance.

FYI, I use & have experience w/ both the early (98) design & later (LS6) design blocks. The 98 block is a very good block. So, no worries once the rod bolts are upgraded.

 

Sounds great in the future I'll open up the oil passage and do the rest of the machine work. Everything bolt and stud wise will get the arp treatment. But for now I have a good block and crank that I picked up for $60