454 ZL1 or LSX

[c10seconds]

Which motor would you choose for a 67-72 build? Just one of my crazy ideas

[weircc]

with out question lsx

[screaminchevypickup]

Both are great motors!!! I had the ZL1 in my 69 camaro and loved it!!!
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[hjewell2]

As much as I hate to say it go for the LSX. My heart still leans on the Gen 1
but the LSX offers so much more for power.

[Street Smart]

I`m a Big Block guy hands down, I`ve run them in my monte over 20 years. But after doing a couple of LS swaps, I love them in drivers. I eventually dropping in a stock 6.2 in my suburban and I`m sooooooo happy with it. Power and mileage over the "built", carbed, 350. Also a big WOW factor with the hood popped!

PS. big weight difference too.

[Ackattack]

No question LSX (454 CID of course....gotta compare apples to apples)

[CC69Rat]

I dunno man .. I'd like to see some dyno numbers and actual weight. (just playing devil's advocate here) .. I know the LSX stuff is coming on strong but an all aluminum BBC is no slouch either.

Put a TH400 and the same gearing behind the LSX for true efficiency apples to apples and it might be a different ballgame fellas. MPG vs. HP

Say what you want to but a lot of the efficiency in the late model stuff comes out of the electronic transmissions / lockups, etc 28mpg and 400hp doesn't come easily regardless and I give credit where it's due .. but there's still some wow factor in an aluminum big block.

Just my opinion.

[bbadfred]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

I dunno man .. I'd like to see some dyno numbers and actual weight. (just playing devil's advocate here) .. I know the LSX stuff is coming on strong but an all aluminum BBC is no slouch either.

Put a TH400 and the same gearing behind the LSX for true efficiency apples to apples and it might be a different ballgame fellas. MPG vs. HP

Say what you want to but a lot of the efficiency in the late model stuff comes out of the electronic transmissions / lockups, etc 28mpg and 400hp doesn't come easily regardless and I give credit where it's due .. but there's still some wow factor in an aluminum big block.

Just my opinion.

Yes but the WOW factor does not buy your gas so you can actually drive it? Yes I said all this after the yelow truck is the first "small" block I have ever had!!!!! Race cars and street machines!!! I still LOVE BBCs Just cannot afford to drive them.

[HeavyD]

What about the cost factor? Which gives more 'bang for the buck'??

[CC69Rat]

tomato - tomAto It's all the same to me.

Brunette / Blonde / Redhead

Chevy / Ford


I can put an LSX motor in my lawnmower if I wanted to (?) but it's all about cost justification to me, and does it really make sense? I have a $2500 street driven truck I take to local swap meets and shows not expecting to win at all .. Do I build a streetable and dependable Gen 1 small block for $1500 at 20mpg (which I have now) or .. spend $5000 to have an LSX and 150 more hp and 28mpg ? I'm thinking no. I just don't drive it enough. If I drove the truck every day? .. then maybe. But I can also buy a $2000 Honda or something to drive every day and get 35mpg.

You spend the money on the LSX swap, the new headers, ECM flashing, etc. Knock yourself out if you feel it's justified .. I can buy a lot of gas for $3500+ at 8mpg difference and $.10 per mile. For 150-200 more HP I'll never use. And drive my truck maybe 3000 miles a year.

The difference here is I'm not saying junk your LSX because big blocks are better .. but I kinda feel like that's what some are saying about the BBC and Gen1 stuff. That's all. I just like the sound of a Big Block. An LSX in Prius would be cool and all but does it make sense? I think the later model stuff just takes something away from an 'old classic truck' Maybe I'm just old and set in my ways. I'm much more 'wowed' by a BBC than an LSX any day. Regardless of power or cost. It's just in my blood. Yeah, I have a 408ci Iron headded BBC in my 68 with a 750 Holley on it. 72/76. It's going to drink gas, I know it. But I drive it maybe 500 miles a year. Would $5000 in the swap make me drive it 1000 more a year? Probably not.

Again, just my .02. You asked for it.

