Barebones

I have a 1970 LS5 and thinking about changing out for a 502..and suggestions about best engine for the money?
I just want to put it in for the summer and have the original rebuilt and then put the 502 in another car.

Thanks

rajsid

ZZ502/502 hands down

All 502s are great motors.
I have an 502 HO in my 69.
The previous owner installed it. ZZ502/502 is more expensive, but worth the money.

bashcraft

Ram Jet 502 $11,160
ZZ 502 $9,046
HO 502 $6,840
HT 502 $6,190

How much money do you have?

Barebones

Thanks for the info,I'll start there,,

Rmorgan&11

not exactly a 502 ....but same price range w/more HP
http://www.ultrastreet.net/engines/540_realstreet.asp

ajrothm

Best power/quality per dollar... BAR NONE.

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/vortecpr..._ipg=50&_sop=1

68 Yellow 468

Having had a Shafiroff 540 ci motor as well as a ZZ502 (which I drove stock for a bit and then later shaved the heads and installed a larger cam), I would take the 540 ci motor all day long.

There is quite a difference between those two....

Bryan

jotto

Wow, to go from 571HP to 620HP only costs an extra $100!
Is this who you got your new motor from?

Barebones

Thanks for all the info,lots of good stuff to consider

ajrothm

Yes, I had Vortecpro build my motor. I was going to go with his 505" 650hp motor(which he is now getting 680+ out of but he doesn't advertise it) but after talking to Mark(Vortecpro) he recommended we stick with a 496" due to the better selection of lower compression pistons and hyd roller so I could easily idle around town in traffic with the AC blasting... He basically custom built mine as he will do for anyone if they just call him and talk about their application. He built and dynoed my motor, then shipped it to me, once I got it I dynoed it locally and it made within 5hp of what it made on his dyno, 1500 miles away....I only have about 500 miles on it but this thing is pretty damn strong.....actually its dangerous on regular BFG Radial TAs. His service after the sale is top notch....I swear he called me every day for the first 2-3wks I had the motor....LOL

I highly recommend him.

ajrothm

BTW the only reason its only $100 difference is it doesn't cost anymore to get the extra power really. The difference in the motors is the 620hp has about 1pt more compression and solid flat tappet cam vs. lower compression and hyd flat for the 571hp. Both motors get the big valve, fully ported GM 049 oval port heads.

Neptune75

If you stay with GM performance... there motor break down is...

572/620hp dollar per horse is 23.04 14,500
454h.o/425hp per is 14.10 6,000
zz502/502hp per is 18.07 9,100


All of these motors make great torque curves and there built by gm...

aj's motor is incredible and i believe with that builders knowledge and his advertised numbers it a better buy than the Gm stuff..
but if you care to deal with one of your local engine builders i would buy a 502 short block from gm ..install smaller port afr or dart heads and roller cam set up that suits your needs and build the engine with all forged internals and and make great hp/trq for the car this engine ends up in... i ended up with a 496 and about 733 hp 659ftlbs for about $10,000 and thats a 13 dollars per horse... just my thaughts...Rich

Neptune75

aj post a pic of your beautiful 496.....

carbster09

I drove a GM 502 / 450 ??? installed in a '67 'vert with a 5 spd ... and I was not overly impressed! That was a couple of years ago and I swore then I would have my LS 5 built right. Now its in the hands of GoFast and getting made into a 489!

Barebones

thanks all for the good info,,got to do some $$ crunching and figure out the details,,will post when I've made a decision..

Rmorgan&11

another thing to consider is warranty ...

Shafiroff offers 2 years

Barebones

2 yr.warranty sounds like a deal maker..

63mako

That is the deal!

427Hotrod

Better read that warranty REAL close and see what it really covers and what you have to do to get it fixed.

JIM

MikieTallapoosa

..... put a 502 RJ in my 74 replacing the 'girl' motor..... direct from GM .... best thing I ever did.... took some doing but well worth it.... second hand motors are a crapshoot be cautious ....