It costs less to build a naturally aspirated 650 HP 8.1 than LSX. Enough to be worth it. And stock 8.1 bottom ends are good for 500 HP and make more than that in HP3 trim they tested them for 40 hours at WOT held at the power peak before production. I love the LSX small blocks but the 8.1 doesn't live in thier shadow for HP per $, stock HP, or HP with equal mods.

Good luck with the prodject, sometimes you have to do something different to live with yourself. You wouldn't regret a 8.1 powered 1500. I know big block 1500 trucks were the trucks to race back in the day when you could still get them. That Coolside would be nice to duplicate.

Vernon

 

I'm helping a friend with a project. We will be swapping a 8.1L into a mid 90's rcsb.

 

Are the harnesses the same between the 8.1 and the GEN III harness? The weight difference isnt that bad IMO and that would be a sweet swap once I return my truck back to a little more reliable level.

 

The wiring harness is the same but I hear the cam and crank sensor read different.

 

Different count on the reluctor or different plug or different voltage range?

 

Some truck on Trucks TV had an 8.1L swap.
Personally I would stick with a small-block

 

I wouldn't waste the money on the LS7, too many headaches when a good running LS2 402 will cost 30% less and make better numbers.

 

Not sure, a guy contacted me to see if I could help. He had a 8.1 swapped into a street rod and was running it on Big Stuff but could not get it to read the cam or crank sensor. Unfortunately I could not help him. I told him to let me know what he found but I never heard from him.

 

thatll be 'easier' than a small block lsx swap. the 8.1 is a direct bolt in to our motor mounts.

 

Which engine would last longer? The LS7 has GM engineering behind it. Its 505 net hp is a good number, esp. when it HAD to be cammed to be a smooth running engine like every other GM engine with fuel injection.

The GMPP LS7 dry sump Camaro test bed looked and ran really nice. The dry sump install didnt look too bad to replicate. Battery to the truck and trim the oil resevoir 2-3". It ran a 12.00 @115 with a bum T-56. The driver said 11.6's were in the cards with a working trans. This was with a stock 203°/230° LS7 roller cam.
http://www.gmhightechperformance.com/toc/gmht_toc/

GM is under MANY more contraints than an aftermarket engine builder is under. To get the durability that GM needs for a production car, they had to use some pretty exotic materials like titanium. That stuff isnt cheap. Sure folks can easily build an LS2 with bigger power numbers, but power is only 1 part of the equation.

The 8.1L swap is cool simply becasue it is rare. An 8.1 in a rcsb would be awesome. 496SS sure has a nice ring to it.
It would be nice to get a pair of those ported and polished iron heads that GM used on the Coolside 2 pickup concept.


peace
Hog