How many 4th gen Camaro owners out there wish that they had stuck with their LS1's instead of going to the trouble of installing a Gen 4 LS motor with all the mods and extras you had to do?

 

Hell, I hated my Gen III LQ4 in my WS6 and wished they'd left the LS1 in there. It wasn't much faster, got way shittier gas mileage, and weighed the nose down too much.

 

They make adapters for everything you need. I’m putting a ls2 block 402 stroker in my WS6 and the only thing giving me fits is the MAF adapter because I went with a 100mm MAF with ls3 style sensor. It appears the adapter isn’t pinned correctly so I’m not getting any signal. Everything else was plug and play no problem.

 

Is the LQ4 a 3rd or 4th gen LS?

 

The MAF sensor problem of yours BassAckwards is exactly what I am talking about and have read about other issues. Just wondering about all the extra problems going to a 4th gen LS in a 4th Gen Fbody.
JC316- you speak in past tense, what do you have now?

 

3rd gen, which is practically plug and play, but I wouldn't do that swap again, much less the pain of the 4th gen.

My list of former daily drivers is vast, so I can speak in the past tense on quit a few cars. I have a 2018 Camaro 1SS right now.

 

+1 for the ls1, I've done heads, cam, headers,9" rear, etc. They aren't the easiest cars to work on, but they're not the worst by a long shot. I'll be staying gen3 for the foreseeable future. If I can't live without a newer version, I'll buy it in the body it came in.

 

Mlpss, sounds like good logic about getting the car that comes with the newer engine. I have a LS2 block in the garage but I'm thinking strongly about going with one of these LS1's. Thoughts and opinions welcomed.

https://www.thompsonmotorsports.net/...6sk83qshjsj737

https://www.texas-speed.com/p-116-ts...ort-block.aspx

 

LS1 is probably coming out and my LS2 is going in I think.

 

The LSX is Gen IV and no issues here. Still using the 24X system and I'll I had to do was to relocate the knock sensors, cam position sensor and map sensor.

 

I think the main thing is the weight of an iron block. You don't expect it to be much but... it kinda is when the car wasn't designed for it

You don't need it either. IMO either use 5.7L Aluminum engine NA (or 6.0-6.2), or use a 5.3L L33 with turbo.

There is no place for 6L Iron engine in lightweight-chassis competition without turbochargers

The turbo only makes the engine 'useful' but adds even more weight potentially, so Iron engine is never recommended...

 

No, sticking with aluminum.

So if I go with Texas Speed will they sell me or tell me where to get all the items needed to convert a 4th gen Z28 to a 4th gen LS?

 

Putting together an aluminum block LS2 short motor (58x) for my Camaro right now. All the little things definitely add up plus I decided I will pull the crank and swap reluctor to 24x so I will be adding new bearings etc to the list. And i still haven't decided how far to go with the short motor after the crank is back in, whether I buy forged rods or reuse the stock rods/pistons for now. I ordered .927 pin forged dish pistons but might put them on hold for later on when add boost, and keep it SBE for now with my smaller 224/232 cam so no valve reliefs needed.

Also when I remove the current ls1 from the car I will use as many parts off it as I can, oil pan, windage tray, ATI balancer, SFI flexplate/arp bolts, etc and swap them over to the LS2 before it goes in.

Just some expenses so far related to the swap and I have a lot to go because I'm putting my small bore LS7 heads on it. This is what I've bought so far related to just the swap over to LS2 (in aussie dollars) some parts cost a heap over here lately because our currency has dropped plus shipping/taxes.

Good used LS2 short motor (58x) - $1100
New GM 04+ head bolts + new GM 6.0 head gaskets - $205
New Rollmaster LS2 1x trigger double timing chain - $175
New ARP Ls7 extended length balancer bolt - $64 (for my ATI non-a/c ls1 balancer which uses a weird long bolt, I don't trust the old bolt ATI supplied as ive used it twice already)
New Cam & MAP sensor extension harnesses (ls1 to ls3) - $100
New improved racing Crank scraper (old style new old stock) - $213.10
New Felpro rear main seal - $51
New checking pushrods - $60
New GM Valley Gasket - $59
New ARP cam bolts - $25

After arrival and cleaning it up some..




Cam, lifters, chain and balancer removed.... and first test fitting my LS7 heads rockers and intake. I will be happy with a low 10 second pass from this as is with the little cam. I think it should do it

 

Are those like aftermarket LS7 heads designed for a small bore? I know you can bolt LS7 heads onto an LS2 but they are for the larger 4.125 bore block.

 

Yeah they only have 2.10 /1.55 valves. They ran them on Daytona prototype cars first with 3.900 bore and then 4.075 bore, with the same heads/ valves. All they did was rework the chamber a little for the bigger bore when they moved to the larger 4.075 bore blocks. I could have fitted and used them on an ls1 block at 3.905 bore but because they opened up the chambers a little on these for the 4.075 bore engine they were used on, and the valves are so close to stock ls1 bore (barely no clearance when I measured) I though f*ck it and bought an LS2 to use them on instead. These won't be a problem at 4.00 standard bore and I don't have to hone the block. I like the factory machine work, this one is low miles I don't have to mess with it. If I had used an ls1, I had to hone it to 3.905 and buy pistons then it'd still have the chambers over hanging the bore. With the 4.00 bore it's good enough as is plus I get a few more CI's. 364ci not a stroker, just have to spin it and I have a 8" 5500 converter for it.

 

im now subscribing my current 02 WS6 has 187k miles on the ol' LS1 and was thinking of doing an LS2 swap but now maybe not lol now thinking maybe just rebuilding the LS1 and using the small bore LS7 heads and a LLSR Titan LS1 cam and letting it rev !!!! then maybe a small 200 shot just for those.....in case **** happen times lol

 

That's bad *** Launch!

 

THIS!! I put in a LQ block motor in my car as well. Worst mistake i ever made. I got rid of that boat anchor for a LS2 block. Now im back happy. As you said the nose was weighed down too much. The LS2 in my car now has a stuck up attitude. Nose now comes up hard under acceleration.

 

At 125lbs on the nose and the ability to go 1,500+ and stay together is a trade off I'd take any day of the week. There's a reason Cleetus made the switch to an LSX block for Leroy?

 

My ls1 has 162k miles that I daily.
I have always contemplated switching it out to an lq9 I have.
Guess I’ll keep the ls1 in it and not make it too fast to where it hurts the engine