the ls engine debackle

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by HO455

Sounds like a perfect engine for a Vega wagon or a Monza Mirage.

https://barnfinds.com/ultimate-itali...-monza-mirage/

Thanks.

All I have to do is find someone who is rebuilding one of those and needs a good engine....

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by BCOWANWHEELS

What alot of folk dont realize about modded ls engines is if you change them in any way without a reprogram it will throw a code. Once you reprogram it you have to return it to that programmer because he,s the only 1 who knows what he did. Its cost adds up real quickly. Yes i,am building a early style lt1 right now for my 72 c10 low rider

That is exactly why I bought the HP Tuners kit and learned how to tune mine myself. I can now change anything I want at any time.

LockDoc

[HO455]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

I had a '72 Vega wagon that I put a 305 in. That thing was a blast! One of my younger sisters bought a '77 Monza new with the 305 in it. That was pretty fast, too, even with all the emissions equipment.

In 1982 I was 12 hours away from buying a Mirage when a guy on the boat I was stationed on came up and said he wanted to sell his GTO and wanted to know if I was interested. I never looked back and I still have that Goat today.
I had test driven the Mirage. It was a 305 manual tranny car and I remember it being fun to drive

[special-K]

You can also can the computer and run a carb on an LS

[BCOWANWHEELS]

Just because you have a carb you still need a computer

[Heavymetl]

The stock ECU and HPTuners has become antiquated with the newer Holley EFI kits.
Much easier tuning, flexibility, wiring, and features for minimal extra expense.

Once again, there's no magic in EFI either. Just good software engineering that controls the physics of engine operation. There's certainly a learning curve, but that curve exists for every aspect of gearhead life. One just has to dive in and get to business!

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by HO455

In 1982 I was 12 hours away from buying a Mirage when a guy on the boat I was stationed on came up and said he wanted to sell his GTO and wanted to know if I was interested. I never looked back and I still have that Goat today.
I had test driven the Mirage. It was a 305 manual tranny car and I remember it being fun to drive

What year goat? In '72 I had a '65 post car with a 4 speed and 4.33 posi rear gears. That thing was scary off the line! The body was a rolling total because the guy before me only drove it slightly worse.
Pretty sure I only paid $80 for it. I wouldn't mind having it now.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by special-K

You can also can the computer and run a carb on an LS

You can also use a regular distributor along with the carb on an 8.1 496 engine.

Originally Posted by BCOWANWHEELS

Just because you have a carb you still need a computer

Not with the 8.1 496 you don't. You can use a regular distributor on them if you buy the aftermarket carburetor intake manifold. You might have to use a stand alone transmission controller depending on which transmission you use.

I don't know about the other later engines though.

LockDoc

[BCOWANWHEELS]

You can throw 1000 bills at any engine and make is work but why. Like i said ls engines are rich guy engines and those junk yard engines are just that...............

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

You can also use a regular distributor along with the carb on an 8.1 496 engine.



Not with the 8.1 496 you don't. You can use a regular distributor on them if you buy the aftermarket carburetor intake manifold. You might have to use a stand alone transmission controller depending on which transmission you use.

I don't know about the other later engines though.

LockDoc

The 8.1 is a huge exception in my book to my feelings on production big blocks from the early-mid 70s thru 2000. The 8.1 I had in my old 2001 suburban was actually quite respectable. Torque for miles and miles. It ran out of breath above 4500-5,000 rpms but that was a mute point with all the glorious stump pulling low end torque. Gas mileage wasn’t great but what do you expect with 496 cubes. I’d have another 8.1 in a heartbeat. I actually had an 06 regular cab 1 ton 8.1/ally that I was gonna part out and use the engine trans with an NP205 and the 11.5 AAM in my 3100. Money got a little tight and I had to let it go in one piece unfortunately.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by BCOWANWHEELS

You can throw 1000 bills at any engine and make is work but why. Like i said ls engines are rich guy engines and those junk yard engines are just that...............

You may not take the time to read this but those “junk yard engines” can be pretty damn impressive.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrdp...g-bang-theory/

Like I said before I love the old small block motors and some of the old big blocks too, I really do. I’ve had several of them and no major failures. The LS stuff just takes the GM small block to a whole other level. If you know anything about there architecture, they are a Chevy hotrodders dream and ford and dodges worst nightmare.

I’ll be about $1500-$2000 all in on my ls swap when it’s all said and done including a cam swap and a complete reseal. With the things I’m doing to the motor I should be pretty close to 500 crank hp and I’m hoping for between 420-440 to the wheels all with a truck cam that will still make the bottom end torque. Pretty respectable and still totally completely useful as a truck. I’m definitely not rich as you put it. I do all my own work and spend my money wisely.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

Then pay a tuner and dyno time on top

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by BCOWANWHEELS

Then pay a tuner and dyno time on top

Tuning it myself, already have hp tuners for my Camaro. For that build i don’t plan to Dyno. It’s a 3/4 ton 4x4 not a race car. The numbers I mentioned are just what I think it should run all things considered. I likely will never know for sure.

