bichin95redta

All mass-produced engines/powertrains have their own particular weak points, and strengths:

LS1 engine/powertrain strengths:
extremely stout bottom end*
***-kicking factory heads
***-kicking intake
OEM full hydraulic roller cam set-up
very rigid
very light
responds very well to hi-performance builds
T-56
hydraulic clutch
coil-near-plug distributor-less ignition

LS1 engine/powertrain weaknesses:
rod bolts*
pushrods
valve springs
oiling
dinky, 10-bolt rear-end
heads have only 4 bolts per cylinder

If you're going to build a fire-breathing street monster, you're going to replace the weak parts with aftermarket stuff, anyway. Okay, you'll go with forged pistons & rods, aftermarket pushrods, and an oil pump when you do your heads/cam/intake build. No big deal. You still have a rock-solid bottom-end (crank and 6-bolt main), and an extremely light and rigid block. None of the engine's weak points really bother me that much. What DOES tick me off, is putting the POS 4L60e (in A4 applications), and the 10-bolt rear-end behind an engine capable of such high performance right off the showroom floor. GM was putting M21, M22, TH350, & TH400 trannys, and 12-bolt rear-ends in their '60's & '70's muscle cars. WTF, did they forget how to build muscle cars over the past 30 or so years? At least the new "family" of A6 transmissions will be up to the task...now how about a decent rear-end?

Not too long ago, a lot of people thought overhead cam engines were the wave of the future, and pushrod engines were on their way out. The LSx-series of cam-in-block engines has proven that assumption dead-wrong. Pushrod power forever!

RHall8612

LOL, you won't win the argument on that site. I've been trying to convince Paul, Vital Velocity, to give up.

You can't beat the truth into some people. No matter how hard you try. I would be in there defending your point, but it just isn't gonna sink in.

-Russell

muncie21

iTrader: (14)

Your basic LS1 can handle 500-600 HP reliably without changing engine internals. That's a 70% increase from stock. See what the Mistu can do.

Ksett

Rule of thumb I've always heard from the Supercharger Vette guys is that the stock bottom end will hold 500 rwhp max. Anything more and you better have a fund set a side for a forged shortblock. This has been proven with many blown motors. This obviously doesn't include the old men that putt around town that have Superchargers for bragging rights. This is mainly the guys that are going wide open throttle any chance they can.

neodamonkey

iTrader: (7)

Hey im putting up a damn good argument though right?


This is paul ( vital velocity ) under my girlfriends account. I have my own account but i decided with how much i use her computer ill just use her account instead of logging in and logging out.

Vette4LIFE

Paul, haha this is HARD DRIVER, lol, you don't recognize my sig?

LS1Cryo

Compaired to the crank walk issues with shitsubishi's,blown head gaskets and valve guide problems the ls1 is a perfect angel.

LS1-450

iTrader: (33)

I am in the process of replacing my engine block due to ring blow-by. Overheated once up to PCM engine shut-off temperature & then the blow by showed up a few weeks later @ the dyno. Don't know how many pistons are leaking & don't care, the block is getting changed to an LS6.
There may have been damage to the engine prior to its' purchase, as it was bought used (35k miles) & had never been subjected to a blower or spray. One could argue all day about how the damage was created. Am simply contributing the experience to this thread. I love GM engines & am expecting great results from the "new" LS6 block. This time I'll know the block's History should an issue arise.

stealth71

iTrader: (15)

Is this really the limit? What about all of the people running the T-Rex and spinning way higher?

neodamonkey

iTrader: (7)

i knew it was you

Cali SS

iTrader: (13)

Mine has held up like a champ, very mod friendly. It's taken all of the abuse I can throw at it. I wish I can say that about the rest of the car.

kossuth

iTrader: (12)

Not the absolute limit per say but it is a reasonably safe expectation to have and expect the motor to live a long life. If a rod bolt stretches that is the end of the game for your rod bearings. Some people don't have problems. Some do. I'm also rolling the 97-00 LS motors into this as well. The 01+ motors are alittle better because they have an updated rod bolt compared to the 97-00

Cop Car

iTrader: (14)

152,000 miles on the car, 130,000 of that being indiana state police usage. i know the officer who had my car, only problem it ever had was the rear end axels were out of round and they just replaced the rear end and thats all. ran a 13.2 @104 stock. drove it to florida and back (2500 mile round trip) without a single issue. imo the LS1 is the best NA motor ever made. id like to challange those guys for them to take one of their "stock bolt on" cars up against a cammed/blown otherwise stock LS1, expecialy in a FRC M6

here is the challange, drive from new york to california, go to 20 drag strips. one with the best average time wins. btw no "cool down period" you get straight off the interstate/traffic jammed streets and immediately run them, oh and you have to use the same tires the whole time

BIG BAD BLACKSS

iTrader: (4)

Whats the difference between a 500, 750 and 1000 RWHP supra?









Nothing they all run 11s!

JakeFusion

iTrader: (7)

8 Second Supra
This is the baddest street Supra out there. Nevermind the for sale crap, it's been for sale for 3 seasons.

As far as the LS1 vs other engines... the LS1 and its variations are in more vehicles than anything else on the road by far. I think having millions of cars in many different set-ups with perhaps billions of miles on the clock and only slight problems is a testament to the engine's reliability.

Pushed, it's still a bit weaker than the Cobra DOHC 4.6L (but not by much, considering the Ford motor is forged) and a lot weaker than the 2JZ-GTE of the Supra in theory. But, the 2JZ-GTE is not as common and most people don't push 25+ psi through them all the time. They are mostly dyno queens setup to make huge numbers on race gas. The average guy uses 93 and pushes 500-600rwhp on those big laggy single turbos, so that's not out of reach of the LS1.

ChaseSS

iTrader: (17)

When it comes down to it (if you are talking about peak HP numbers) there is not a replacement for displacement, plain and simple, a bigger motor will make more power and when that bigger motor is an all aluminum engine you don't have the weight issue that is normally there. Of course someone is going to say boost is the replacement for displacement.... well has anyone seen some the FI LS1 cars on this site??? they are f'in insane

Iron Sights

I think you're still seeling the LS1 short. Didn't Harlan run low 8s with the stock crank? He had to be making in excess of 1000rwhp.

brad8266

iTrader: (23)

Lasts forever with botlons as long as the oil is changed sometimes

brad8266

iTrader: (23)

Been putting out the power in the sig for a while now with no issues at all. No oil consumption or any of that crap.

Lostpatrolman

iTrader: (3)

There is a guy in the forced induction section putting out 640rwhp out of his stock longblock.