Small Block / LS Hybrid - Oh My
Dec 23, 2008 | 12:22 PM
#21
I'm not saying the gen1 engines are crap he'll I grew up building the one in my 85 gmc rcsb. What I am saying though is that no matter what anyone says it is a proven fact that the lsx blocks are stronger and more structuraly sound than gen 1's. He'll my gen 1 crate motor didn't even hold 380 horses for more than 40,000
Dec 23, 2008 | 02:06 PM
#22
A few of us on the 1st gen Camaro boards spit balled this back in like 2002 or 2003, and it was deemed not to be cost effective. What makes the LS engines stand out from the Gen I engines at first glance is the cylinder heads. They just **** all over the Gen I stuff. Only the big dollar 18deg heads compare. With that said, everything thats costly when retro-fitting these into older vehicles centers around the heads.
Adapters for the motor mounts are cheap now. But headers still aren't, so if you want to run an Gen III head, regardless of what block it's on, you'll need custom headers or Gen III swap headers. Also, many Gen I accessories bolt to the heads, so if you run Gen III heads you'll need custom bracketry or hope Gen III stuff can be adapted. Pistons need to be for the new Gen III valve angle. Intake mani's don't have thermostat provision, so that affects your water pump....on and on and on.
Long story short we basically said that if you're going to go Gen III do it all the way and take advantage of ALL the improvements. Coilpacks are way better than a distributor, so why would you run one on a Gen III engine or one with Gen III heads? Seems half-assed IMO.
Adapters for the motor mounts are cheap now. But headers still aren't, so if you want to run an Gen III head, regardless of what block it's on, you'll need custom headers or Gen III swap headers. Also, many Gen I accessories bolt to the heads, so if you run Gen III heads you'll need custom bracketry or hope Gen III stuff can be adapted. Pistons need to be for the new Gen III valve angle. Intake mani's don't have thermostat provision, so that affects your water pump....on and on and on.
Long story short we basically said that if you're going to go Gen III do it all the way and take advantage of ALL the improvements. Coilpacks are way better than a distributor, so why would you run one on a Gen III engine or one with Gen III heads? Seems half-assed IMO.
Mar 12, 2010 | 10:03 PM
#23
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 100
Likes: 1
From: Medford, OR
Well, although I'm late to the party, I thought I'd through in my .02. Seems to me this would make a really good, efficient street motor. If you were to use a 3.75" crank (stock 400 stroke) along with the 6+" rods, you would have a basic 400 that doesnt have the disadvantage of the short rods, it would be able to breathe way better than any smallblock ever did on cheap buy-them-anywhere-for-pennies heads, have a manifold that doesnt have hot oil splashing on the underside, and a lack of windage losses like you have on a LS block. All this in a package that wouldnt cost much more than most crate engines. And all of a sudden, you have an engine that has BB Chevy torque, SB Chevy weight and revving capabilities, and LS fuel efficiency. And maybe 350-400HP. And it will bolt into my 93 P/U and get up into the 20s mileage wise. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.......
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
