need ideas- 350lt1 build
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need ideas- 350lt1 build Wel im 16 and on a budget. I have a 85 lesabre coupe with a 307. And its obviously not enough power for me. Im planning on leaving the 200r4 trans and putting 3.73s eventually. But first off i was planning on getting a junkyard 350lt1 and having it bored over to 383.. im looking to get ATLEAST 350 hp.. would like to be closer to 400 as my goal.i need sugestions as to how to get there and keeping this whole job under like, 2500. Thank you
I'm going to be the first to tell you to double that budget at least. It's not as simple as just boring it to a 383. It is not needed either, for the power levels you want. 350 at the flywheel can be acheived with bolt ons. With that said. I would get a low mile lt1, if you can find one, and just do bolt ons and the lt4 hotcam kit. You'll be more than happy with the change. Hell a stock lt1 would make you happy.
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From: Deep in the heart of Texas
Find a Gen 1 350, some Vortec heads, a good dual plane intake, a flat tappet hydraulic cam about .480 lift and 230 dur with a pre-computer controlled HEI distributor and your in there at 350hp+. Headers and true duals.
I wouldn't put a carb on an LT1 and if going to the trouble of retrofitting injection I would jump to a truck 5.3 or 6.0l.
All that said budget is wildly unrealistic. Most of us have that much in or tranny and converter.
Your ideas about boring the engine and doing a 383 are completely missguided. A cast crank 383 is weak, the Eagle cast cranks are a lot weaker than stock cranks and displacement does not add the power you assume it does. Power is in heads and cam, and extra displacement can help utilize more head and cam BUT the payoff is much smaller. $2500 in stroker rotating assembly and machining will gain you 20-30hp where $2500 in heads and cam can gain you 100hp.
Don't get offended, when I was a kid I had similar plans, I wanted to build a 383 to use with stock stall and gears and wasn't going to port heads or anything. Luckily I never dropped the money and I learned a lot before going into the engine much.
If you want to keep it carbed just get a late 80s early 90s roller cam block 350 maybe throw some Vortec heads and a ZZ4 cam in it and have cheap reliable but docile fun. If you want to do injection then go right to the LS truck engines, the car engines command an unreasonable premium. Maybe slap a cam in not need to bore or stroke or anything.
Your budget is a problem though.
All that said budget is wildly unrealistic. Most of us have that much in or tranny and converter.
Your ideas about boring the engine and doing a 383 are completely missguided. A cast crank 383 is weak, the Eagle cast cranks are a lot weaker than stock cranks and displacement does not add the power you assume it does. Power is in heads and cam, and extra displacement can help utilize more head and cam BUT the payoff is much smaller. $2500 in stroker rotating assembly and machining will gain you 20-30hp where $2500 in heads and cam can gain you 100hp.
Don't get offended, when I was a kid I had similar plans, I wanted to build a 383 to use with stock stall and gears and wasn't going to port heads or anything. Luckily I never dropped the money and I learned a lot before going into the engine much.
If you want to keep it carbed just get a late 80s early 90s roller cam block 350 maybe throw some Vortec heads and a ZZ4 cam in it and have cheap reliable but docile fun. If you want to do injection then go right to the LS truck engines, the car engines command an unreasonable premium. Maybe slap a cam in not need to bore or stroke or anything.
Your budget is a problem though.
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Yeah to be honest i dont exactly know a whole lot as far as what to add to make more power. I know general internals but thats really it. I mean i could add to this budget but I really just need know the cheapest way to make reliable power that im looking for.
I think carbing a lt1 is a wast when you can get a good running 350 that you can drop a carb on easily.
I went with an lt1 in the 69 for several reasons. 1 the lsx blocks have different bolt patterns then the muncie 4speed I have for the car.I could have used a 6speed but then the shifter doesn't line up with the stock location and creates another host of problems. I am going to guess the engine mounts are different as well. Also I can use any exhaust manifold/header designed for a 69 corvette. there are a couple of other small reasons as well.
I agree though go with a 5.3/6.0 or earlier SBC. just make sure you do your homework before you do anything.
I went with an lt1 in the 69 for several reasons. 1 the lsx blocks have different bolt patterns then the muncie 4speed I have for the car.I could have used a 6speed but then the shifter doesn't line up with the stock location and creates another host of problems. I am going to guess the engine mounts are different as well. Also I can use any exhaust manifold/header designed for a 69 corvette. there are a couple of other small reasons as well.
I agree though go with a 5.3/6.0 or earlier SBC. just make sure you do your homework before you do anything.
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