[68Stepbed]

I was in a similar scenario. My GenI sbc died and I needed to replace it. I was toying with either a 402 BBC or GenIII/IV. I found a deal on an LS1 and jumped on it. I'm putting a carb on mine, and had a 700R4 built to go behind it. My biggest reason for going the LSx route was after talking to a guy at the rod run last year. He has a carbed 5.3/2004R combo in a 69 Camaro. I asked him how he liked the LS engine. He said he will never mess with a sbc or bbc ever again. He said it's not because of how MUCH power it makes as much as HOW it makes it. He said from 2500 to 6500rpm, it never stops pulling.

[gringoloco]

Lotsa cool points with the aluminum rat, for sure. The gen 3/4 is the way of the future (and present) and contrary to what people think, can often times be installed for less than a rebuild of your old small block. $1500 could get a 5.3 in your truck and running easily. My favorite part about the new motors: NO OIL LEAKS!

All that said, for an all-out build, it would ba a toss-up mostly dependent on the direction of the build...
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[Glorybound13]

I'd probably go LSX. They will make a ton of power in such a small package. Gives you plenty of room in the engine bay for twin turbos or big roots style blower.

[shopking72]

Originally Posted by weircc

with out question lsx

This!

[m6z]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Lotsa cool points with the aluminum rat, for sure. The gen 3/4 is the way of the future (and present) and contrary to what people think, can often times be installed for less than a rebuild of your old small block. $1500 could get a 5.3 in your truck and running easily. My favorite part about the new motors: NO OIL LEAKS!

All that said, for an all-out build, it would ba a toss-up mostly dependent on the direction of the build...
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It really depends on the truck and the theme/look you're going for. They are both cool options.

[68Lowrider]

I prefer th ZL1
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[Hubscrub]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

tomato - tomAto It's all the same to me.

Brunette / Blonde / Redhead

Chevy / Ford


I can put an LSX motor in my lawnmower if I wanted to (?) but it's all about cost justification to me, and does it really make sense? I have a $2500 street driven truck I take to local swap meets and shows not expecting to win at all .. Do I build a streetable and dependable Gen 1 small block for $1500 at 20mpg (which I have now) or .. spend $5000 to have an LSX and 150 more hp and 28mpg ? I'm thinking no. I just don't drive it enough. If I drove the truck every day? .. then maybe. But I can also buy a $2000 Honda or something to drive every day and get 35mpg.

You spend the money on the LSX swap, the new headers, ECM flashing, etc. Knock yourself out if you feel it's justified .. I can buy a lot of gas for $3500+ at 8mpg difference and $.10 per mile. For 150-200 more HP I'll never use. And drive my truck maybe 3000 miles a year.

The difference here is I'm not saying junk your LSX because big blocks are better .. but I kinda feel like that's what some are saying about the BBC and Gen1 stuff. That's all. I just like the sound of a Big Block. An LSX in Prius would be cool and all but does it make sense? I think the later model stuff just takes something away from an 'old classic truck' Maybe I'm just old and set in my ways. I'm much more 'wowed' by a BBC than an LSX any day. Regardless of power or cost. It's just in my blood. Yeah, I have a 408ci Iron headded BBC in my 68 with a 750 Holley on it. 72/76. It's going to drink gas, I know it. But I drive it maybe 500 miles a year. Would $5000 in the swap make me drive it 1000 more a year? Probably not.

Again, just my .02. You asked for it.

i agree, its all what you want i'm a young guy that loves old school

[bbadfred]

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

i agree, its all what you want i'm a young guy that loves old school

I am an old guy who is learning to love new school!

[05crewcab]

I want to know who is getting 28mpg out of their 400hp LSX in a 40 year old truck? They must be some kind of pedal-feathering artist...

The new trucks need active cylinder management and a whole lot of tuning to barely get 20.


unless it's your DD you shouldn't care about mpg in a classic truck when considering engines. It's all about initial cost, making power, holding up to abuse, and cool factor. efficiency could be a residual bonus, but don't bank on it.

[Hubscrub]

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

i agree, its all what you want i'm a young guy that loves old school

Originally Posted by bbadfred

I am an old guy who is learning to love new school!

you got to see it i didn't i'm really different from alot of people my age (29) i should have been around in the 50's-60's the American graffiti days

[1BadAction]

The difference in cost is completely over hyped. I could have bought a running 6.0L takeout swap for what it cost me JUST AT THE MACHINE SHOP for my BBC. Add in the cost for a roller cam conversion and pistons to bump the compression to normal levels, please, it takes some bucks to get an older engine to the same place the LS is, bone stock. The difference in cost is a crapshoot between building what you have and doing an LS swap, for every dirt cheap SBC route, there is an equal one to get into a gen 3. You will end up paying either way, but that is not what this thread is about.

