Are LTx's worth it?
 

Well say i go out and buy a 97 camaro roller, has everything but the motor an trans. Is it even worth it to spend money on a 383 stroker, gm847 cam, and some afr 225's? or just throw an LS1 in there with an MS3 cam and a tune? I'd like to know your thoughts.

Well to install an LS1 you will need to change:

K member
ECM
Wiring harness

Still worth it IMO.


David

Well you have an LTx, so you should know how they are. I'd toss in that motor built you mentioned (383). An LSx would be cool, but stick with us "underdogs" :D

i honestly would go with a nasty LSX build in it... but thats just me... and make it a LT1 sleeper or even better a v6 looking sleeper

I would go with the lt build because everybody and their brother expects an lt1 to be slow, even if it is a stroker. I work with a guy who has an ls2 gto and he is always giving me shit because I have an lt1. I don't give a shit because after a few mods he'll be kissing my lt1 ass.

built LTX...with boost. :devil:

LTx will love boost or spray...hooray for the iron block...

Stick with the LT1. There is just a certain satisfaction in telling someone that they just got their ass handed to them by one of those slow ass LT1's.

Everyone that owns an LT1 and only an LT1 is going to tell you to stick LT1, thats usualy how that works.

If I had the coin id be rocking an LSx GTO, I guess I could have bought one at this point with the money spent on the new setup, but I love what I have and I dont feel like its time to switch...just yet. :)

An LSx car is going to be faster, make more power and have a stronger aftermarket then an LTx car.

It comes down to what 'you' want.

Tony.

high compression,big cubes LTX just sound's nasty...i might add.

Yes an Lt1 is worth it!
they are dependable no matter what you may hear about the optispark i have many miles of fun under my belt........

I say go with the LT1, they are just as mod-able, and they sound a lot meaner. May take a little work, but I have seen a ton of 8 second LT1's, they exist. Also, I think they can take a little more abuse. While not a massive amount more, IMO, they can take a lot.

A TON of 8 second LT1's??? Name 5, hell name 3.

Big Rick

Z8's

and?????????

Bad as I hate to say it, a well built stock bottom end LS1 makes the same power as a 383 LT1 .....but has less compression and a much milder cam, just a fact of life here fellas. You can either choose to accept it or stick your head in the sand.


If I had to do it over again, there would be a AFR headed 408 in my car without a doubt.

David

I could be wrong but the LSx would be a little bit more expensive to do. But it really comes down to what you want and what your budget is.

Hey Fastfatboy. I saw a 8 second Lt1 a few months back but I dont know who he was.
He was at the track and it was a blue Z28. Only ran once and I couldnt find him after that. I doubt their are TONS of 8 second Lt1 shit probably fewer than 10 in the world but remeber not everyone is on the internet.

from my observations, LT1s get "more business done" with less rwhp than LS1s.

I remember once telling an LT1 guy that 325 rwhp would easily get him into the 12s, and all the LS1 guys thought that was impossible... "you need like 340."

There are bolt-on LT1s running 12s which should only be in the high 2xx range.

JMO - ive ridden in 400+ rwhp LS1s and they didnt impress me as much as i expected. Seems like a lot of LT1s run the same times with 50 less rwhp.

Im not going to deny that the LS1 is a better engine, just saying dyno numbers dont always tell you the real story.

SO you went and LOOKED at the engine to confirm it was an LT1? Or you just assumed it was?

I am not gonna get into this argument, you guys can be in denial all you want...power IS power what you do with it AFTER it comes off the dyno is another thing.

I had 2 buddies with bolt on LS1's
Lid
Free mods
ex cutout
3.23 gears
converter
drag radials

Both ran 12.40's at full weight.

LT1 even get IN the 12's with those mods at full weight.....maybe.


You guys can stay in denial if ya want, If it makes you feel better.


I have an LT1 that is on the ragged edge of being streetable. I can make the same power in an LS1 with the same cubes, less compression and a hydraulic roller.



David

well you see, you can take a stock LS1, put a lid and an MS3 or MS2 cam for that matter, and you're making near 400 hp. Now, in order to make 400HP N/A in an LT1. You ned a lot more than just a cam.

Hate to break it to you, but just about every Chevy magazine I have picked up has had an 8 or 9 second LT1 in it. It is very possible. No doubt the LS1 is better, but it does not make the LT1 a lame duck. It has nothing to do with sticking your head in the sand, but rather just looking at the world around us. It is very possible, and quite a few have done it. Take a look at some back issues of Chevy and performance magazines, and you will find more than 5.

By the time you get into the 8-9 second range, it can go either way. With both set ups you are putting big dollars into the engine. The only place the LT1 really lacks behind the LS1 is the heads, which can be fixed.