Is it hard to Swap LM7 5.3 into 95TA
lol @ comparing only peak numbers from two totally different engines.
LT1 has a better power curve and is a better NA platform. 5.3 can take more power and is dirt cheap. If you want a 600hp or higher boosted build then go 5.3. If you only want an NA ~400rwhp daily driver, keep the LT1.
Typical for any engine thread in here to turn LS vs LT. They both suck by todays standards, get over it
.
LT1 has a better power curve and is a better NA platform. 5.3 can take more power and is dirt cheap. If you want a 600hp or higher boosted build then go 5.3. If you only want an NA ~400rwhp daily driver, keep the LT1.
Typical for any engine thread in here to turn LS vs LT. They both suck by todays standards, get over it
. OP, I was kind of in your shoes earlier. I'll tell you why I decided to go with an LS motor. I have a 94 Z-28 with a pretty low mile LT1 (66k). I did heads, cam, and intake. Car makes about 360-370 rwhp. Its a decently quick car. But here's my main issue. Nobody wants to tune these cars anymore. I had to get a mail-order tune, because the close tuners to me all bitched and moaned when I called them to dyno my car. Another issue is that the aftermarket is slowly going away from these cars. Not many people are spending money to engineer parts for LT1s anymore. So you are not getting innovation like you are with LS motors. Optisparks are annoying, but not that hard to do. Also, I get nervous with the factory 2 bolt main. It works for what I have now, but if I ever want to run boost, I'll probably run into issues. That's what turned me over to using a really cheap LY6 my buddy got. I get LS3 heads, I get a 6 bolt main, I get to run LS stuff. Its also an excuse to go with a tubular K-Member. I switched because I saw the writing on the wall for my car, and I wanted another 100 hp.
TECH Regular
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 431
Likes: 2
From: the border
OP, I was kind of in your shoes earlier. I'll tell you why I decided to go with an LS motor. I have a 94 Z-28 with a pretty low mile LT1 (66k). I did heads, cam, and intake. Car makes about 360-370 rwhp. Its a decently quick car. But here's my main issue. Nobody wants to tune these cars anymore. I had to get a mail-order tune, because the close tuners to me all bitched and moaned when I called them to dyno my car. Another issue is that the aftermarket is slowly going away from these cars. Not many people are spending money to engineer parts for LT1s anymore. So you are not getting innovation like you are with LS motors. Optisparks are annoying, but not that hard to do. Also, I get nervous with the factory 2 bolt main. It works for what I have now, but if I ever want to run boost, I'll probably run into issues. That's what turned me over to using a really cheap LY6 my buddy got. I get LS3 heads, I get a 6 bolt main, I get to run LS stuff. Its also an excuse to go with a tubular K-Member. I switched because I saw the writing on the wall for my car, and I wanted another 100 hp.
Tell me bout it... I had to do a 24x swap to get a decent tune on my 13.1 lt4 . .. either that or it was a 5 hour drive to the closest (good) tuner...
So I did the 24x and then had her tuned...and omg it ran soooo much better after the 24x.
Not far down the road I was sick of only 480rwhp and I sold my lt4 for a ls2 swap...
Yesterday is the first day my car has ran at full potential (since I got my new pumps and stuff in)
It was making 726rwhp on 2 Shitty walbros only pushing 40psi...
With it gettin 60+psi now it ****** moves. ..
By the seat meter it feels like I picked up at least 50 more HP now that's running better. .
And it's reliable! At 480rwhp my lt4 was like a high maintenance ***** !
And the ls2 does what it's told lol
11 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,707
Likes: 13
From: New Orleans, LA
2000 5.3 =285 HP(lowest HP 5.3)
1997 T/A base model = 285 HP
1997 ws6 lt1=305 hp (highest HP lt1)
^^The ws6 picked up that 20hp through a ram air hood,so Realy the lt1 still only made 285 with a 20HP Intake.
So without the ram air hood (just motors) you have a 285HP lt1 (at its highest) and a 285HP 5.3(at its lowest)
So even so the lt1 at its best has exactly the same HP as a 5.3 at its worst...
