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

LT1 vs. LS1

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 12:17 PM
  #1  
Badazgt's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Default LT1 vs. LS1

I know the all aluminum LS1 is the superior engine, but how far is the LT1 behind. How does a bolt on LT1 run with the LS1. Basicly I'm lookin into buying a T/A and want the LS1 engine, but the LT1 is more affordable. What kind of times do you see with a H/C/I Lt1?

THanks guys...
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 12:30 PM
  #2  
infinitebird's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,280
Likes: 51
From: Denver, CO
Default

Old Feb 16, 2006 | 12:36 PM
  #3  
SAPPER's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
Default

I currently have both engines and have dealt with both. It will take a full bolt-on M6 LT1 to run with a stock A4 LS1. There really is no real price difference in components for either. Heads, cams, and other internal / external parts are equal in cost. The only real difference is in the cost of self tuning programs or mail order tunes for Gen III vs. OBD I pcm's.

as for times, that all depends on what cam, who's heads and any free-flowing intake will do. Besides, the only real upgrade for intake is the LT4 w/ LT4 style heads. And that isn't much of an upgrade as per an LS1 going from stock 78mm to a FAST 90/90.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 12:40 PM
  #4  
borninatransam's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
From: GSO
Default

i think the lt1 is better on the low end torque side but the bad part is once you get in the upper rpms it starts to fall off. the lt1 is definiely the more affordable of the two to build up and can make good power with H/C/I. Depending on how far you plan on going with the setup you can look for 12s definitely and 11s depending on how far you go with everything. ive got the mods in my sig and run 13.4s on street tires and im bout to put my hot cam in and be in the 12s
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 12:50 PM
  #5  
Formula96's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Longview, TX
Default

With the price of ls1 trans ams and camaros below 10,000, I would prolly go with the LS1. But you cant beat the sound or the torque of the lt1.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 12:59 PM
  #6  
blind527's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by SAPPER
I currently have both engines and have dealt with both. It will take a full bolt-on M6 LT1 to run with a stock A4 LS1. There really is no real price difference in components for either. Heads, cams, and other internal / external parts are equal in cost. The only real difference is in the cost of self tuning programs or mail order tunes for Gen III vs. OBD I pcm's.

as for times, that all depends on what cam, who's heads and any free-flowing intake will do. Besides, the only real upgrade for intake is the LT4 w/ LT4 style heads. And that isn't much of an upgrade as per an LS1 going from stock 78mm to a FAST 90/90.
Really? I have an A4 97 Formula and I run a 13.2 w/o "full bolt ons" that's enough to beat most stock LS1's, A4 AND M6. I have no problem beating LS1's.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 01:08 PM
  #7  
SAPPER's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
Default

Like I said "run WITH".... and my stock A4 2.73 rears ran 13.0-12.9's all day long. now with nothing but a lid, homeported TB and MAF, headers, ORY and a 125 wet shot, I'm running 11's and still pulling the 30mpg hwy. Just wait till I get the Stall put in and ditch these 2.0 60' ers
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 01:12 PM
  #8  
Arigom's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Default

The LT1's have pulled pretty close to the LS1's recently. I would hardly compare a FAST 90/90 with an LT4. A 90/90 setup runs over $1,000. It's worth 20 hp but is expensive. Other than the intake they are close in HP and price for upgrades. The LS1 block will save you some weight off the nose and has 6 bolt mains vs. 2 bolts for LT1.
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

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

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 01:12 PM
  #9  
blind527's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by SAPPER
Like I said "run WITH".... and my stock A4 2.73 rears ran 13.0-12.9's all day long. now with nothing but a lid, homeported TB and MAF, headers, ORY and a 125 wet shot, I'm running 11's and still pulling the 30mpg hwy. Just wait till I get the Stall put in and ditch these 2.0 60' ers
I ditched 200 pounds AND added drag radials, once I get a stall, I'll be mid to low 12's with gears.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 01:18 PM
  #10  
SAPPER's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
Default

good deal losing the weight, just throw a shot on there.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 01:19 PM
  #11  
SAPPER's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
Default

good deal losing the weight, then just throw a shot on there and you'll be real happy.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 01:21 PM
  #12  
blind527's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by SAPPER
good deal losing the weight, then just throw a shot on there and you'll be real happy.
I will haha. I'm only gonna do a 125 shot though. By losing weight, I mean off the car, not from me.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 01:26 PM
  #13  
SAPPER's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
Default

My first post got all screwed up. I had asked if you ditched the airbags or something?.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 01:27 PM
  #14  
slick1851's Avatar
TECH Junkie
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,265
Likes: 1
From: CHITOWN
Default

Pointless thread, Ive raced my freinds LS1 with my LT1 when we were stock.

Put a car on me everytime, I would take him outta the whole. We raced like 20 times or so. Just messing around alot and it was always the same out come.

LS1s dont SMOKE everything, Ill driven them all and been around all of them and I know what they can do.

Im a fan of both, LS1 is a better motor but the LT1 in real world isnt to far behind.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 01:34 PM
  #15  
blind527's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by SAPPER
My first post got all screwed up. I had asked if you ditched the airbags or something?.
Nope...

Removed front sway bar and all the brackets, the AIR and EGR, going to completely remove the A/C system, removed the sound deadener from the carpet. The headers also weigh less then the manifolds, not sure how much. I just followed the weight reduction list and took a bunch of stuff off.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 01:58 PM
  #16  
Badazgt's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Default

hows the LT1 take boost? supercharger could be a mod down the future
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 02:09 PM
  #17  
Redneck Z's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 2
From: Citrus Heights, CA
Default

The LS1 is a much more advanced engine. They generally dyno over 40+ rwhp more than an LT1. I was just at the track last night, and stock LS1's were running low 13's and stock LT1's were running low 14's. Of course there are exception's in either case, but the LS1 starts off with a pretty big advantage.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 02:19 PM
  #18  
METALBEAST's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,027
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, Georgia
Default

Originally Posted by infinitebird
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 03:42 PM
  #19  
Renegade's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 650
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
Default

They are both great engines, of course the LS1 is superior in almost every aspect. And the topic has been debated at least a million times. It all depends on what your looking for, and what you want to spend. With the right amount of money anything can be extremly fast, most of us with smaller budgets drive LT1 powered cars, because they are cheap. LS1's are more expensive to buy, and usually mod. But with the prices on LS1's starting too drop, I might be selling my LT1 for around $4500 and scoring a LS1 Z or SS for 9-12k. Some people also prefer the different styling, I love both personally. But some prefer the LT1, and others the LS1's. And that plays a big role in which car they buy. I bought an LT1 because it was affordable, still fast, and I'm a Camaro fanatic. If I had more money to spend I probably would have went LS1 just to have a more powerful car from the factory, and a newer car. But I'm happy with my LT1, and if money would allow, I would keep it... and still buy an LS1.
Old Feb 16, 2006 | 03:55 PM
  #20  
BLK02TA's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 0
From: Fort Knox, KY
Default

Originally Posted by Formula96
With the price of ls1 trans ams and camaros below 10,000, I would prolly go with the LS1. B
Ya thats if you want a mid to high mileage A4. Or a modded out one. I guess it depends on area too. Here in WI, you could have an M6 and a A4 identical and the M6 would go for several thousands more. Also the low mileage ones are going in the 20s! Again that is the M6's, almost every lot has either a camaro or t/a but its almost always a A4.

Originally Posted by Redneck Z
I was just at the track last night, and stock LS1's were running low 13's and stock LT1's were running low 14's.
Yes same times in my area too. Stock ones that is.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:18 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE