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Having owned an LT-1 for 54 years, and did some 1/4 miles in the past, I posted some of my time cards.
Stock '70 LT-1, open headers, street tires (Goodyear Polyglass), no traction compound. Not taking sides on what runs better, just saying how mine runs.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
My slightly modified 327 was in your same range, best was a 13.0 at 108mph. IF we had better tires we both woiuld have been in the 12 second range. Im leaning towards running up to Epping this friday night.....have to see how sleepy I am after work
As for which year is the best for performance, hands down 1970. ... The big blocks also had the most HP that particular year.
There was only one BB in '70, the LS-5. Plans for the LS-7 fell through and it was never offered.
1971 had the addition of the LS-6 which was rated at 425hp, then back to the single LS-5 offering in '72.
Define what you mean by "which is better". Are you talking in a qtr mile?, are you talking overall driving experience? Both examples most likely will yield different answers. In 1970, Car & Driver (or Motor Trend, can't remember which) did a direct comparison between an LT-1 and the Porsche 911. They concluded that the LT-1 was the perfect balance of power and weight providing handling and performance capabilities that was the closest rival to the 911 by an American car company. Those handling characteristics go right out the window when you drop a big block in there. In '71, one of those publications did a shoot out between an LT-1, an LS-5 454, and a base model small block. Again the results were predictable, the LT-1 was a great all-round performer, the LS-6 was a monster of torque designed to go straight fast, and the base small block was a great handling car w/out the power of the others.
As for which year is the best for performance, hands down 1970. The LT-1 was a 370hp small block that was said to be underrated. What's not to love about that.The big blocks also had the most HP that particular year.
Should have said which do you prefer! Just looking for all the opinions out there.
There was only one BB in '70, the LS-5. Plans for the LS-7 fell through and it was never offered.
1971 had the addition of the LS-6 which was rated at 425hp, then back to the single LS-5 offering in '72.
My bad, I was implying that all GM big blocks in general enjoyed the highest horsepower in 1970. Didn't mean to mislead.
Should have said which do you prefer! Just looking for all the opinions out there.
I get it, but I think a lot of answers could fall along the same lines. I once had a W-30 (455) Oldsmobile that offered incredible torque. I would imagine that kind of power plant in a Vette would be incredibly awesome. That said, my '72 small block Corvette handles nimbly. My only wish is that it was an LT-1. Back in the mid 70's I had a friend who bought a '72 LT-1. The first thing he did was drop a 4:11 rear end in that thing. It was fiercely fast, able to take a corner at 40MPH, a true performance sports car experience.
If your inquiry is to help you decide which example to purchase, I would imagine that you'll be delighted with either.
I get it, but I think a lot of answers could fall along the same lines. I once had a W-30 (455) Oldsmobile that offered incredible torque. I would imagine that kind of power plant in a Vette would be incredibly awesome. That said, my '72 small block Corvette handles nimbly. My only wish is that it was an LT-1. Back in the mid 70's I had a friend who bought a '72 LT-1. The first thing he did was drop a 4:11 rear end in that thing. It was fiercely fast, able to take a corner at 40MPH, a true performance sports car experience.
If your inquiry is to help you decide which example to purchase, I would imagine that you'll be delighted with either.
I actually just picked up a 70 LS5. But I have always lusted after the LT-1 and was what I really wanted when searching for my first where I settled for a L46. Still have not owned one, and the LS5 has not been in proper driving condition yet. Soon, very soon.
I'll start by saying I'm probably a tad-bit bias toward the LS5 Vette's, if only because I own one. But that being said, some of the comments having been made have suggested that "all ya' gotta do" to the LT1 and it can handle the big-block; well if we follow this idea but rather include the LS5 into this notion, that is if one doesn't mind the idea of modifications, but we'll limit such to "bolt-ons" that could be reversed relatively simply; start by swapping out some of the cast iron engine componentry for aluminum and with this the weight differential diminishes greatly; and while we're at it, maybe for something more sporting, heads, intake, water pump, add some headers, a cam, and a better carburetor. Then others have already suggested that even the LT1 benefited from more gearing, so then if we can bump the rear gear up a little, now properly set-up & tuned, now under this scenario how would the two compare, and which one really would prove to be the "Big Dog"!
I raced my LT-1 (w/ headers) for 27 years.
It was a blast and always felt like a race car.
I never met a big block of any kind I couldn't take, or match!
UNLESS it was a solid lifter Chevy Big Block!
So that's what I have now, a BB that revs. (LS6) My retirement dream car.
But a 390HP LS5 and a 370HP LT-1 were very very close in drag strip times, however they felt like two entirely different cars.
One rev'd to the moon, effortlessly, the other just shoved you in the back, also effortlessly.
They feel extremely different!
Owning one of each would be ideal!
And the handling difference can be tuned out.
Once you have a set of aluminum heads on that BB there is only a 40lb difference.
The driver could stand to lose that much LOL
I’ve owned two Chevelles.
One big block 70 and one small block 68.
The SS big block was better all around.
I’ve owned three Pontiac Firebirds.
One 69 with a small block, one 72 small block and one 70 TA with the 455.
Big block wins again.
I had one small block Z28 Camaro that was quick until I drove my friends 69 SS 396 big block.
I owned two Buick Skylarks, the 455 GS was much better.
I’ve owned several drag boats, all big block, all awesome.
Over the years I’ve owned several trucks, some were small blocks and some big blocks.
The big blocks would tow a house up any grade without any effort, the small blocks were good for towing lightweight trailers and that was about it.
Big blocks are and make better tow rigs.
Do you see a pattern here???
Yep a High Performance small block can just about equal the performance of a standard performance low revving big block, if it is geared correctly.
But if the small engine gets caught in the wrong gear, it's all over.
Big blocks are so much more lenient on gearing. They just go.
The lo po big block is "relaxed".
The hi po small block is "eager".
But a high performance Big Block?.....fuggedaboutit!
Last edited by leigh1322; Aug 23, 2024 at 11:02 AM.
Nice, what are your specific models? What would you say are the main differences in comparison to each other?
well I had and frame off restored 3- 72 LT-1s and 1- 71, all no options,M21 with 3;70 gear, 2 LS5 and 4 L36, 1 L68, and my current 69 L88 that I built
the main difference is more torque and power with bb, I never felt the extra weight of the bb. also a bb at 4500 rpms will match a LT-1 at 6500 rpms
both cars LT-1s and bbs are very nice just a little different, now the 69 L-88 set up is a different animal, way above all pre mentioned cars.
The chevy BBs came in three basic flavors.
The L36, L68, LS5 those are mild big blocks. ~5200 rpms
A good 11:1 LT-1 can hang with them, just at 2000 more rpm. The 9:1 versions are a little too de-fanged to do that.
You need to try an L78, L72, L71 or LS6 solid lifter rectangular port BB version. They drive and rev as nice as an LT-1. ~6500rpm.
There is no small block and barely any big block of any manufacturer that will hang with those.
They are at another level.
But then the L88 is at a third level, and that one is borderline insanity. ~7300rpm
I have been fortunate enough to drive almost all of the above. And love them all, for different reasons.
Last edited by leigh1322; Aug 25, 2024 at 04:26 PM.
