LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Lt-4

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 24, 2009 | 09:15 PM
  #1  
markwaterman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Default Lt-4

Can someone tell me if i can put stock LT4 heads and intake with a lt4 hotcam and get 400HP I will also have the headers and exhaust system.
Reply
Old May 24, 2009 | 09:22 PM
  #2  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

Crank? Sure. Wheels? Probably not.

There are much better options out there than the dated LT4 technology for the money. For example, www.advancedinduction.com
Reply
Old May 24, 2009 | 09:25 PM
  #3  
Green3spd's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock, Ar
Default

......prolly not.. do some reading on here and see what people have done..
I had a friend who just got rid of a 93 Z with LT4 H/C/I and MY full bolt on 6spd car would run right next to him on hwy..
Its prolly possible with the LT4 heads and intake with a DIFFERENT cam...
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 10:23 AM
  #4  
96capricemgr's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,975
Likes: 15
Default

The LT4 heads are not as good as the bench racers want you to believe.

Some threads got deleted but a guy who was rabidly defending the LT4 package in the last week just admitted he ran 13.4 at 102 and asked for help. Moral of the story, those who shout about how great the LT4 package is, just don't know any better. Look around, lots of LT4 heads out there but they are NOT the ones with outstanding results.
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 03:52 PM
  #5  
93M6Formula's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,740
Likes: 2
From: Nebraska
Default

Yeah there are way better ways to get power out of an LT1 than that waste of money LT4 kit. your're way better off porting your stock heads and choosing another cam if you want bigger power.
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 05:02 PM
  #6  
96capricemgr's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,975
Likes: 15
Default

Just to be clear, the LT4 stuff is simple and reliable, just not a great bang for the buck. It cost as much as options that deliver MUCH more power.
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 05:51 PM
  #7  
tpivette's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: newark, DE
Default

i have a LT4 corvette with only a hotcam/tune/free mods. the car trapped 116mph with unported heads. ET was only a 12.2 due to the stock 98k mile clutch and street tires

the LT4 heads can perform, but there are better options out there for the $
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 05:54 PM
  #8  
Puck's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,152
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by ARCTIC '00
A pair of say, AFR 227 LT4's will outflow LT1's any day of the week. It takes the right combo. Look at Tony Shepards car for example, well over 500 at the tires....with LT4 heads.

If you can afford the steep price tag then LT4 ALL THE WAY!
Were you comparing aftermarket race LT4 castings to factory GM LT1 heads?? No duh they out flow them .

LT4 package, like most aftermarket LTX stuff, is garbage out of the box. They do have more potential then LT1 heads for porting, but not much and the performance difference really is not worth the price difference.

If you have the money to send everything to be ported, then sure get the LT4 conversion. If not, then running the heads and intake "as-is" along with the hotcam and expecting big power and great ETs is a HUGE newbie mistake.

I know 4 is a higher number then 1 and everything, but this LT4 stuff is getting rediculous. I can totally understand the hotcam kit for a street car since it is a cheap, complete and reliable setup with little room for error...but for the life of me I can't see why people would do full head/intake/cam LT4 swaps.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 25, 2009 | 06:53 PM
  #9  
speed_demon24's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,609
Likes: 2
From: Ocala, FL
Default

Originally Posted by ARCTIC '00
A pair of say, AFR 227 LT4's will outflow LT1's any day of the week. It takes the right combo. Look at Tony Shepards car for example, well over 500 at the tires....with LT4 heads.

If you can afford the steep price tag then LT4 ALL THE WAY!
They are talking about GM LT4 castings, not aftermarket heads, and there have been a few people to break 500rwhp with ported LT1 castings.
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 07:45 PM
  #10  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by ARCTIC '00
A pair of say, AFR 227 LT4's will outflow LT1's any day of the week. It takes the right combo. Look at Tony Shepards car for example, well over 500 at the tires....with LT4 heads.

If you can afford the steep price tag then LT4 ALL THE WAY!
This is ridiculous. Talk about apples to oranges.

And the statement in bold just blows my mind.
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 09:16 PM
  #11  
ARCTIC '00's Avatar
9 Second Club
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
From: Lake Tahoe, CA
Default

Damn you guys come down hard on the only guy in here in the SINGLE DIGITS. Man, if anyone in here were half way quick i'd probably be offended.

On another note, can't wait till the next friday, hoping to hit 8's!
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 09:26 PM
  #12  
96capricemgr's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,975
Likes: 15
Default

Most of us are not building racecars. Most of us build street cars we happen to race a little. What works in each application is not necessarily the same. Besides the fact the rest of us thought it was fairly clear the conversation was about as cast GM LT4 heads. Not about aftermarket heads that were certainly ported.

My car drove the wife and friends to dinner tonight, put 70 miles on it today, how about your's??