Now let's take into consideration of the weight differences.
Now figure which one will transfer more power to the tires?
And remember this is giving the lt1 a benefit by comparing it in its best form to the 5.3 in its worst form.
1997 T/A base model = 285 HP
1997 ws6 lt1=305 hp (highest HP lt1)
^^The ws6 picked up that 20hp through a ram air hood,so Realy the lt1 still only made 285 with a 20HP Intake.
So without the ram air hood (just motors) you have a 285HP lt1 (at its highest) and a 285HP 5.3(at its lowest)
So even so the lt1 at its best has exactly the same HP as a 5.3 at its worst...
Now let's take into consideration of the weight differences.
Now figure which one will transfer more power to the tires?
And remember this is giving the lt1 a benefit by comparing it in its best form to the 5.3 in its worst form.
TECH Regular
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 431
Likes: 2
From: the border
You do realize that the LT1 and the LT4 were both underrated right? All fbody and y body LT1's made about 310-315ish +/- hp.. The most I've seen a NA 5.3 make on a dyno was about 378rwhp in a Camaro.. It was a H/C/I car.. Do a little research and you'll see what I'm talking about..
I was originally thinking of doing a 5.3 swap on my 93 because you can get them dirt cheap. For the reasons you guys stated I paid a little more and went with a Lq4 instead(wish it was a Lq9). Now I have the options of changing to 243 heads with a better cam or just slap a turbo on it and go. Just running this thing with a Ls1 factory tune with a Ls6 intake and ported throttle body I can tell this thing is way faster then my Lt1 was.
But where would you be if the swap and mod money was spent on an LT1? You have no interest in considering that, only blindly pushing the greatness of your decision.
If doing a turbo setup then the LS platform and IMO the computer that comes with it make a whole lot of sense. That said a whole lot of stupid folks are way too quick to jump on the bandwagon without ever comprehending much.
If doing a turbo setup then the LS platform and IMO the computer that comes with it make a whole lot of sense. That said a whole lot of stupid folks are way too quick to jump on the bandwagon without ever comprehending much.
But where would you be if the swap and mod money was spent on an LT1? You have no interest in considering that, only blindly pushing the greatness of your decision.
If doing a turbo setup then the LS platform and IMO the computer that comes with it make a whole lot of sense. That said a whole lot of stupid folks are way too quick to jump on the bandwagon without ever comprehending much.
If doing a turbo setup then the LS platform and IMO the computer that comes with it make a whole lot of sense. That said a whole lot of stupid folks are way too quick to jump on the bandwagon without ever comprehending much.
Reliability. This was the number one thing that made me swap. I don't have to cringe after I drive over a big water puddle. Don't have to worry about that $400 opti spark just randomly going out.
The LS motors are easier to work on. When I look under the hood of a Lt1 there is crap everywhere compared to a Ls motor. The Ls motors just have a simpler design. I don't have drain my radiator if I have a problem with spark.
There are way more options available for Ls motors. I can change my compression just by swapping to different factory heads for dirt cheap. There are a ton of engine combinations I can now run. What do you have only Lt1 and Lt4 options and you can stroke it out to a 383? All Ls motors come with 6 bolt mains compared to the crappy 2 bolt that the Lt1 has. A stock Lt1 will get murdered by a stock Ls1. Now put a good cam and tune on that Ls1 and the Lt1 guy might as well give up.
Lt1 parts are becoming cheaper because nobody wants them and they are are having a hard time selling them. Let's face it the Lt1 has become a dinosaur and was a crappy design to begin with. Hell Gm only used them for 4 to 5 years and canned them because they knew they could do better.
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OK folks, this is NOT how I wanna see the new year start off. Let's all sit back and have a beer.
Each platform has it's advantages and methods and longevity tricks.
I'll remind you all of rule #1 here: https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...e-posting.html
Each platform has it's advantages and methods and longevity tricks.
I'll remind you all of rule #1 here: https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...e-posting.html