350 TBI vs LS1

[kalirodding]

I know this may sound pretty dumb, but wwhich one should I install in my 55? The tbi has actually been converted to carberated with typicall upgrade, cam,manifold, 4barrel double pump. I just really dont feel like dealing with the whole wiring madness. Am i way wrong for even posting this? Help me please.

[OKGMC4]

The 350 is cheap and reliable but the LS1 is WAY more powerful. TBI swirl port heads are terrible for flow and power suffers. You are probably overcarbed if you have a double pumper. What cam? What tranny? A 350 with cost effective vortec iron heads and a ZZ4 cam makes a reliable 375hp at the crank with a 750 vacuum seconadary single feed carb.

On the other hand an Ls1 can get that power at the crank nearly stock and it will start without pumping/ restarting on a cold day and give you flawless instant throttle response and good gas mileage. It's all about what you want and can afford. I wanted an LS1 but I can afford a 5.3l, which is really close for about $3K less

[ambryatim]

Yep...I would go with a 5.3L they are getting cheaper and cheaper. And it gives you alot better performance and reilability. I have one that i am going to put in my 57 this next spring....I would try to find one with an iron block...but thats just me..

Oh, if you can find one get the 6.2L that comes in the GMC Denali series..403HP stock

That will be the one I get when the 5.3 goes south.

[72hotrodder]

ls1 was touched by the hand of god when made. dont you want that in your truck. you get more hp better gas milage and WAY more dependable. and its lighter and the cool factor is out the roof.

[kalirodding]

I'm sorry guys, it's actually a 5.7 LT1. But It's still the same delema. I guess I might just use it. For what its worth, my 350 set up also has a 700 trans.

[1sik52]

In my 52 I originally had a zz4 crate engine and it was ok, but then i changed it over to a LS1 and I would never consider anything else in any build. I am now building my wife a 70 Blazer and I am installing a LS2 in it and it is like night and day compared to the LS1. If you want reliability and raw power go with a LS motor.

[72hotrodder]

no no no no lt1s only had 270 hp and are riddled with problems and electrical gremlins. go with the carb'd one

[Atomsplitter]

Kailrodding, I'm quite familiar with the 94-96 LT1 5.7.
What year is your 5.7?

[50adrod]

LS all the way, the LT1 is no where near the LS based motors, I had to do lots of work to get my LT1 even close to 400hp, you can get a 5.3 there with a cam headers and a tune. not to mention the optispark nightmare of the LT1

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by 72hotrodder

no no no no lt1s only had 270 hp and are riddled with problems and electrical gremlins. go with the carb'd one

LT1s are great engines, Seen them with 300,000 plus miles on them. The Optispark goes out around a 100k but who cares. Put them in 100s of older cars (mostly Jaguars). Jaguars have electrical gremlins not LT1s

[72hotrodder]

if they were great they would have been around a little more than 4 years dont ya think. if your gunna put the time and money to put a fuel injected motor in there is no reason not to go with a ls1. ls1>lt1 just how it is

[clinebarger]

They were around for 6 years. 92 vette to the 97 camaro. i can install a LT1 way cheaper than a LS1.

I know the LS1 is better, Installed a bunch of them too. But calling a LT1 a peice of junk is not right.

[dwcsr]

Either one is a great inprovement over the carbed motors. It just depends on your budget.

[Atomsplitter]

Fuel injected motors are all not made the same either. The leap from a 1993 LT1 to a 1994 LT1 is quite dramatic as the horsepower went from 185 to 260 and the gas mileage went UP 22%. The LT1's can be had cheap, like mine for $500 complete, but parts ARE expensive. Oh, and the LT1 still has the provision to drive a regular distributor by simply drilling out the flat at the back of the intake manifold and you can toss the Optispark if you wish (but I suggest using a vented Opti to get rid of any condensation which was their only downfall).

Yes an LSx is a great motor and if you have the budget it's probably the way to go BUT those of us on a budget can't afford this upgrade. Besides, by the time you reflash the ECM and add headers on your LT1 your pushing 300hp and 330ft/lbs, does a 400hp motor make sense at $2000 to $3000 installed?

