As for the GTO LS1 manifold being different, I believe the engine builder I talked to was referring to some dimensions being different. Maybe there was an issue with the clearance to the hood, or maybe the intake doesn't fit the Vette throttle body properly (the GTO engine did have a mechanical throttle). Or maybe he is just dead wrong about there being a difference and they are exactly the same???

 

ill go with the last sentence... hes wrong

ls1 and ls6 manifolds are EXACTLY the same as far as dimensions go

ls6 flows much better tho... +hp

one thing ive learned after having an ls1 for a while is your normal everyday mechanic tries to apply his normal everyday knowledge to an ls1.... well, an ls1 isnt your normal everyday engine and half the time they seem to be talking out their ***

 

Did you actually smash a piston? I broke a chain at 6000+ rpm and bent 10 valves, the engine was fine, the heads were not. I had some circular marks as well. Beyond that just nicks, the pistons are fine... Wondering how lucky I really was? It made a pretty loud pop.

 

Have you seen the price for a ls7 its 14000, yes 14K

 

Hi guys,

Here's where I am now:

I have 2 choices for engines.

1) Go with the Mr. Goodwrench engine. Price would be $5825 (engine only) and it would come with a full parts and labor 3 year/100,000 mile warranty (backed by GM). It would be a new engine, but would be a 1998 LS1 (service replacement engine) and thus would not have the 2001 and later ZO6 manifold or the stronger block. Thus this engine would be a little less powerful than a current LS1 (2001 or later).

2) Go with a new 2003 Corvette engine (350+ HP) that a local parts shop is selling. This engine is $4300 but would only come with a 6-month parts only (no labor!!) warranty. Thus I would save $1500 up front but then I would lose the GM warranty and who knows if this local parts guy is really going to back up his engine. But with the extra $1500 I could purchase a warranty for the entire car (3 year/36,000 mile) with an after-market warranty company.

Money is tight for me, but I want to have a reliable and well-protected car.

Thanks

 

Holy **** at the prices. For that, I would go with a 408!

I've got a 98' long block for sale for 1600.00 plus shipping. It's got roughly 40k on the clock and runs fine. Sorry, had to throw it out there.

 

where are you located?? I'm going to be selling my 2004 LS1 out of my vette soon with only 4000 miles on it..

 

Sorry to hear that man, that sucks

I'm surprised the timing chain gave out like that, I thought they were good for the life of the engine. Not only that, but shouldn't it have been a dual chain design?? So if one breaks the other one can hold on until you get it replaced??

 

Uh..no, all LS1 and LS2 engines have a single chain...

 

You know!!! Your motor might be fine. Seen that happen a few times to the LS motors and they seemed AOK after getting the topend straightened out. I'd take it to a reputable shop if you aren't comfortable with the motor itself and get a second opinion. You might just need a set of heads new timing chain oil pump and throw a cam in it while you are at it and away you go. Just a thought if money is alittle tight. If those little notches bother you heck they can probiably flycut the pistons and get rid of them LOL

 

swap out from your old engine

 

I've seen this too. Happened to a buddy of mine's 99' Vette. Left indentions in almost every piston. Replaced the heads with a newer set of used 241 castings(bought cheap for about $200), new pushrods, timing chain, added a bigger cam and oil pump. Since then he's bolted on a blower. Still running strong...

 

That LS7 that LG motorsports was messing around with made unbelievable power. If I were to do it all over again I think I would go that route.

 

I broke a chain in mine (caused by a lifter failure and had the same issues). I could have just did the heads but metal and bearings from the lifter made me yank the motor. For the first price you quoted I got a forged 402 shortblock, new cam, clutch, and flywheel, new set of lifters, Cometic head gaskets, shipping from a reputable shop that is a sponser here. I had to pay $700 to fix my heads, but that included an upgrade to 2.055 valves and some more porting. Spend some more time looking at your options before you jump.

One of my deciding factors was I can spend $3000 and get exactly what I had before I borke it, or spend a little more and have a forged high compression stroker.

 

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the feedback. Where does one buy these forged short-blocks and hi-performance motors? Then I'm wondering if my tranny and differential can take the extra power?

 

here is a small list... some of the prices may have changed..


