350 or LS1 or ??

[redneckdds]

350 or LS1 or ??



what is your choice of engine for the shortbed? or do you like something different? I dont have a tranny picked out, either the turbo350 or 700R4... I'll take suggestions there too. I want the truck fast!!!

[68 short step]

no brainer--------ls1 with 4l60(e).........fast and good gas milage, a must for all these greedy shevron people.

[shifty]

LS1 is an easy swap, but will cost you some money. You can also remove the computer and the other EFI related crap, throw a carb on it and mate it up to a 700R4 or TH350, there was an article explaining fully how to do this in an issue of Classic Trucks from 2-3 months ago. I have a copy of it at my house.

I'm dropping an LS1 + T56 6spd in my truck right now. Hope to have it bolted up the rest of the way by Monday. It's sitting in there, I just gotta make some cab floor modifications for my particular application.

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by shifty

LS1 is an easy swap, but will cost you some money. You can also remove the computer and the other EFI related crap, throw a carb on it and mate it up to a 700R4 or TH350, there was an article explaining fully how to do this in an issue of Classic Trucks from 2-3 months ago. I have a copy of it at my house.

I'm dropping an LS1 + T56 6spd in my truck right now. Hope to have it bolted up the rest of the way by Monday. It's sitting in there, I just gotta make some cab floor modifications for my particular application.

I think Edelbrock sells the intake with the coils, dist and all for like 600-800 bones. Kinda defeats the purpose of adding an LS1, but still better than the carb'd 350 or yesteryear.

[shifty]

I don't think it negates the purpose...but that's just my opinion. In general, I think parts are easier to find for the LS1, I think in general it looks just as nice as the newer models, I think it generally a nice sight and ...lots of small perks - but no huge perks. You can always move towares FI later should you really want to ditch the carb.

[chevyguy_72]

Originally Posted by shifty

I don't think it negates the purpose...but that's just my opinion. In general, I think parts are easier to find for the LS1, I think in general it looks just as nice as the newer models, I think it generally a nice sight and ...lots of small perks - but no huge perks. You can always move towares FI later should you really want to ditch the carb.

Was just checking out your progress pics. Looks good.
Are you going to be able to get that alternator off if it goes bad?
It looks as if that might be quite a process but of course i can't see it in real life

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by shifty

I don't think it negates the purpose...but that's just my opinion. In general, I think parts are easier to find for the LS1, I think in general it looks just as nice as the newer models, I think it generally a nice sight and ...lots of small perks - but no huge perks. You can always move towares FI later should you really want to ditch the carb.

Well not totally, but the idea of driveability, cold starts, MPG are all intricately interwoven with FI. I have an LT1 that I plan to put aluminum heads and a 383 stroker kit into it and then I was talking with TPI in Phoenix about all of the hassle with reprogramming it, then I said, "well why not do away with the FI." The response was why use an LT1? If it is just a swap, then the FI is at least half the reason to do the swap. Anyways I'd put a carb on one, but not if I had the wiring and comp, because $600 goes a long way to getting the FI up and running. I also have decided to do the 383 into the LT1 and I'll use the FI because that is the biggest part of the cool factor when the hood is opened (it also helps when it is 6 d@mn degrees in the morning for start up!)

[shifty]

Originally Posted by chevyguy_72

Was just checking out your progress pics. Looks good.
Are you going to be able to get that alternator off if it goes bad?
It looks as if that might be quite a process but of course i can't see it in real life

Alternator is on, I wound up taking off the A/C compressor and it fits great. Look at the "LS1 install" gallery, go to page 4 there should be pics of it sitting in with alternator attached

[68Stepbed]

I'm not knocking the LS1. It's a great engine. IMO, best bang for the buck: ZZ4 with a 700R4 tranny. Easy swap, easy to find parts and brackets for and still hauls A$$.

Just my .02

[Aquivarious]

May sound like a dumb question.... but is a Th700 and a 700R4 the same tranny or.... what?

[FRENCHBLUE72]

yes they are..... Ls1 is the way I would go...

[FirstGen]

LS1... the only people that vote for another platform is because they don't have a LS1 vehilce.

[chevy_fatman]

Originally Posted by FirstGen

LS1... the only people that vote for another platform is because they don't have a LS1 vehilce.

LS1 all the way, that's all I got to say

[shifty]

I'd agree that a great engine is a ZZ4 - you can easily build it up to run the quarter mile and make it ballzout. But I wouldn't pick a drivetrain that's all about performance with less of the modern conveniences of a newer FI engine.

ZZ4 = serious power potential + less gas mileage + some annoyances associated with carb'd engines.
LS1 = good power potential + good gas mileage + some modern convenience (quick starts, etc.)

[FirstGen]

Originally Posted by shifty

I'd agree that a great engine is a ZZ4 - you can easily build it up to run the quarter mile and make it ballzout. But I wouldn't pick a drivetrain that's all about performance with less of the modern conveniences of a newer FI engine.

ZZ4 = serious power potential + less gas mileage + some annoyances associated with carb'd engines.
LS1 = good power potential + good gas mileage + some modern convenience (quick starts, etc.)

I would even go as far as to say that the LS1 platform has a better horsepower potential than the ZZ4 motors. I've had both and I can tell you right now that my ZZ4 didn't make 450 horsepower to the ground with just a cam and mid length headers...

[shifty]

True, but I thought the LS1 was limited to 800HP b/c of the aluminum block and the ZZ4 was good up to 1200 or something?

[72Short_Cut]

Go with the LS1 with the 4L60e, im in the middle of this swap. You'll get good power, great gas milage and look really sweet, its been a fairly easy swap so far. they are easy to find also, i got mine with less then 11000 miles out of a firebird that was rear ended for cheap.

[FirstGen]

Originally Posted by shifty

True, but I thought the LS1 was limited to 800HP b/c of the aluminum block and the ZZ4 was good up to 1200 or something?

There are plenty of guys making over 800 hp on the aluminum blocks. However you could always use a 6.0 block if you were that serious. That's what most of the stroker motor guys use.