If building a dedicated racecar the AFR 227s can certainly work but nobody with a clue would recommend them for a street 350 on the stock engine management which seems to be what the OP is after.
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 11:07 PM
  #13  
buckner163's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: East Tenn
Default

Originally Posted by tpivette
i have a LT4 corvette with only a hotcam/tune/free mods. the car trapped 116mph with unported heads. ET was only a 12.2 due to the stock 98k mile clutch and street tires

the LT4 heads can perform, but there are better options out there for the $

Wow, I have the same thing. I trapped 115.5mph 12.3 with the hotcam, unported LT4 heads on a 98k mile stock clutch/STOCK longblock. Heads have never been off my car.
Reply
Old May 25, 2009 | 11:41 PM
  #14  
GIZMO's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,780
Likes: 3
From: Shelby, NC
Default

Apples to apples the LT4 heads are superior to LT1 heads. The Hot cam is too small to show their potential. To get the most out of them you need more cam and an aftermarket computer.
Reply
Old May 26, 2009 | 01:28 AM
  #15  
tpivette's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: newark, DE
Default

Originally Posted by buckner163
Wow, I have the same thing. I trapped 115.5mph 12.3 with the hotcam, unported LT4 heads on a 98k mile stock clutch/STOCK longblock. Heads have never been off my car.
nice! its good to see other LT4s running these times/mph with stock heads and the hotcam

other than the hotcam and tune, alls my car has is:

- cut filter lid
- 160* stat
- muffler elims
- portmatched intake manifold
- Comp springs (in case i decide to go bigger with the cam later)

still on the factory exhaust manifolds, catback, 3.45 gears, TB, rockers, short block, you name it

the LT4 heads/hotcam combo might not be the best thing out there for LTXs, but you cant argue with my 116.39mph trap speeds with no other supporting boltons. theresd a guy on www.corvetteforum.com whos gone as fast as 11.65 on his unported LT4 heads/hotcam combo Vette. he does have 4.10s, full exhaust, and an aftermarket clutch. do a search for "Jonecap"

im looking for high 11s and 118mph traps when i replace the clutch and add a short throw shifter and a set of DRs. all with the "wimpy" hotcam and unported LT4 heads

Last edited by tpivette; May 26, 2009 at 02:26 AM.
Reply
Old May 26, 2009 | 06:25 AM
  #16  
96capricemgr's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,975
Likes: 15
Default

Curb weight on a Vette is 32-3350, pretty light to me seeing as curb weight on my pig is 4060.

GIZMO, I think you will agree the untouched stock shortblock wont handle the rpms needed to make them actually work. Pretty big detail seeing as that is where most of us start, most of us stick with the GM computer long as we are staying below 7-7200rpms too.
Reply
Old May 26, 2009 | 08:36 AM
  #17  
buckner163's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: East Tenn
Default

Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
Curb weight on a Vette is 32-3350, pretty light to me seeing as curb weight on my pig is 4060.


Bout everything is light compared to the B bodies.
Apples to oranges comparo anyways.





tpivette, I'm a regular over there on the 'other' forum but my habdle there is Dr Evil. I know about and have talked to jonescap quite a bit. Him going 11.70s with our setup is very impressive.
Reply
Old May 26, 2009 | 08:47 AM
  #18  
Puck's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,152
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by ARCTIC '00
Damn you guys come down hard on the only guy in here in the SINGLE DIGITS. Man, if anyone in here were half way quick i'd probably be offended.

On another note, can't wait till the next friday, hoping to hit 8's!
Impressive, but too bad since that is not with the engine in question it is pretty much meaningless . My crotch rocket runs mid 10s with only two mods - a muffler and a $20 dollar front sprocket...does that make my opinions on LTX parts more reliable?

I love GNs, but an LTX and turbo v6 are two very different things.
Reply
Old May 26, 2009 | 08:54 AM
  #19  
96capricemgr's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,975
Likes: 15
Default

Originally Posted by buckner163
Bout everything is light compared to the B bodies.
Apples to oranges comparo anyways.





tpivette, I'm a regular over there on the 'other' forum but my habdle there is Dr Evil. I know about and have talked to jonescap quite a bit. Him going 11.70s with our setup is very impressive.

What do you think my car would run if I took 700-800lbs off??? Seems to me that would have a real impact on performance.
Reply
Old May 26, 2009 | 09:09 AM
  #20  
TWS's Avatar
TWS
10 Second Club
iTrader: (63)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,095
Likes: 1
From: Austin, TX
Default

Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
What do you think my car would run if I took 700-800lbs off??? Seems to me that would have a real impact on performance.
It might.

My '94 Z28 is currently 900 LBS lighter than your Caprice. I don't know how I would approach racing a B Body at the track. That's a hell of a challenge to make it quick and fast.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:58 AM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-6
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-9
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE