So this is totally a 'recreational thread' to help give me something to dream about. Doing the Single Dad thing I doubt I'll have this kind of cash until after the kids are out of college. But who knows...

And also please don't crucify me, but I'm going to the Dark Side with my next engine/vehicle project and I want to put an LSX in my LT1 Camaro! So just assume that I agree with all of you no matter which side of the LT/LS argument you're on, and assume that I'm doing an LSX regardless...

So it's a '97 6-speed car and I'm assuming the LT/LS Camaro swap part of it is going to be relatively straight-forward, and that I can search for that info in other threads here.

What I want to know is which motor to start with. I have limited knowledge of the LS1 and LS7, but now with all the other derivatives I don't know if I should supercharge an LS1 or find a complete LS7.

I want to make 600hp *daily-driveable/streetable*... I drive the car all the time because it's fun to drive. Last thing I need is a 600hp Camaro that's going to overheat at every stoplight I hit while running the A/C.

And even in my dreams, cost is an issue. So if a supercharged LS1 makes 600hp and costs $5,000, I'm a lot more likely to do it than a crate LS7 that costs $13,000. As much as I lust for an LS7...

 

You could get a 408 to 600rwhp or damn close to it, but you'd have a nasty cam in that thing so I don't know what you consider "streetable".

I'd probably get a 408, don't spend crazy money on the heads and put that money into a D1SC and you should be able to achieve your goal and probably even more. Benefit of the procharger is that it will be a lot more streetable then a Max Effort N/A 408!

 

I made 514rwhp with a P1SC Procharger (small blower) through the auto (around 650 horsepower at the motor) with a cam and LS6 intake manifold along with longtubes and through a full Magnaflow exhaust. It was the most tame car I've ever driven for the power-level. My wife drove it.

That's probably the easiest way, but the stock pistons won't be exactly happy campers. Changing the pistons to some forged dished ones will solve that problem in a hurry -- and/or some LQ9 heads.

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