So the stock l98 is lacking on cubes and i am ready to devise a master plan. I'm trying to decide weather the seemingly more cost efficient 383 tpi would be worth putting in over the lovable and mean ls1. I've looked at the 383 builds on here and they look pretty enticing... but i cant stop thinking of the ls1 and i did find engine mounts for the c4 swap.

I just wanna good path to power.
feedback would be greatly appreciated

 

The LS1 isnt really mean or lovable (345chp). Plus it takes some work to make it fit. If you go the 383 route I would change your stock intake manifold.

If I was the going the LS route, I would be more inclined to go the LS2 route or even better then LS3 if you can afford it. Most ppl are on a budget, but if your have some money to spend that go the LS7 route. So many different ways to go......

I priced out a 402 LS motor when I was deciding on going that route or a 421. The 402 would of made a bit more power then the 421, but I would have had to change alot of stuff that I didnt want 2.

Do a search and educate yourself.

 

Well im keeping in a 7,000 budget I've been doing the research and I saw subtlez28 lsx swap. I've helped on an rx7 ls1 swap and that car is mean. Seeing as the vette is only 400 pounds heavier i thought itd be a good direction. I just was wondering if it's worth the effort?

 

stock LS2 or newer will really boogie.

Your going to run into problems with the LSX swap no matter what. There will end up being a considerable amount of effort/time spent for the install as compared to a 383 drop in type application.

Good luck,

 

bingo!

 

Right now for 7K you can find a hell of a sbc to drop in , I don't think the LS swap by the time you get to adding some real power that a stroker would make is going to cost less than 7k. I coul be wrong, but why not invest in a nice motor.

There was a guy here selling a 421 with like 600+ hp for $4500 IIRC

 

This is true I was figuring by the time I got the car to run right it'd b 7k, I suppose I should go with the 383 tpi and save some dough for supercharger I also have a 350 stripped block in the basement that could use a home. As y'all said the lsx isn't gonna fit pretty. Don't want the hassel, it's my daily summer car.

 

Seven grand you say ... I'd spend it on say

this minus carb and intake



or

this and add heads and rest.



Even with upgraded intake it would still be a lot less cash and hassle than going LS route.

 

why are you stuck on only 383?
Forget rebuilding your motor there are tons out there already done, or better yet go with more cubes to drop in.

 

Honestly I think the 383 will cost more than a LS2 swap. The 383 will put out more power but that being said hows your tranny. What about that rear she doing good.

By the time you buy the LS2 and get most of the parts in you'll be selling off most of your stock motor. I sold every single part off my money. I had a budget of 6000 and by the time I was finished selling my stuff my budget was 10,000-11,000.

I did a LS2 swap and I could neverbe happier. It took me a month of trial and error to do the swap and sell all my parts. Almost all my parts.

I got a pull out motor from a corvette for $3300. Build a 383 for that much and be decent.

I got to get back to lowering my car.

 

Mine was going to cost around $16000 by the time i got the tranny, exhaust, computer, fabrication work etc...

But remember this was a modded LSx. I wouldnt have been happy with a stock LS1 or even a stock LS2 for that matter (power wise). Don't get me wrong 400chp isn't slow, but it wouldnt have had the tq I was looking for.....

 

im a firm believer that the SBC w/ proper flowing heads (vs. LSx) is the better motor.

Why?

steel block, 4 bolt mains. Will support more power, with the power adder that you plan to add later, than the aluminum LSx block, regardless of how many mains it has.

LSx heads are their strong point and our weak point. But...trickflow and AFR are coming up with solutions narrowing the gap every day. I was just at trickflow today and they said they do not consider SBC and LTx a 'dead' platform by any means are working to create newer designs.

Reverse flow heads (on LTx) motors, keeps things cooler where they need to be so that the power adder you will be adding will work more eficiently (ie. can add more spark advance, more detonation resistance, etc.)

Bottomline: skip the hassle of the lsx line and bore it out. go 383 !