[50adrod]

Originally Posted by Atomsplitter

Fuel injected motors are all not made the same either. The leap from a 1993 LT1 to a 1994 LT1 is quite dramatic as the horsepower went from 185 to 260 and the gas mileage went UP 22%. The LT1's can be had cheap, like mine for $500 complete, but parts ARE expensive. Oh, and the LT1 still has the provision to drive a regular distributor by simply drilling out the flat at the back of the intake manifold and you can toss the Optispark if you wish (but I suggest using a vented Opti to get rid of any condensation which was their only downfall).

Yes an LSx is a great motor and if you have the budget it's probably the way to go BUT those of us on a budget can't afford this upgrade. Besides, by the time you reflash the ECM and add headers on your LT1 your pushing 300hp and 330ft/lbs, does a 400hp motor make sense at $2000 to $3000 installed?

400 hp installed for 2K is a good deal anyday. I guess the debate could go on forever and it comes down to personal choice and budget, but the 5.3 motor is a very cheap option, probably less than a LT1 and very plentiful. I have had both and would never go back to the LT1

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by 50adrod

400 hp installed for 2K is a good deal anyday. I guess the debate could go on forever and it comes down to personal choice and budget, but the 5.3 motor is a very cheap option, probably less than a LT1 and very plentiful. I have had both and would never go back to the LT1

this guy knows what hes talking about. i have an LT in my '38, and its a great motor. i have an 5.3 awaiting my '57 chevy. price is about the same, but the 5.3 has the benifit of not having an opti! plus, hp gains are very easy and much cheaper than an LT.

[82swampthing]

go with a carbed big block . That ls1 would never look right in your 55'. so what about gas mileage its not like you are driving it every day.nothing beats the feel of a carbed big block.

[78-5.3]

lsx based engines look at home in any truck mine is a 78 but check it out at this stage it needed tidying up a little they are a cheap and easy install producing plently of power and great fuel economy !!!

YouTube- 5.3 VORTEC 4L60E Conversion into a 1978...

[63 & 64 Bowties]

They do look great in an old truck. But what scares the heck outta me is the wiring. I look at these harnesses that come out of the donor truck and it looks like an electrician's nightmare. I envy you guys that can figure these out.
Are you using aftermarket harnesses & ECM's? Does that make it easier? But, they seem very expensive.

[1sik52]

I bought my LS1 for 1500. The price of a LS1 is not as bad as people make them out to be. Yes, there are alot of people out there who think they have a gold mine when they are selling a LS1, but you can find them for anywheres between 1200-2000 all day long. Go look on FEEBAY

[clinebarger]

[QUOTE=Atomsplitter;3634023]Fuel injected motors are all not made the same either. The leap from a 1993 LT1 to a 1994 LT1 is quite dramatic as the horsepower went from 185 to 260 and the gas mileage went UP 22%. The LT1's can be had cheap, like mine for $500 complete, but parts ARE expensive. Oh, and the LT1 still has the provision to drive a regular distributor by simply drilling out the flat at the back of the intake manifold and you can toss the Optispark if you wish (but I suggest using a vented Opti to get rid of any condensation which was their only downfall).

QUOTE]


Were did the 185 HP come from?

94-96 B-body 260HP

92-96 vette 300HP

93-95 camaro 275HP

96 &97 camaro 285HP

96 vette grand sport LT4 330HP

92 & 93 LT1s were batch fire with no MAF sensor, But ratings stayed the same for 94 with the sequential fire injection. these changes were for emissions reasons only. Not to give a engine 75 more horsepower

And about the distributor, you can not use a magnetic pick-up style distributor in place of a optispark. And there is no "flat" at the back of the intake.

I think theres more "myths" going around about LT1s than synthetic oil

[Atomsplitter]

clinebarger,
You are absolutely correct regarding the HP ratings on the LT1's. I keep refering back to the throttlebodied 305 used in the Caprices. Please ignore my post except for the part about the distributor, my buddy installed one on his 1995 LT1.

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by Atomsplitter

clinebarger,
You are absolutely correct regarding the HP ratings on the LT1's. I keep refering back to the throttlebodied 305 used in the Caprices. Please ignore my post except for the part about the distributor, my buddy installed one on his 1995 LT1.

I have never seen a flat at the back of the intake, or a bolt boss for the hold-down. not saying it impossible to install one. Optisparks send out two signals a high resolution and a low resolution to the ECM. I dont know of any other GM distributor that whould mimic a optispark. Or did he change the computer ?