Firstly please move if there is better place for this thread.

I have reads hours and hours of threads and different combos people have.
I would like if anyone who has built a LS1 for mild performance to chime in with some input.

I either keep it stock and do mods < $100 or decide the total cost of the mode below and see if its worth paying the extra upfront for a 2002+ L98 (LS2 based with LS3 heads??)

I have a 1980 C3 corvette this engine will be going in.

It will be used as a cruiser, weekend car that i would like to be reliable, good fuel economy and around 350-400RWHP but sound like an 350.. My 1980 has straight through dual exhausts and is a little too loud but still amazing.

It will be a budget build, i can do the work myself. I am not in a rush and can wait for the right deal. What i want to know is what mods are worth doing that will actually make a difference and at what point should I stop and just stick with stock.

I have seen a LS1 2002/3/4 with 4l60e trans packages for $1200-$1600 So deals are out there.

So far here is what i learnt
Upgrades from a stock LS1
Intake:
Budget: LS6 intake. Can LS1 rails and water lines be used with this ?
Best: Fast LSX intake. How much will this give over the LS6 ?

Throttle body: Will the LS1 TB be a restriction on the LS6 intake, is it worth sticking with oem LS6 TB or go aftermarket ??

MAF: I have read you need to know if you have a 1 or 3 bolt MAF, but not found exact model numbers and what difference they make. Ideas?

Heads:
Budget: 799 heads with a mill .20-.30
Best: CNC Ported 243, CNC Ported 241, Self Porting, Stock 243
* I was thinking of self porting but for the time it takes 15-30 hours for 15-20RHWP my time is worth more...

Rockers, springs and push rods:
Budget: LS6 springs
Rockers if rebuilding heads should be replaced, springs upgraded to dual springs with certain cams and im not sure when to upgrade push rods...

Lifters: LS7 oem

Manifolds and exhaust: I will cross this when i get to it but have read higher flowing heads like 1 3/4 headers.

Injectors: no idea if they need replacing for 350-400HP ?

Cams: I am confused here what to pick... If i decide its not worth the cost of changing the 241 heads (just so much esp with shipping from USA, im in Australia) then it may affect which cam i get since the heads will then limit it...

Cams i have read about

Crane 224 232 .590 lift 115 LSA (will need the upgraded springs, and I think reduces fuel economy but not sure how much)
Crane 210 218 .551 lift 116 LSA
LS7 Cam (422 hp and 395 lb-ft. Up to 4,500 rpm) 1.8 bolt-in aluminium roller rockers from Crane increased peak power by another 10–12 hp but dual valve springs needed
Spinmonster 230/234
NSSP 230/232 (m6 gtos with a fast have hit 460rwhp)
232/232 .614/.614 114 (464 rwhp that another LS1 with 799/243 heads)

 

Do you have an ls1 already? What year if you do.

 

No not yet. Almost picked up a 2002 LS1 and 4l60e for $1200 but had manual ECU and loom.. By the time i figured out all i had to do was flash the PCM to auto and swap someone a manual loom for an auto it was sold

I can get L98 intake very cheap, $50 new but not sure if it fits or better than the one on LS1s. Is it true LS6 intake are already fitted to 2002+ LS1 ?

I was looking at the Dorman LS2 intake which uses a FAST lower and LS6 upper but with 91.7mm TB ... $350USD plus shipping.

If its true the LS1 comes with a LS6 intake i wonder what the TB size is..

 

the ls6 springs are only good to 570 lift. get a ported ls1 throttle body. theres a book " ls swap" . stock throttle body is like 75mm. a fast 78 intake would be a slight upgrade over the ls6. at 400 rwhp i think a 90 / 90 is overkill unless your planning on running to 7k rpm. i would focus on heads & cam choice , thats where you'll get the most bang for your buck. compare texas speeds 2.5 heads with a cam around 228 duration. just my one cent. ps i have been to australia! soon you'll be as flash as a rat with a gold tooth mate! ps2 an ls2 timing chain is 50% stronger than an ls1 chain.

 

I would skip getting an LS1 and modding it with an engine swap. By the time the upgrades are paid for the upgrade cost will likely cover the cost of getting a LS2 or LS3. Both are better foundations for mod's than an LS1. A stock or basic bolt on LS2 or LS3 will tend to be more reliable than a mod'd LS1 over the long term.

 

1. what do you have already?

2. what is your budget?

Answer those 2 questions and we can get you set up with everything you need. Also ditch the ls6 springs they belong in the garbage.

 

tech@WS6store

I dont have anything yet.

My budget. I would like to keep the whole corvette c3 conversion under $5K AUD / 4K USD

Conversions costs
Engine mounts
Altenator & Powersteering bracket
AC bracket
AC clutch
Trans mount
Trans crossmember modification
Shifter conversion
Speedo conversion
Oil Pan
Fuel setup

$1000 USD for the above


That leaves $2400USD /$3000 AUD for the engine and trans inc rebuilding costs of engine and trans.