_____$2,000+_____
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,699 no core $0 Texas Speed (TX) Special $2,699
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,789 no core $0 SDPC (TX) Post $2,789
347 LS6 forged pistons (stock rods & crank) $2,095 plus core $800 Lingenfelter (IN) $2,895
_____$3,000+_____
370 Iron forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $3,299 no core $0 MTI (TX) $3,299
347 LS6 Stg1 forged pistons (stock rods & crank) $2,395 plus core $1,000 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $3,395
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,595 plus core $1,000 FLP (IL) $3,595
402 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $3,599 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $3,599
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,600 plus core $1,000 (est core) HPE (TX) $3,600
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,700 plus core $950 Cartek (NJ) $3,650
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,799 plus core $1,000 (est core) Speed Inc (IL) $3,799
402 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $3,800 no core $0 Texas Speed(TX) Special $3,800
402 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $3,900 no core $0 Tbyrne Motorsports (MA) $3,900
347 LS6 Stg1 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,995 plus core $1,000 A&A Corvette (CA) $3,995
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $2,995 plus core $1,000 MTI (TX) $3,995
347 LS6 forged pistons (stock rods and crank) $3,000 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $3,995
347 LS6 Stg2 forged pistons (stock rods & crank) $2,999 plus core $1,000 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $3,999
402 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $3,999 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $3,999
_____$4,000+_____
347 LS6 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $3,095 plus core $1,000 Thunder Racing (LA) $4,095
402 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $4,095 no core $0 SDPC (TX) Special $4,095
347 LS6 S2 forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $3,595 plus core $1,000 A&A Corvette (CA) $4,595
403 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $4,595 no core $0 Lingenfelter (IN) $4,595
383 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $3,995 plus core $650 Thunder Racing (LA) $4,645
382 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $4,395 plus core $600 FLP (IL) $4,995
370 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $4,900 no core $0 ARE (CAN) $4,900
_____$5,000+_____
408 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $5,000 no core $0 Cartek (NJ) $5,000
382 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $4,500 plus core $600 Cartek (NJ) $5,100
402 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,395 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $5,395
408 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $4,600 plus core $1,000 (est core) Speed Inc (IL) $5,600
408 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $5,995 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $5,995
402 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,995 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $5,995
_____$6,000+_____
408 Iron forged pistons & rods (stock crank) $6,295 no core $0 MTI (TX) $6,295
408 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $6,296 no core $0 FLP (IL) $6,296
383 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,395 plus core $1,000 (est core) Rapid Motorsports (PA) $6,395
383 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,795 plus core $800 Lingenfelter (IN) $6,595
388 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,700 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $6,700
383 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $5,795 plus core $1,000 A&A Corvette (CA) $6,795
412 LS2 forged pistons, rods, crank $6,995 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $6,995
_____$7,000+_____
396 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $6,000 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $7,000
408 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $6,995 plus core $1,000 A&A Corvette (CA) $7,995
427 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $7,995 no core $0 Rapid Motorsports (PA) $7,995
_____$8,000+_____
427 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $7,500 plus core $600 Cartek (NJ) $8,100
409 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $7,900 plus core $400 (est core) ARE (CAN) $8,300
427 Iron forged pistons, rods, crank $8,350 no core $0 ARE (CAN) $8,350
385 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $7,550 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $8,550
396 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $7,850 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $8,850
427 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $7,500 plus core $1,000 (est core) Speed Inc (IL) $8,500
_____$9.000+_____
427 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $9,000 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $10,000
441 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $9,300 plus core $1,000 (est core) ARE (CAN) $10,300
427 C5R forged pistons, rods, crank $11,995 no core $0 FLP (IL) $11,995
427 LS6 forged pistons, rods, crank $12,639 no core $0 Lingenfelter (IN) $12,639

 

Oh, there's lotsa sponsors here that'll sell ya a very nice, very strong motor. And, fairly reasonably, too.

But, that's just the start. Nothing in the F-bod or Y-bod driveline can handle 500+ hp for very long. Neither can the stock fuel system keep up. Or any of the intake components. Or exhaust.

There's a buncha options out there, but if ya start spending $$$, it can get $eriou$ reeeeal soon.

 

Why buy a new motor when all you probably need is new valves, a valve job and timing chain? If you're gunna spend the money, spend it on a set of heads.

 

Hi guys,

I purchased the $3900 new motor (everything but an intake). It has an engine suffix code of ZFA on the back. I did a look up on the following web-site:

http://www.c5registry.com/facts.htm

And it does not match up with any of the 3-letter engine codes for any of the C5 years (1997-2004).

I'm wondering if it's a special code because it was some kind of service replacement engine or an assembly-line overproduction motor (which was what I was told it was)? I'm really wondering if it's a pre 2001 or a 2001 and newer.

Does anybody know?

As always your help has been greatly appreciated,

Mike

 

whats the casting number on the back of the block??