new motor time lt1 vette or 5.3 truck?

[Custom 68]

Hey all I am in need of some advice and information. First I had recently converted my 327 to a TPI. Somewhere in the rebuild I “ate� up the main and rod bearings so I am back to square one.
I have thought about an engine swap from a donor (salvage) vehicle. I have a couple options. First an lt1 from a 95 vette. Or a 5.3 from a 2000 truck. Both will be complete wiring injection and all. I will swap the tranny at that time also. The 5.3 looks much tougher to install but it is all complete. So what are the differences in the 2 motors? Is the 5.3 considered a ls1?
I had followed some previous posts but didn’t bookmark them since I didn’t think I would need the info…
My other option (cheaper) is to rebuild another 350 I have and use my TPI on it.

Oh the lt1 is more money it has 40,000 miles and the 5.3 has 20,000. Any links or personal experience would help!
Thanks
Dave

[shifty]

Very informative thread:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php3?t=52057

FirstGen has a thread somewhere too, but I'm having problems finding it.

[Tim240Z]

I would go with the 5.3 for sure. The LT motors had several achilles heels (Opti-spark being the main one). The LS based motors have coil on spark ignition and have more power potential due to the non-siamesed exhaust ports/head design. Although you will have to fab up a mounting system, as opposed to bolt in with the LT1, it will be worth it in the end.

just my 2c worth.....I have a 1994 Z28 and I have swapped in a 94 Z28 LT1/T56 into my 240Z, so I know the motors pretty intimately. I will admit that the LT1 wiring was very simple!

Tim

[FirstGen]

5.3 is considered a LS1 although technically it is only a Gen III motor. They do share almost everything that the 5.7 does excep for the bore and aluminum block. You can bore the 5.7 to 3.90" and put the 5.7 pistons in and you have the exact motor with a iron block. Stroke and rod length are the same.

Go with the LS1. Not knocking the LT1's (owned them in the past) but the LS1 have a far superior head/intake design (12 degree), not to mention the PCM is almost 40 times faster, better ignition, and a better cooling system (not reverse flow). With a good cam and good exhaust expect to see 350+ rwhp. It takes virtually every bolt on to make that power in a LT1...

They are just extremely effiecent motors. I made 452 rwhp and 422 rwtq which is 529 flywheel horsepower and I recently got 19.7 miles to the gallon going to Austin and back this weekend! I was cruisin at 80 MPH the whole time when I got those numbers in 6th gear.
Good luck!

Search for "LS1/T56" for my thread on my install...

[VetteVet]

Here is a couple of pics of an lT1 just cause no one showed any.

[NPilot1975]

How much can you get the engines for? I know a couple of different places to get these engines from complete with transmissions, computer, and MAF sensor. Price is normally based on miles.

I have an LT1 in a 72 Chevy chassis and am getting ready to put an LS1 in a 68 Chevy chassis when I get home. The LT1 is by far the easier of the 2 to install, but there are plenty of parts to install an LS motor. I found engine mount adapters on ebay for $39, which allow you to bolt it up to the original style mounts. Biggest thing with either is go with a good wiring harness, I like the Painless harnesses.

[Custom 68]

Wow thanks guys for the links. Firstgen that is awesome! I am going to call the yard today and get a final price and options. I wish I could find a 6.0 hummmmm...
I will keep you posted

[67ChevyC10Stepside]

firstgen...if you dont mind me asking how much do you have in that setup?

[NPilot1975]

Custom 68,

E-mail cleveland_pick_a_part@yahoo.com, the guy's name is Rick. Tell him what you are looking for LT1 or LS1 and auto or manual. He will give you his inventory. They are all Camaro and Trans Am engines. They make the same power as the 6.0L and are all aluminum. They crate their engines and will ship them. I had one shipped from another place in AL to WA and it was around $300.

My name is Jamison, you might mention it and get a little better deal, that would be 2 engines in a couple months if you bought one from them.

[NPilot1975]

My LT1.

[special70gmc]

my LT-1 sorry not the LT-1 you guys were lookin for probly

[FirstGen]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyC10Stepside

firstgen...if you dont mind me asking how much do you have in that setup?

Prolly around 10 grand in the drivetrain. I did everything over kill and I still destroyed some stuff along the way. You could definatly get it all going for around 4 thousand...

NPilot - just FYI the 5.7's do not make as much power as the 6.0's do stock for stock because of the better flowing heads the 6.0's have (post 2000 anyway). Typically the 6.0's will make 30-40 rwhp better than a LS1 part for part. They are more equivelent to the LS6 head design and flow about the same...

[NPilot1975]

First Gen,

I was going by GM rating. The Corvette LS1 makes 350hp/375ft-lbs torque. The Camaro 325hp/350 ft-lbs. torque. Stock 6.0L LS makes 300 hp/360 ft-lbs torque.

[FirstGen]

Actually the LQ9 6.0 makes 345hp and 390 ft pounds. But everyone knows that Gm underates ALL of the LS1 type motors.

To give you an idea, stock my 6.0 made 385 rear wheel hp and 395 rwtq, that's 450.45 horsepower and 462.15 torque on an engine dyno. That was on manifolds and a vette cam... since then I changed the exhaust and went to a custom cam and picked up 70 rwhp...

If you took your '01 vette in to get dynoed, if it was a 6speed you wouldn't make more than 330 rwhp stock and more likely around 300 especially if it's an auto unless you flash the converter on the dyno.