Options are
LS1 and 4l60e for $1500AUD (usually 2002+) will it come with LS6 intake ?
2009 L98 with 6l80e for $3800AUD. Adding a cam to this would top be $5000AUD and brake the budget..

The LS2, LS3 are all $5K AUD and more..

The dorman is 78/90 LS2 / LS6 hybrid. Performance between LS6 and FAST 78. $350USD

But if the 2002+ LS1 comes with a LS6 intake and 75mm TB can it be ported to 92mm and be just as good as the Dorman?

A friend told me i can get the 241 heads ported for $400 so if thats true and i have seen pics of his STI heads done then i think thats the go Vs aftermarket heads.


Does anyone have a build cost so i can see what the LS1 route will lead to $ wise ?

Lets say
LS1 $1000AU
Cam, Springs $1000Au
Timing gear, water and oil pump $?
Rebuild seal kit $?
Lifters, rockers $?
Injectors $?
Heads ported $400Au
Heads decked $?
Intake $depends if i need to upgrade it

Trans rebuild
basic kit $250Au

 

Our budget cam kits are $515. $585 with pushrods

Ls7 lifters $99

Complete gasket kit $320 with head bolts, thrust plate, oil barbell, crank bolt

We have heavy duty rockers for $230 with bolts. rails are $16 for the set

Our hd timing set and oil pump are $130

Cant get the water pump without knowing which accessory offset youll have.

Injectors for that setup runs $300 for 42lb FAST.. easy to tune and theyll handle well over 550 hp.

In the US all 01+ ls1 and ls6 engines got the ls6 intake. They used the same 3 bolt 78mm tb. They can be ported but the jury is still out on the actual gains.
The dorman ls2 intake takes alot of work (just got done porting and cleaning one up) but its worth it.
Billet 92mm tb run $230 - 369

If you get a set of 241s on your ls1 which most 01 and up got then a good valve job and some minor port work will make them shine. no need to throw more money into them. 243s are better but may be harder to find over there.

 

I have a stock bottom end LS1 with the Texas Speed 5.3L Stage 2.5 CNC heads good for .650 lift, with a comp cams 223/231 .610/.617 cam LS-6 intake, trunnion upgrade on the rockers 1 3/4" headers and make a very streetable 400 RWHP in a 68 Camaro. It revs to 6500 RPM and makes peak power at about 6000. The mid range torque curve is outstanding with a max of 389 ft/lbs. The heads were only $1500 US, Cam $400 US. This may be an option for you.

 

Thank you for the help.
So what cams do you sell and what price does comp cams 223/231 .610/.617 cam sell for ? What about the options i mentioned above in my first post. Knowing ill get Gen 3 LS1 with 241 ported heads, ported intake (stock ls6 one) ?

Would i need heavy duty rockers or would trunnion upgrade on the rockers be enough, what is the cost for that?

What do the stock injectors handle up to ?

And the Throttle body on a stock LS1 engine w LS6 intake is 75, anyone test what performance you get going to 92mm ?

Thank you very much !

 

Ok great, good info. What did you replace when putting the cam in the engine ? Would you change cams if you did it again and using the 5.7L 2002+ LS1/6 intake change the cam type ?

And do you have the stock MAF and TB

Did you replace the springs, retainers , push rods etc ?

Happen to have a dyno sheet so i can see the curve

Thanks

 

The heads came with the springs I needed already assembled, so nothing there. I had to measure for new pushrods and buy them. Stock MAF and TB (unported). My intake is a 2002 LS-6 style.
Being a weekend fun car, I may have gone with a little more duration in the cam for a little more top end. I say may because the mid range torque is so good now, I don't know if I would want to lose that. Attaching a dyno sheet for you. And I apologize, my max torque was 384 not 389.

 

You cannot put a 92mm tb on an ls6 intake UNLESS you get the modified version from TPIS which is hard to do sometimes.

You can use stock rockers. our cams are $385.

 

The inj will handle up to the high 380s to 400 at the wheels depending on how well your fuel pump is working, if the fuel inj are spraying right, and what your target afr is. I recommend the 42s at that area just to be safe normally though.

 

Yes, and I forgot to mention I have bigger injectors. I can't remember what size, but I got them used and had them flow tested.

 

I agree with whoever said to just buy an LS3 or LS2. I know you said that's not in your budget, but if you're patient enough, one will pop up for close to within the boundaries of your budget. Otherwise, with the suggestions people have made, you most likely won't be within your budget anyway. I'm surprised no one suggested finding a junkyard truck motor (LQ9, LQ4, LM7, LR4, etc). One of those motors might be acquired with a 4L80e as well. That is the budget way in the US. Are those motors available in Australia?

Also, it will be much easier for you to get a stand alone EFI instead of buying a stock ECU and going through the trouble of dealing with one.