An all aluminum BBC is bad ass, no doubt, but crate engine vs crate engine, both being EFI... LSX no doubt. I drive my vehicles a lot and I can't stand a leaker. Another thing I think of, is how many people have a ram jet EFI BBC? Now how many people have an LS type engine? When you have some kind of issue or question on mods, the amount of readily available info for the LSx engines is overwhelming. If you want some more power or have an electrical problem, there is a 99.9% chance a search will bring up a solution. With the ramjet? Not even close to the amount of info out there. Plus the ZL1 is going to run close to 10 thousand dollars more than a 454 LSX.

[chevytruckluver]

Originally Posted by bbadfred

I am an old guy who is learning to love new school!

x2...the new stuff is great, I want to do a LSX on my next truck

[c10seconds]

Im just over 11k with my LS motor/trans. Theres a 454ZL1 in the crate on ebay right now for 14,500 and only 200 of those motors were produced. Im just trying to decide how much more cool factor the ZL1 would add to my build if any.

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by c10seconds

Im just over 11k with my LS motor/trans. Theres a 454ZL1 in the crate on ebay right now for 14,500 obo. Only 200 of those motors were produced. Im just trying to decide how much more cool factor the ZL1 would add to my build if any.

Depends on the crowd. If you finish the build then tell folks what your decision was between, you'll get a 50/50 response. Half will like what you did, the other half will ask why you didn't go with the other.

In all fairness, the look of a BBC in anything is great. They just look cool, and add a wow factor that no other engine will. The GenIII/IV engines can be made to look good, but in all reality, they're hard to dress up properly. GenIII/IV engines are almost primarily utilitarian in looks, especially in stock form. When you do get one dressed to impress, they look great. There's still nothing like a BBC. Not to mention the excluseivity of the ZL1.

My LS1 just happened to come at the right time for the right price. As I said before, I was considering a 402 BBC. I really wanted the "look" of it more than anything, but it would've cost me more to get going than the LS1. If cost and fuel mileage isn't the issue, flip a coin.

[Racie]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

tomato - tomAto It's all the same to me.

Brunette / Blonde / Redhead

Chevy / Ford


I can put an LSX motor in my lawnmower if I wanted to (?) but it's all about cost justification to me, and does it really make sense? I have a $2500 street driven truck I take to local swap meets and shows not expecting to win at all .. Do I build a streetable and dependable Gen 1 small block for $1500 at 20mpg (which I have now) or .. spend $5000 to have an LSX and 150 more hp and 28mpg ? I'm thinking no. I just don't drive it enough. If I drove the truck every day? .. then maybe. But I can also buy a $2000 Honda or something to drive every day and get 35mpg.

You spend the money on the LSX swap, the new headers, ECM flashing, etc. Knock yourself out if you feel it's justified .. I can buy a lot of gas for $3500+ at 8mpg difference and $.10 per mile. For 150-200 more HP I'll never use. And drive my truck maybe 3000 miles a year.

The difference here is I'm not saying junk your LSX because big blocks are better .. but I kinda feel like that's what some are saying about the BBC and Gen1 stuff. That's all. I just like the sound of a Big Block. An LSX in Prius would be cool and all but does it make sense? I think the later model stuff just takes something away from an 'old classic truck' Maybe I'm just old and set in my ways. I'm much more 'wowed' by a BBC than an LSX any day. Regardless of power or cost. It's just in my blood. Yeah, I have a 408ci Iron headded BBC in my 68 with a 750 Holley on it. 72/76. It's going to drink gas, I know it. But I drive it maybe 500 miles a year. Would $5000 in the swap make me drive it 1000 more a year? Probably not.

Again, just my .02. You asked for it.

I totally agree...I only roll my 502 big block probably 20-25 times a year. If I drove it daily it'd be an LS. The big block is worth the price of admission I love it with no regret. It pulls like a freight train all the way to 6500 rpms....nasty nasty!!!!
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