[NPilot1975]

I have a friend with a 2002 SS Camaro, rated at 325 hp from GM, made 347 hp on the dyno completely stock. I am expecting my vette would make over the 350 rated hp.

[FirstGen]

Maybe he did UNCORRECTED on a day when it was 40 degrees outside and no humidity. SAE, I'm sorry it just doesn't happen. LS1 vehicles put down 300 rwhp and 310rwtq. An absolute FREAK will make 320 rwhp. I've personally tuned and dynoed over 300 LS1 vehicles and it is just math. Now a LS6 will be in the 347 rwhp range you are talking about. Maybe he had "stock" LS6 heads on it? Your vette, all BS aside will not make more than 320 rwhp, ever completely stock. Probably less if it's an auto. I challenge you to go dyno it and see for yourself.
Good luck,
Taylor

[NPilot1975]

So, you are telling me that GM puts higher horsepower engines in trucks than in the cars and under rates them, but over rates the car engines that have less power than the trucks. I haven't personnally dynoed any of my vehicles, but it seems that GM would over rate everything or under rate everything. Reguardless, I don't plan on racing any of my vehicles, so what ever power they make it is more than enough on the street, especially when you can take my stock 2001 Vette and run 185 mph. Thanx for the insults, I do like the look of your truck.

[FirstGen]

Hey man, I'm really sorry if I insulted you. I TOTALLY didn't mean to insult you in anyway. I just don't want you to think something that isn't true. The motor in your vette is definatly under-rated. 350 horsepower minus a 20% drivetrain loss is 280 rear wheel horsepower. Likely if you dynoed the vette, you would make around 310 rwhp. That translates to 372 at the flywheel where GM rates them. I am in no way knocking your vette or your buddies SS. I'm just trying to shed some light on something I've learned working on these things... No harm meant.
Yes, I am telling you that GM puts a higher horsepower engine in a truck that weighs almost twice what a camaro and certainly what a vette weighs. The Z06 LS6 motor is equivelent to the 6.0 motor stock for stock. I have seen slightly better numbers from the 6.0 but nothing serious.
Fun chatting with you, hope you realize that's all it was meant to be. BTW, I love vette's - who doesn't?!?

[70 shorty]

Also, go get the latest issue of Super Chevy. Basically the whole book is dedicated to swapping LS1's in older vehicles. You'd probably find just about anything you want to know there and then some.

[chevyfarmer]

I really appreciate individuals that swap newer motors in to old school trucks. But in my opinion I would keep it simple and less expensive and build a 350 for the TPI unit you already have.

[nathank]

What trannys does everyone usually go with when swapping the LS1s?
I want to stay auto, I have had enough shifting for a while.

Bear in mind I know nothing about what trannys chevy puts in what vehicles. Would the stock tranny behind a LS1 out of a late model Camaro work for the swap? (Also, what tranny would that be? :-)

[nathank]

Originally Posted by NPilot1975

I found engine mount adapters on ebay for $39, which allow you to bolt it up to the original style mounts.

Perhaps you have a link for these?

[Jason915]

Originally Posted by NPilot1975

So, you are telling me that GM puts higher horsepower engines in trucks than in the cars and under rates them, but over rates the car engines that have less power than the trucks. I haven't personnally dynoed any of my vehicles, but it seems that GM would over rate everything or under rate everything. Reguardless, I don't plan on racing any of my vehicles, so what ever power they make it is more than enough on the street, especially when you can take my stock 2001 Vette and run 185 mph. Thanx for the insults, I do like the look of your truck.

I don't think he was attempting to insult you dude, he is right though even a WS6 or SS LS1 stock will put 300HP to the ground not 347 stock. Very capable of putting more down just not in stock form.

[FirstGen]

Yes most people put the stock 4L60E behind the LS1 motors. That is what comes behind the vettes and camaro's T/A's etc if automatic. The 6 speeds are the T56 tranny. You can make alot of transmissions work like the TH350 or the TH400 also the 700R4 which is an older non-electronic version of the 4L60E.

Originally Posted by nathank

What trannys does everyone usually go with when swapping the LS1s?
I want to stay auto, I have had enough shifting for a while.

Bear in mind I know nothing about what trannys chevy puts in what vehicles. Would the stock tranny behind a LS1 out of a late model Camaro work for the swap? (Also, what tranny would that be? :-)

[gmc67swb]

Hey FirstGen, my buddies '01 SS did 317rwhp stock. After longtubes and trueduals..350rwhp.(with tune) After cam 410rwhp through an 8.8...and then 541rwhp with the spray..Car still has stock pulley setup. I was thinkn' about 420rwhp on the motor with an ASP underdrive pulley. I just picked up and '02 Z28..bone stock. I will dyno soon and let yall know first hand. I've got long tubes for it and an ASP underdrive pulley. I'll let yall know the before and after. Just for fun!

Originally Posted by FirstGen

Maybe he did UNCORRECTED on a day when it was 40 degrees outside and no humidity. SAE, I'm sorry it just doesn't happen. LS1 vehicles put down 300 rwhp and 310rwtq. An absolute FREAK will make 320 rwhp. I've personally tuned and dynoed over 300 LS1 vehicles and it is just math. Now a LS6 will be in the 347 rwhp range you are talking about. Maybe he had "stock" LS6 heads on it? Your vette, all BS aside will not make more than 320 rwhp, ever completely stock. Probably less if it's an auto. I challenge you to go dyno it and see for yourself.
Good luck,
Taylor