snowmanmdp

I have a chance to buy an LS1 the 6 speed and computer for a drop in how much trouble am I looking at? :o The car is an automatic now.

cv67

Quite a bit. Id mod what you have as LS1s arent anythign to write home about unless you swap heads/cam etc. Sure they make great power but it will cost more than if you modded what you have.
Either way your wallet will cry, how bad is up to you.

BrianCunningham

All the magazines are doing this now

more to satisfy the latest fad

There's plenty of free flowing heads and intakes for the old smallblock.

What do you want to do with your car?
drag? street? autox? road race?

snowmanmdp

Looking for 400 hp on the street.

383tpimachine

intake heads and cam swap with a tune on teh ole gen 1 sbc and you will have that

or just shoot a 150shot on it now

BrianCunningham

Mojave

LS1 will make 400 RWHP with a cam-only, and that's using factory LS1 heads, not the better stuff (LS6, L92/LS3, etc). For a 400 hp build on an 85 C4, I bet the total costs are very close to the same. A 400 hp L98 is going to need heads, cam, intake, headers, tune. LS1 can do it cam, headers, tune only, stock heads and stock intake. Also, if you want the manual, this is another great reason to swap.

Yes, an SBC will definitely make the power, but not on iron 85 heads or through a stock TPI intake.

There are some issues to work through with the LS1 swap, wiring being the hardest, but well worth it IMO. Not to mention you get 80 lbs less with the aluminum block and another 15 lbs for the plastic intake.

Demonic85

I have the mods you listed and it doesnt make 400 hp at the crank, not even close. It will give a bone stock C5 a run for its money but almost never wins in the 1/4. I do agree that those stock iron heads are terrible, absolutely terrible.

cv67

How is a LS1 going to make 400 rwhp with just a cam, they had 300+-rwhp stock (?!) and the heads dont really flow well. Just curious.

856SPEED

I would look for a crate engine.....there is definately that kind of power out there in a regular small block chevy form that will drop in the 85...I have a 400+ hp 85 car at the crank, but look at my mods....when I began my project, the crate engine market was not as flush...the hottest thing was the zz4....there are better things out there now.....you will want to go with the miniram intake IMHO and will need a new PROM....otherwise 400 hp will be hard to get with the long runner set up on any engine....if you looked at the Corvette Fever magazine "Project CForce" L98 to LSx swap, it is quite an undertaking to say the least......that project is still not wrapped up yet as I subscribe to the magazine and they started on that quite a while ago....they have kept us updated on the progress along the way...have hit many snags....having said that, as a result of this project, I think the aftermarket will bring the swap easier to the C4 and prior Corvette year crowd as kits will be available as the magazine pointed out if you wait a couple of years...

Mojave

I have seen plenty of cam/header cars do 395-405 to the ground. Friends 02 Camaro cam/headers did 394. A road race guy on Frrax recently did an LS6 with a cam and did 440 to the ground, as the LS6 heads flow better.

The stock heads flow plenty. LS1's respond VERY well to cam upgrades. Even the truck 6.0's will do 400 RWHP with just a cam/headers/tune. Go poke around on LS1Tech.

cv67

Stock LS1 heads are around 230ish int/180 ex?

bjankuski

I do tuning for West Bend dyno and I have tuned many LS1 with just a cam and headers that will put 400 HP to the tires. The new 6 liter LS2 with headers and cam will put 450 Plus to the tires. The LS series of engines responds very well to mods, sometimes I wonder why I am still playing with my gen1 SBC.

PLRX

Soon or later a company will design an easy L98/LTx to LSx wire kit (wire, ECM, etc). It will be very expensive but, that will start a new generation on modifications.

You can count on me jumping into that one. The LS makes ridiculous power with bolt ons. I know few C5 owners in San Diego pushing 700+ at the wheels with a supercharger and other parts.

Demonic85

idk exactly but the whole design of the engine makes it so that the air runs almost straight down into the cylinder. I've seen LSx engine with a few bolt ons (cam, exhaust, intake, high ratio rockers) easily hitting 450 hp at the wheels. I couldnt believe it myself when I first heard of it.

There is a vendor that makes turbo kits for LS2's that put them over 700 hp.

383tpimachine

MS4 cam usually nets mid 41Xhp
with headers and LS6 intake its very easy to hit 450rwhp

swap to AFR or TF heads and you are really getting up there in the power and your rear blows in the F-body rather quickly lol

856SPEED

as time goes, there will be a market for the lsx transplants into earlier model Vettes.....and to be frank it may be the only source to modify these cars effectively into the future since the aftermarket will dry up for the old school small block and be flush for the lsx drivetrains...tuning is already an issue for the l98 cars..most don't have the software to do it....everyone can tune the lsx computers out there.....but back to the OP....not sure right now is most effective time to make the change....I think you are up against the world on that transplant in 8/09.....would be more cost effective to crate motor it (new engine and all) and get the thing dyno tuned somewhere or at least get a mail order PROM.

Mojave

If he wants to swap to manual at the same time, complete LS1 + T56 swap makes a lot of sense. With a good used engine that doesn't need major work, I still think a used LS1 setup could end up costing a bit less, BUT it will definitely take more work.

Redvette_22

My 98 C5 A4 ran 11.86 @ 118 mph back in 98 with only a cam, and a small one at that. The converter was a 2800, 3.42 gears, TPIS headers into "stock" intermediate (w/cats), and flowmasters, stock wheels w/drag radials. I don't have a calculator handy, but the car weighed 3458 lbs so you can figure the RWHP from that info.

cv67

I was referring to cam only. If the guy takes a bone stock LS1 out of a used car and puts a cam in it with nothing else he wants to see 400rwhp.
Exhaust, CAI, headers, pulleys, rockers all that help of course.
Id like to see someone who actually has exactly that not a link to someone who knows someone who said they did.
Im not doubting, just curious to see a real world result and yes a bit skeptical.