Howdy there folks, I've been lurking around here for a couple weeks now, and this seems to be a pretty cool forum! With that out of the way, I am contemplating an engine swap and I've got a couple of LS1 related questions to ask:

Firstly how much does the LS1 weigh? I would think it is somewhere in the region of 425lbs. Would that be fully dressed? (e.g. with intake, headers, accessories?)

Secondly and more importantly, what are the dimensions of the LS1 long block (including intake manifold?) I'm not in a position where I can measure this myself at the time being and I haven't been able to find this anywhere on the web.

I'd really appreciate your input on this, thanks

 

Bare alum block is about 107 lbs, weight for a fully dressed engine setup for an auto is about 460, manual with flywheel is about 500. Height is 25.3", not sure if that is with an intake or not, I think it is though. Length is 27.3", I think that is the length with the crank pulley is on. Width, 30.4"

J.

[ January 22, 2002: Message edited by: Crazyquik ]</p>

 

Check out the conversion/hybrid section too for other questions.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Crazyquik:
[QB]Bare alum block is about 107 lbs, weight for a fully dressed engine setup for an auto is about 460, manual with flywheel is about 500. Height is 25.3", not sure if that is with an intake or not, I think it is though. Length is 27.3", I think that is the length with the crank pulley is on. Width, 30.4"

Wow, that sounds kinda hefty... I know that a plain jane all iron SBC weighs around 575lbs. I also know that the LS1 block is ~65lbs lighter than an SBC block. So -65 - 50 for aluminum heads (25lbs per head) and -20 for the intake manifold (I know that aluminum intakes are ~20 lighter than iron ones, and composites are lighter still, but I took into account the added mass of the injectors w rail and TB etc) plus another 10 here and there (aluminum water pump and oil pan) and we're down to 430lbs without making any unreasonable guesstimates. Let's Add 30 for a flywheel and that's 460lbs. Even then that's kinda heavy cuz I'm assuming that everything else weighs the same as it did on an old school 70s SBC, one would imagine with today's finite element analysis and computer aided design techniques they would be able to shave some additional lbs (and $$s)

This is all just speculation anyway, has anybody actually weighed the engine? If not then is 420-430lbs a reasonable guesstimate or is it too light/heavy? What are your thoughts on this?

 

I can't remember where I read it but the LS1, fully dressed, is suppose to be about 50 - 60 lbs. less than an LT1. If an all iron LT1 weighs the same as any SBC then that would put the LS1 around 500 - 510 lbs. I know the LS1 is a few inches shorter than a LT1. Also the LS1 may be all alum. but they had to add some reinforcement because alum. is softer than iron.

[ January 22, 2002: Message edited by: Kdubroc 99 SS ]</p>

 

LS1 block is 107 lbs, iron SBC is 160 lbs.

LS1 heads are 20.3 lbs each, not sure if that is bare or dressed or dressed with valve covers.

I think the stock pressure plate, flywheel, and clutch disk is 49 lbs. That sound right?

457.6 lbs for auto with flex plate, 497.2 for manual came out of Hot Rod magazine. Drop at least 10 lbs for headers.

 

Mucho gracias senor! That's kinda disappointing, but if that figure includes all the accessories like the power steering, AC, and smog pump then its not too bad I guess. I am in the preliminary stages of designing my own sports car (from scratch), and being a big fan of Chevy power, I figured I'd like to use an LS1! I'm also a weight fanatic and want to keep weight under 2400lbs. Which means I'll be replacing the stock flywheel with a lightened one, ditch PS and all the smog equipment, stick some headers in there... What else can I do to reduce engine weight?

One more thing, what is the measurement from the centerline of the engine mounts to the bottommost point on the engine? Again, I really appreciate the help I'm getting here!

 

No clue about the centerline of the motor mounts to the bottom of the engine, probably depends on if you have a C5 oil pan or a Fbody oil pan. The truck oil pan is probably different as well.

If you need this stuff for test fitting, you may be able to pick up a bad LS1 block for 50 bucks or so. You can get a perfectly good block from valvegod for like 500 right? A cracked block would more than likely be throw out, you might be able to just get one for shipping.

J.

 

When I pulled out my L69 SBC (it had a cast iron intake) and TH200R4 and replaced it with the LS1/T56 the weight was reduced ~100 lbs overall.