[wesmigletz]

I’ve been contemplating a LS or LT swap on my 67 SWB for years and have most of what I need to do the swap, including a Tanks inc 69 Camaro EFI tank to install under the bed. The 283/2bbl, 4 spd 3.73, no PS, no AC, 4 wheel manual drum brakes has been great, and I’ve driven it coast to coast and up and down the West coast. Unfortunately, the truck is getting beyond tired. The engine is dripping like the 7th fleet pulling out of Subic Bay, the tranny doesn’t shift like it used too, and the rear diff started making noise.

I’ll be adding disc brakes, a new Lares quick ratio PS box, rebuilding the front suspension and rear end. I have stock Moog springs to go in, and I’ll replace my 10 year old gas magnum shocks with new ones. I’ve been putting off the PS and PDB because I don’t want to change the nature of what the truck is.

As far as engines go, I have a L92 6.2 with a Tick stock stall cam, a completely stock, low-mile L76 truck engine w/ a 6L80E,a complete ZL1 blower assembly, a fresh 385 SBC with a light weight 4340 3 3/4” crank, 6.0 H beam rods, light weight forged pistons, a Bullet HR cam, AFR heads, ported strip dominator with runner extensions, and a Holley sniper EFI. I also have the original 350 from our 70 Blazer... but I can’t convince myself that I want any of them in my “old man’s” truck.

[special-K]

I think we have gotten to the root of this whole debacle. Bob doesn't like the LS engines, doesn't want one, isn't going to use one, is going to run a small block, and just wanted to let everyone know. I can understand that. He's not alone.

So, what do we take away from this extensive discussion on the matter? Two things. One is the fact that the engines discussed are all good engines. And I'll add you won't be disappointed in any of them. The other thing we take from this is you can run any doggone engine you want and don't owe a sole any explanation. And I'll add to that, if anybody doesn't like that they can kiss you where the sun don't shine.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I was much younger and just did my own thing. Long before the internet where opinions get read and spread like wildfire as fact. I had a '71 K/20 307/4spd/4.57 posi. The p.o.s. fiber timing gear wore out and before I could replace it with a double roller set the chain jumped. Like I said, I didn't know any better. I just thought Chevy small blocks from 265-400 were all good motors, since they are all the same design. I never heard people call the 283 a p.o.s., in fact it seemed people loved those little mouses.

This was my work truck and I had a couple little kids to feed. The truck needed fixed yesterday! It had clackity clackin' valvetrain, so first I tried new pushrods. Nope, worse, bent valve or two. Well, you don't just do a top end on a small block at 120k, so I tore it down to overhaul. I was happy with how the motor moved the truck using a little less fuel than a 350, but I can't touch a motor without wanting to add power. So after the machine shop cleaned, inspected, and mic'd, I went about building a little V8 that needed no machining other than hone some fresh crosshatch. I wanted added torque while gaining better fuel consumption. A crower RV cam, a set of 64cc/1.94 exh heads, iron intake, Holley 450cfm spread bore, HEI w/lighter springs & heavy weights, dbl roller, Melling hi-volume oil pump, and headers. It was a peppy little thing that was a ball to drive, especially off road 4wd. It hauled the utility body/pipe rack, tool toting, material and scaffold/ladder hauling 37/14.50 rollin' beast down the hiway at 15 mpg or more like 13 most times due to mixed driving, including mud slinging across building lots to where we'd set up to hang siding. I felt I built the ultimate siding man's rig. We called it The Big Bad Green Siding Machine and guys all around knew that truck as awesome. I got asked all the time "What's in it?", and then "Hmmm" after they heard "307". I'm sure glad I never heard it's a waste of time rebuilding a 307 because I have nothing but great memories and no regrets when I think about it.


When in my planning stage, at the machine shop, I ran my plan by the one owner, Dave Coleman of Coleman Bros Speed Shop. He liked, confirmed my thoughts, and approved. He wanted to dyno it but I hit the ground running once back together. I had siding to hang!

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by special-K

I think we have gotten to the root of this whole debacle. Bob doesn't like the LS engines, doesn't want one, isn't going to use one, is going to run a small block, and just wanted to let everyone know. I can understand that. He's not alone.

I agree and I think at this point he is just trolling so I am going to close the thread. It has pretty much run it's course. If anyone sees a reason to re-open it PM me and let me know.

Thanks,
LockDoc