Always wondered this. What is the maximum amount of hp you think the LT1 block will safely handle... assuming it's half filled, splayed 4 bolt mains, and properly machined...

I'm saying around 1300-1400hp and you will be walking the fine line..... obviously forced induction because good luck making that much power with a 23 degree head and nitrous with less than 400 cubes....

I'm SERIOUSLY considering a future swap to a 94mm single turbo and air/water. I might go alchohol and eliminate intercooler piping altogether but i'm up in the air on that... want some opinions on block strength in the 1200+ hp area. Madman did it with big purple. Intrau went like into the 1500+ HP level but supposedly was knocking bearings out of it every pass and the HPE guys were very tight lipped about it's setup. I know Sikora is trying to approach at least the 1400hp level with his twins....

so lets hear it.....

 

I think that motor plates would help it live. You could probably add some strength in the lifter valley and build a girdle too. I would also think that seaching for a good stock bore block would help.

 

I will most likely motor plate it if we go that route..... I think it does make the block more rigid....

 

i would guess somewere around 1000-1200rwhp with a nitrous setup and 1300-1500ish with a turbo. totally just a guess though. i wish dart would have gone ahead with that lt1 block, but i can also understand why they didnt. i will probably be switching to a sbc i guess after the LT1 is done. i want to go 275 dr racing.

 

Off topic, but I wish all you guys would show up at the shootout next year. Records aren't worth anything unless you can outrun the guy whos record you just beat. Same track, same day!

 

true true.....

I do hope to make the shootout this year. The recession and money is tight as well as military obligations but I really do want to make it out there.

It's QUITE the haul from california to KCIR.... at least a week there and back...

 

X2...back on topic now...1500 sounds a bit high to me.

 

Intrau made 1200 TO THE WHEELS. On a single 102(I think) I never heard he was "knocking bearings out every pass" I heard he spun a rod bearing....then decided to go a different route while it was down.

How much is a factory splayed regular Gen 1 block good for in the same year range?

 

Hmmmmm.... I heard from Fereday that it was killing bearings anytime it would go sub 8.1.... don't quote me on that but I was at San Antonio raceway and I asked him about it....

Hmmm so 1200 to the wheels... i know it had a radiator on it so it wasn't a complete fill.... anyone know where rick is now so i could ask him some tips????

dunno what a regular gen 1 would be good for.... typically block strength is one of those things that one might live with 1100 hp and another might break with 500.... depends on setup I suppose and condition of block...

 

Personally I think it's all in the prep, machine work, and how lucky you get with core shift in the actual casting.....I wouldn't be surprised to see 1500 to the wheels if someone has the money....

 

yeah very true.... i've always been amazed by turbo cars like Fireballs car (7.99 with a budget LS3 motor) and even intrau's was amazing... When i said he made it to 1500 hp I did mean at the flywheel...

If he was making 1200 to the wheels and assume a TH400 or glide with about a 22% loss then he was making like 1500hp at the flywheel (22% of 1500 is 330hp)....

I wish I knew more info about the setup on that thing....

 

George Baxter made well over 1000whp without a motor plate on his supercharged 97 SS convertible.

 

forgot about that car as well.......

interesting.. maybe the LT block is pretty f-in strong......

i think if i do a 94 it'll be overkill..... which is kinda what i want so i can turn down the boost and have fun running mid to low 8's either grudgeracing it or 8.50 index racing, 275 DR 1/8th mile stuff..... I don't have the cash to 25.2 right now so i'm up against the cert of my cage currently...

 

curious how much a 1/2 fill actually helps? I have splayed 4 bolt mains, motor plate and mid plate, etc but no fill. anyone been over the 1000whp mark with a non-filled block

 

Better question is who has busted a stock block and how? My buddy literly busted his 5.0 in pcs at about 400hp. I cant think of any LT1s that have done that.

 

Stock ford 5L blocks aren't any good above 500hp. The Mexican blocks had more nickel content that allowed for about 600 but that's the highest a stock ford could handle. That's part of the reason all of those guys start going for aftermarket blocks sooner.....they break....usually right across the lifter valley. It's actually pretty cool to see in person, You'd be surprised how little warning it'll give you before it just breaks and the engine shuts off.

 

My buddy left my house jumped on 53(2 min away) and boom.

 

4-bolt played, good fasteners, quality internals, filled ... probably somewhere between 1200 and 1500
a the flywheel depending how long of a stroke you run and how much thought you put into the complete build (and tune).

Maybe we should ask the guy with the two turbos and 300shot LOL

FWIW, my 383 is filled and splayed.
I doubt I'll ever be anywhere near pushing it's limits, even on juice.

 

Yeah what were we thinking.... But good luck getting in touch with him cuz he's probably welding up a set of "sweet headuh's..." LOL...

I heard Vince suffered core shift on his block, but that's all second hand info....

I guess if rick put down 1200 rwhp and it only spun a rod bearing the block was holding up fine. I'm gonna call fereday tommorrow and try to get the skinny.