Looking for an LS1 expert. I have an LS1 motor, 6 speed manual from a Firebird. The car will be Street/Strip, weekend fun car. There is so much to learn and a thousand different directions. I need simple and proven results. Needs to run on pump gas, no change bottom end. Turbo, Nitrous are options
I have a few LS-powered vehicles and love the engines but you will get much better information and advice by going to this forum: https://ls1tech.com/forums/ rather than asking for help in the 400/430/455 section of v8buick.com. Good luck.
I go to that site often. A lot of info to work thru. The power plant is new to me. Its not like the Buick 455 or SBC lol
If you need to run on pump gas the turbo or supercharger is out. Buy a good set of heads, change the cam, and put a set of headers on it and beat on it. Been tuning these things since 2005 and have done hundreds of them. I have a turbo set at 10 lbs of boost on my 2002 2500HD and can pull my 14,000 lb 5th wheel down the hyway at 70+ in overdrive. Needs to run on 93 though. Mike
Yeah, we got a few LSs running around here turbo'd or supercharged on 91 pump swill, which is as high of octane as we have. Of course, we're at 3500 feet elevation.
If love to give my yukon 2500 some extra ump, it's on 04 3.73 , only 134k and it wont even roll the tires at stop. I dont tow alot, but if I put 10k on it it's going to have to live above 3k to work
I was agreeing to your comment about 93 being pump gas. We down in the South also have 93. I wasn't aware that 93 was not available in some states.
Option 1 cam, heads, headers drop it in. Option 2 sell your 5.7 liter LS1 and 6 speed since it doesn't fit well in old cars and take the profits and buy a 6.0 or 6.2 (4.8 or 5.3 work just as good and are a dime a dozen) truck motor and automatic and do the sloppy mechanics 600 hp recipe. https://sites.google.com/site/sloppywiki/everything-ls/sloppyguidejunkyardturbols Option 3 drop in the LS1 with a cam and turbo on low boost and go.
I'd lean towards a head and cam package from any of the suppliers I delt with TSP alot ,.Hawks,.Tick,.etc all have proven 550hp ls1 packages that don't require too much rpm,..in a 3k lb chassis with a 430 gear it would scream If that gets old ,..put a 150 wet or dry on it on a window and your butt will pucker guaranteed,..
Get on youtube and check out the "sloppy mechanics" channel. All kinds of LS turbo builds on the cheap. You can expect 600whp out of a simple 4.8 or 5.3 build with a single turbo. Has all kinds of information and his wiki page even has tunes he has done. Edit: just saw that Brandon beat me to it, lol. I live in your general area, and there is E85 available at a lot of Sheetz stations. I would definitely consider that option. Cheap octane.