My 02 ss has a h/c combo from tsp that makes about 475hp and is very streetable. It's becoming more of a track car then street car for the road course and I'd like to be north of 525hp if possible.

Which would be better suited for road course duties? And of course, more budget friendly? Some street manners would be nice.

 

Are you talking rwhp or flywheel? Both of those would have a very hard time getting to 525 at the wheels reliably.

For a road course where RPMs are a biggie, I would stick with a stock stroke big bore engine. Thus, you should do a well built LS3 vs. a stroked LS1.

 

I assume your talking crank Hp, you can stroke your LS1 and go a little larger of a cam and keep the street manners. Or you can make about 520-530 at the crank with a stock ls3, cam and boltons and still have good street manners and not have to get into the motor. It depends on the money you want to spend, stroker kit for your ls1 would most likely cost less since you have most of everything else. Even if you keep the cam you have now, you would pick up power everywer. The extra cubes would add a big boost in torque and mid range. I dont think there would anything wrong with building a stroker, but the ls3 would be the best way to go.

 

The cost to convert things over to run an LS3, on top of the LS3 purchase, would make the 383ci a much more cost effective option. Both engines will produce similar power levels depending on the top end components chosen. The 383 would be fine with high rpm as long as good bolts were used in the bottom end, the valvetrain was set up properly for it, and a good high volume oiling system was in place.

 

Yep.. since you've got the cathedral top end already might as well just stick with stroking the LS1 to 383.

 

I am talking crank hp. As I have researched things I have found I can pick up an LS3 takeout for less then $5K. Getting it cammed, all the parts for the swap and in the car is almost as much $.

It seems for a budget, the LS1 stroked to a 383 makes more cents, with less dollars. Thx!