No ls1 will ever sound as good as an lt1 IMO

 

I beg to differ. LT1 cars will never sound as good as an LS1 car.

Some of my past cars:

 

OP, depends on what your goals are.

With an LT1 can go FASTER for CHEAPER than an lsx car can.

If you only plan on doing bolt ons, or leaving it near stock, the ls1 wins in that territory, but not by much as the nutswingers would lead you to believe.

 

a nice little vid to put things in perspective http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEs4s6jaiyw

 

maybe lt1 parts are cheaper ,but they dont add as much power as the same parts on a ls1.ive built both the lt1 wouldnt pull nothing like a ls1 car with the same mods. think about just cam only numbers thers ls1 guys making 450-460 rhwp with CAM ONLY,ive never seen a lt1 cam only make those numbers have you?

 

what does the vid put in perspective?that a supposed cammed lt can out run a supposed camed ls car?maybe he let off when he heard it start knocking i would.

 

FYI:

The bolt-on LS1 record is around 10.80s. Yeah, I'd say that an LS1 bolt-on car wins.

 

Who has made a LS1 CAM only make 450-460RWHP?
By that statement, I am holding you to exactly what you said, CAM ONLY.

 

Those cars also have a FAST 90/90 intake/TB setup.

Nobody makes 450rwhp on a cam-only car, however, some people consider cam-only to be cam and intake manifold -- those are the people that make 440-450rwhp, but those are very few and far between and are using a giant camshaft.

I made 415rwhp with two of my cars cam-only -- although they had the LS6 intake manifold on them, like all of the 2001+ cars did. Most cam-only LS1s are going to make somewhere around 400rwhp cam-only and a 6-speed.

Mike

 

It all depends on what your goals are. If you're looking for a decent LT1 car, expect to pay around 4k, for a decent LS1 car, expect to pay 7k. So for 3k less, you are roughly 40 or so rwhp behind. If you work on the car yourself you can buy an aftermarket cam/spring/rr's for less than $600. Get your stock heads p&p'd for $600. intake and full exhaust for $1000. This will put you to 100rwhp over a stock LS1 (if you pick the right parts). So you'll get a roughly 400+rwhp LT1 for $6200 or a 300+rwhp LS1 for $7000. Over 100rwhp more for $800 less... LT1 would be the way to go.

Now all that aside, if you want to start modding the LS1 you can also pick up big numbers. But it all depends on budget. All my numbers are estimates based on my experience and observations. You get the idea.

EDIT: As far as exhaust sound goes... there is no reason to debate that because that's purely preference. Debating aside, from what I have heard, far more people say they like the sound of the LT1 a lot better. Even my friends that own LS-based Corvettes and GTO's are really in love with the sound of my LT1 and a buddy's LT1.

 

I would also like to give props to this post. This is one of the most realistic and honest posts about LS1's from an LS1 owner. We all know that LS engines are good engines, but people often make ridiculous claims and treat world record dyno numbers like they are everyday mild-cam setup numbers.

 

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/dynamo...-thread-7.html

463/397 took me like 3 min theres more out there but ive proved my point.theres not a lot of them out there but they are out there.

 

Z28 LS1s are down in the 4-5k area for autos now. My buddy bought a 98 Auto TA for $4500 in good shape. Another buddy sold my old cam-only 415rwhp 6-speed full suspension Z28 for $6250 -- great car. I sold my 141k mile 98 TA auto for $3000. Honestly, the price that LS1 Z28s are going, there's no reason to ever consider an LT platform unless you simply like that platform better.

 

I was previous LT1 owner (396). I give props where they are due.

 

No there aren't alot out there. At 250 @ .050" duration on a stock motor, that's a straight racecar and would have terrible drivability and no low-end. The car probably turns on at 4500+. Ask me how I know.

Also, he obviously has the FAST 90 setup, but he's being very skeptical with his short answers. I've owned 6 LS1 cars -- only one stock one. 450rwhp with a big cam AND a FAST 90/90 almost NEVER happens -- unless you're on a generous dyno --- or running an LS6 motor with LS6 heads.