 

Im putting about 440-450 chp with my stock LS2. Long Tubes and tune gave me the increase. I weight 3300 pounds with me and tons of stuff in my car (Tools, nitrous bottle 3/4 full, and duffle bag. To me i will never regret the LS2 swap. At shows people gather around my car and over look the Z06 sitting next to me.

To each their own. Eitherway your keepn and buildn up the car so

 

It's a Sports car! All the power in the world won't get that thing around a corner quickly. Look at the big picture and consider the weight difference between the two engines. A lighter car corners faster, doesn't need as much horsepower to accelerate at the same rate, and doesn't need as much brakes to slow down for each corner.

OTOH, if one dimensional (straightline) driving is your thing, then go the easy horsepower route.

 

He should be able to do a really decent 383 with his 7k budget. Might even be able to build it fully forged for that price. Even with cast parts, LS2 and LS3 power levels are acheivable (let alone LS1). And, with a lower budget than 10-11k.

Unique factor is a different story.

 

Boy, some people is going to love/hate me/hate me a lot with this post.

ha ha ha but it is the truth

My LT4 stroker is faster than the stock LS2 with long tubes.

He tried 4 times, lost

He tried at 85 MPH, lost

He tried at 100 MPH, lost

For the record, it was a stock C6/LS2 with long tubes.

BTW, he would not do a dead stop take off against me. I don't know why.

At the end I told him "It's just a C4...maybe you need a tune"


yes, the LS is a better engine but a LS swap requires other things that you need to do a search and learn about.

On July 3, 2010 a Camaro SS would not go for it.

 

lets see the lsx motors are getten pretty bad *** but the real power is still in the aftermarket and moded world....
If i had seven grand to spend i would go the sbc 383 route with some sick heads and intake (linginfelter or something of that nature)....
with just a little imagination and mathmatical calculations you can give your vett some BIG *** 383 *****.
probably so much that your going to rip up your tranny,,,, might want to think about that in advace or just cross that bridge when it comes up,,, up to you

 

No bad feelings your a respected member on here so your opinions are valid and welcome.

Just for clarification a just did a LE2 which cost me 1600 for the package, 750 headers, 1000 in intake system and fuel, 1000 in opti, wires,coil and balancer.

Thats $4350 for a motor that will sound illegal (fail emissions), make 7 more rwhp, and chug fuel. Not even stroked. $$$$$$$$

I spent $3300 motor, 1000 for headers, and 1200 for wireharness cause I sent it out to be done.

Thats $5500 for motor that gets better gas mileage, sounds tame at idle no surging, and for love of god someone show me a c6 with a L98 or LT1 in it. Its called Progression. Displacement.

LT4 stroker you've pressed your limits and barely edge out.Yes you can get a bigger cam and better heads. But at what cost.The LS2 is stock. With minor bolt ons things may change. He hasnt ripped into the motor. A cam only will give a LS2 over 430rwhp. No other mods. Im sorry if Im impressed.

Total cost for my LS2 $8000. Thats getting a Dana 44 3.45 cause I wanted a better rear. So $5500-6000 to have a better motor. Im not trashing the LT1 or LT4. Ive built and played with one. Im just glad I went LS2 route.

I could do a LS2 swap in 2 full days with all parts in front of me. Not hard at all. Just the price of your heads and stroker kit probly cost as much as my build.

Of course this isnt a arguement this is just a discussion Im a die hard LT1 and LSx fan. Just giving my knowledge on the subject. Your build was amazing and inspired alot of people including me.

 

and doesn't break parts as often.

in the c4's range, rough approximation is each cube under the clam pushes 10 lbs...to get the same effect as adding 33 c.i., remove 33 x 10 lb...there are a bunch of other reasons to fill your basement with vette 'fat'.

 

I think I didnt type it clearly. I had a $6000 budget. But when I sold everything I made about $4000 counting aftermarket and stock parts. So my swap cost me $4000 for a LS2 Swap. I spent about $8000

I already had $6k I added the money that I got from sold parts to let me buy all the best parts.