3VstangGT

school me on the basics of the LT1 engine. compression ration, strong points, weak points, what it responds best to, power potential..........

weak spots in LT1 cars, reliability, what kind of power it can handle, best brands for cam, heads, intake, etc, info on stroker kits, boring it out, etc., basically, whatever you know, and whatever links you can provide!


i've been an Fbody fan all my life but as circumstances worked out i ended up with a stang, and therefore for the past year that i've owned it focused my main knowledge base on the stang and not on GM..........

but when i go to college, im looking to get an Lt1 project car (z28 most likely)...........i say LT1, because while the LS1 is technically a superior motor, the LT1 is more budget-friendly and from what i've heard, easier to mod. my plan for the car (short term) is to swap out the cam and rear end and do full exhaust with some bolt ons. long term is to beef up all the parts, put a 200 shot on it, stroke it out to 383, and run 10's.


any advice/help/info is greatly appreciated. this is all purely speculative at this point.

plaf713

iTrader: (8)

well strong points are that its a 350, IMO is a very reliable motor. it makes good power and can make a lot of power. weak points are def the opticrap distributor. as for being cheap i dont know about that, to go fast costs money whether you have an lt or an ls motor. i am finishing up a 383 stroker and it was not cheap at all. but goodluck

onebadbird96

iTrader: (1)

yeah and ill tell you another weak point is 10 bolt rearend. im not saying that gm is shitty for that im just saying that was the dumest thing they did. im i right?

plaf713

iTrader: (8)

amen to that

onephatZ28

iTrader: (8)

95FbFormula

iTrader: (25)

The problem with the LT1 is that yes you can get mods for it cheaper then an ls1 but you wont make the same power. example. there are a few cam only LS1s on her making 400RWHp i believe. to get that in an LT1 you need heads and cam. so basically what you pay less for in motor you pay more for power.

plaf713

iTrader: (8)

very true, but theydo make good power, especially heads and cam, lloyd elliot or advance inductions makes great kits

seawolf06

iTrader: (8)

http://www.ws6zxr.com/showthread.php?t=3019

Great collection of links to read or for reference.

95FbFormula

iTrader: (25)

I believe that if you are trying to make as much power as possible with a lot spending $$$ get an LS1 or some No2 for your LT1, But if you know you will be doing a H/C and other then either is fine as long as you choose your parts wisey both can make 400+ to the wheels and really only until you try to surpass 450+ is were the LS1 becomes easier to achieve this without FI

LT1MAN

iTrader: (6)

i disagree, i think mounting the distributor on the front of the engine under the waterpump was pretty dumb. 10 bolts hold up as long as they are being used for daily driving and not clutch dumps on drag tires. i have 185,000 miles out of my stock motor and my stock 10 bolt. neither were rebuilt, just changed fluids. but when you go doing aftermarket stuff and you want to make the car take off fast, its dumb to do it to a 10 bolt, if you think its going to last....

onebadbird96

iTrader: (1)

i know of a few floks that have busted the **** out of the 10 bolt and have stock cars so i guess its all in the rearend in your car i guess there are some good and bad ones

onebadbird96

iTrader: (1)

and your right that is also a dumb thing they did

Pretyflywiteguy

https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-modifications/298077-ultimate-lt1-newbie-faq.html

check the stickies... its really easy

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

-->This guy killed the 10 Bolt on stock motor, did it as soon as I put the Z06 Wheels on with some 275/40 BFG KDWS's. Did it right in front of my house, so I didn't have to push it far..

onebadbird96

iTrader: (1)

at least you had one thing going for you

taner

iTrader: (6)

one word............ Optispark

and no it is not a good word! lol!!!!

redneck01

iTrader: (3)

with the reverse flow cooling, you have to be cautious of going over 400 cubes, but still easily done. lt1's sound better some say, and are old technology.
the only thing that keeps me running my lt1 is the feeling i get when i tromp an ls1 car..but i guess a 500 horse n/a 383 will spoil me.
now a car like taner's, that's a whole new story..its cars like his that make you say "LS what?"