LS1_7

Hi! I own a 93 rx7 and i only have a year and a half until i pull the trigger for my build . . .

I was wondering: for 400 hp on a 4l60E would it be better to go LS1 or LS2? To make 400hp on a LS1 i understand i need headers, exhaust, intake, stage one cam and some stage one heads. Would this be cheaper than just throwing in the LS2? I don't want to turbo or gas the car, i like an N/A. I'm trying to hit 400 hp for as cheap, but reliable, as possible.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

ads_99ta

i think those mods that you listed would give you a lot more than 400 crank hp on an LS1. i know you can get a new complete LS2 for roughly $5500. not quite sure what a complete LS1 costs but the heads&cam package alone will cost at the very least $2000 obviously depending on the combo you go with. i think the LS2 route would be cheaper. good luck with your build the RX-7 swaps are badass

LS1_7

Cool man. Thanks for the quick response . . . i'm not going to build this car myself so i'm looking for the best way to get the power i want but have money for installation labor as well.

Any more input would be appercated

Humanoid

iTrader: (3)

In 1.5 years your options will be undoubtedly different. This LSX tech is a fast moving world. Your options will def be better in that amount of time.

LS1_7

I'm not necessarily looking for "bleeding edge technology" but looking for a true and tested way to meet my goals. I'd rather take a trail others have taken Thanks for the response though!

shdybrady1988

iTrader: (3)

There is a good chance that the ls2 would be the cheaper buy unless you bought the ls1 used. And built it. But a 400 horsepower ls1 will smoke a 400 horsepower ls2. If you make the right decisions with the mods and a nice tune. I believe you will be alil bit more pleased with going that route.

merriman44

iTrader: (4)

Oh I would LOVE to hear why this is so. More CI gets spanked?

86MonteSS

iTrader: (3)

if you build the LS1 with the mods you listed, you'll be looking at 400 horsepower at the wheels. an LS2 makes 400 at the crank. its worth the little extra cash!

vette#3

iTrader: (1)

Being that u are gonna put it in an Rx7 ,u are gonna have to have a wiring harness & all the other bs that its gonna take to make the motor run ,i personally would go with the Ls2 & Hold off on the Ls1 ,the reason is ,theres SO MUCH more Availble for the 4.0 bore,you are limited with the Ls1,thats why i would go with the Ls2 ,do u see all these new heads that are coming out that L92 Has out ,right out of the box it flows ungodly amounts of air,If u own an Ls1 all u can do is lick your chops & wish u had a 4.0 bore because it wont fit an Ls1 ,thats why i say go Ls2 ,more available options for an Ls2 & as far as hooking up Knock sensors/cam sensors ,so what big freakin deal ,its no problem,i see more Ls2 402 motors hitting North of 480 /500 na ,than i do Ls1,if i see an Ls1 making 470 to 500 rwhp it has a 2600.00 set of heads with a cam that shakes the house when its @ Idle ,in the 402 u can use a set of budget heads & a small cam & Make more power , with the same mods ,the 402 will smoke a 346 Na in the same car same driver the 402 will win hands down everytime,btw if u go Ls2 stroke it ,why go back with a 364 ,when u can have the cake & eat it to,also the Ls1 will get u a 383 ,imo thats what i would do

vette#3

iTrader: (1)

I Agree Bro when in doubt punch it out ,thats what i did,as far a realiable ,it will be like a stocker until u stick your foot in it,also if u go EL460 make sure u either get one from Flt or rpm ask me how i know , I broke 2 & The 3rd one i have in there now i bought from Chuck Johnson @ Flti have had no issues ,also if u are contemplating on what size stall to get ,go bigger u wont regret it,i had a yank 3200 in the 2nd one,the 3rd one ,the one thats in it now has a yank 3600 in it ,theres a slight hesitation off idle u gotta give it a little gas to get it going ,but it shines @ the track,if i have the option to build an Ls1 or An Ls2 ,& I can pick or choose which crank ,rods ,pistons ,i would opt with either the Ls1 408 or the Ls2 402,fwiw,the 400 Hp mark will be passed up in the power curve on your way to making more power

blue99fbody

iTrader: (5)

im making ~400 crank hp on just headers lid and tune on my ls1 , buy a complete used ls1

ads_99ta

a 400 hp LS1 will smoke a 400 hp LS2 thats going in the same car? that's interesting.

LS1_7

It looks like the question doesn't have an easy answer. I need to add labor costs to my build. If a used LS1 with some mods would be less than a LS2 new then i'll go used.

I'll try to research it a bit more. I'm going to go through HinsonSupercars and i haven't called them yet (I try not to call people and waste their time until i have the cash to back it up).

This forum has some helpful people, thanks again!

(EDIT: I for the 4sp i was going to try to go through FLP and use their stage two. My build will have $16,000 maximum if that helps anyone who wants to give me advise)

venomhp

iTrader: (13)

you can look around and find a complete used ls1 with tranny easily for under 5k I would go with that get a custom tuned computer, and since your not doing the install yourself then that takes out most of the headaches

ae13291

iTrader: (8)

i like my ls1 (= but i havent really seen so many people wit the ls2 in the rx-7! the ls2 is an ausome motor tooo, but to tell eveybody the truth i actually prefer an ls6 rather then an ls2 stock for stock, but goodluck finding a ls6

cabech984

iTrader: (11)

Just buy a used LQ9 and do the L92/L76 setup with a nice cam. I'm willing to bet that will be a cheap route too!!!

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

Yep if you don't mind iron.

12secSS

iTrader: (30)

An LS1 will be cheaper and with a good cam you can reach 400rwhp. The LS2/LQ4/LQ9 can make 400 rwhp with a cam only in an auto very easily. Look at my sig for the numbers I made cam only on my LQ4 (9.5:1 CR) auto.

JScamaro

iTrader: (6)

They both can be built to go fast. Go with whichever is less expensive to get you some left over money for other things.

BAD2000TA

iTrader: (6)

Cheapest would be a used LS1 with LS6/2 heads, decent cam, LS6 intake.

More potential would be an LS2, but the entry fee to find one is more.

I've been looking for a replacement for a '01 Trans Am. I put a piston thru the side of the block. So, I need a block at the bare minimum. Brand new blocks are as follows: LS1/6 - $1,295.00; LS2 - $999.00; LS3/L92 - $1,395.00 at Scoggins Dickey. Expensive. So, then you look at used. LS1 blocks have been selling on E-Bay between $350-$750. A pair just sold for $890.00. Some new, slightly flawed L92 blocks were for sale for $850.00. Then add machining for any used blocks or to fix any factory flaws.

Therefore, the best bang-for-the-buck would be a 402 short-block from Scoggins Dickey or any of the other sponsors (MTI, SLP, TSP, Livernois, etc.). For $4,500, you could have a killer motor. Add the L92/LS3 heads and L76 intake, an easy 500 horsepower depending on the cam choice.