mongse

iTrader: (2)

Yup. Supposedly, when something would go wrong internally with them under warranty, GM would replace the engine rather than individual parts. Aftermarket stuff is VERY rare for them as well. I also seem to remember the turbo LT5s having a very big problem with running hot and/or catching fire. That (and the insane price tag) is why there aren't too many around.

burnzilla

iTrader: (3)

Armyman2445

iTrader: (17)

I would say with out a doubt that a 69 Camaro powered LT5 (stock) would be more an eye catcher and over all cooler car than a 69 Camaro with LSX. I mean pick up a Chevy High Performance or any other chevy magazine and you'll see 68, 69 Camaro with LS1-LS7's. There quiet becoming pretty normal to see. But an LT5 only made for 5 years period makes 405HP stock and looks mean as hell. I think the LT5 would be a better swap.

DMark

iTrader: (1)

From 1990 to 1995 they only made 6939 ZR-1 Corvettes.

That's

- 27.756 Cams
- 222,048 Valves
- 2,642,445 Horsepower.

The LT5 engine is bullet-proof, designed to run all day at 180mph. Heck the engine holds 12 qts of Mobil-1 to lube the BEAST!

Here is a picture of mine!

DMark

93Polo

iTrader: (5)

Aftermarket parts are not that hard to get, you just have to know where to look. You can get long tubes, cat backs, 63mm TBS, etc. There is not much to be found in cold air inductions. Superchargers were not developed as there is no room for one. Yes you will pay more for parts which is basic supply and demand.

LPE made less than 10 Twin Turbos and Callaway made a few as well. South Georgia Corvettes most recently made a twin turbo Zr1. They handle boost amazingly well. GM did replace motors rather repair them if it was internal.

Callaway did produce the B2Ks or L98 twin turbos. If you begin to play with a B2K I would do alot of research as parts varied year to year and from what I understand there was no clear list on which parts were factory or Callaway.

Honda Hunter

iTrader: (8)

I think if more people had time with them they could be up there with the LS7.

engineermike

I personally am a big fan of the engine.

If you look at the progression of sport bike technology, they're quite a bit ahead of cars (currently at almost 3 hp/cid).

The first big jump in performance was the advent of 4 valve cylinder heads. Later on, performance jumped again, due to high intake ports (down-draft). The LT5 has both and the LS2 has neither. If money were no object, the LT5 will win in the end.

Mike

TWS

iTrader: (63)

They were assembled by Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Boat Group.

I know a guy who worked in their facility at that time.

Z48LT-1

MPO: DMARK has the chops on this subject. Everyone else has an opinion, as well as a belly button. Who ya gonna trust?

DMARK, that engine compartment is sweet. All OEM?

Nikos95

I was reading up on the LT5 a little while back, and found that some of the guys who are taking the time to build them are shooting for 1800-2000+ HP with big twin turbos and regular 92-100 octane fuel... The LT5 is a crazy fast motor. But they are more than correct it is hard to find parts for and its expensive...

Honestly I think there are too many 1st gens with LS motors in them already, the LT5 would be a sweet conversion! But I wouldn't recomend it if you don't want to spend some serious $$..

Nikos95

I knew that motor was hot, but 12qts with the factory oil pan? Thats nuts!
Just to check here wasn't and still isn't the ZR1 the fastest production Vette ever? Didn't it top at like 181 or something?

Captainofiron

iTrader: (1)

I think the ZO6 beat it, but it was crazy amazing when the ZR1 first came out, I remember drooling over it when I first saw it in Motor Trend that red ZR1

When I worked at Pepboys, we could order short block LT5s and order the heads too, I dont remember how much, but I do remember they werent ridiculously priced though.

I say go for the LT5 if you are wanting to be original and maybe faster (that I have no idea about)

engineermike

I remember seeing the long blocks in GMPP books for over $30k. Not too unreasonable when you consider a base 'vette was $30k and the ZR1 "engine option" was another $30k. This isn't the first time in history when GM offered an engine option that doubled the price of the car. Remember the ZL1? All aluminum 427 anyone? Hmmm. . . wonder why they didn't call the new ZO6 a ZL1 instead since it, too, has an all-aluminum 427. Perhaps they didn't eclipse the original 427 in power. They only allowed the use of the LT1 name in '92 if they were able to top the 1970 LT1 in power and they did.

Mike

DMark

iTrader: (1)

The C6 Z06 now has a slightly higher top-speed than the ZR-1. Remember we are talking about a newer car with a bigger engine and less weight. I would hope that after more than a decade that the top on the line Corvette would beat anything before it.

What the new Z06 can't do is maintain that top speed for HOURS on end.

The ZR-1 still holds the 24 hour Top Speed record for a STOCK-PRODUCTION vehicle. An average of 175mph stopping only for fuel/tires/driver change.

Think about the speeds they had to be turning lap after lap for 24 hours straight for 175mph to be the average!

DMark

DMark

iTrader: (1)

OEM? Only on the outside!

Here is something else that we ZR-1 guys like to point out...., The LT5 is the ONLY Corvette engine that NEVER, EVER was installed in any other production GM car. Can't say that about any other Corvette engine since 1953.

Hmmmm...., that would make a LT5 powered 69 Camaro sort of rare!



DMark

redhot lt-1

iTrader: (2)

there great motors and feel like the power is endless but parts are hard to find and very exspivse so set awat unless you can aford it but that would be a cool engine car combo

Captainofiron

iTrader: (1)

Thats true I have never thought about that.

DMark

iTrader: (1)

Parts are out there, not knowing where to look is often the problem.

GM sold out their stock to a few of the major LT5 tuners a couple of years ago (Lingenfelter being one of the major players). That was good since it kept the parts among folks who knew what they had and not out to hundreds of want-a-be bozos.

About the only parts issue that we currently have is main bearings. Folks building 415 & 441 stroker engines need those bearing. YUP there are "Big-Block" LT5s running out there. The main bearings are a part that just doesn't fail on a "normal" 5.7 LT5 so GM didn't make many spares to begin with.

Agree that the parts will cost you..., Heck they weren't cheap "Back-In-The-Day either! However, on average they aren't any more than when building up a classic 426 HEMI. The main cost is there are only about 4 or 5 guys that really, really know what to do with a LT5, and they are VERY PROUD of their work and the price tag reflects it!!!

BTW, I just got back from taking my "Beast" on a quick run. With longtubes/no-cats/flowmaster...., that 7000+rpm blast to double the speed limit mph smile is still on my face!

DMark

Speed Density

iTrader: (38)

I was just watching Barret Jackson Auctions with a couple of my buddys and there was a 1991 Zr-1 that sold for $23,000 :sad: 25k miles.

Honda Hunter

iTrader: (8)

Not really that bad a price. The engine sells nowadays for $15000 give or take 1.5k. Then that's 8k if it was sold without the motor. That's one way of looking at it without adding in the rarity I guess.