1/1985 swap to 1986 Turbo LS1 Porvette

I don't think the LS motors are for everyone, and there's certainly more than one way to do things!

I went with the LS motor because i saw lots of people making lots of power, reliably, with pretty good mileage to boot....plus i had the money for it! It's all about the circumstance. I've got nothing but love for any of the different engines that have gone into these cars. I just get tired of hearing the "5.3 is better than the LS1" argument

I'd love to start over with a GN 3.8

Agreed. Nothing but benefit with the LS. It weighs less, has more displacement and still makes lots o powa.

To say you can remove 100# from your car and equate to an LS as a "push" isn't a valid argument. If we take out that same 100#, we're still 100# lighter.

Since this is my track car, that 100# means a lot, particularly over the nose of the car.

I've read that the bare Block wt. difference is a 65lbs give or take from an engine wt scale. I've removed much more weight than that with all the chopping/mods I've done up front. AC delete, cruise delete, hood latch and top radiator brace delete, front bumper delete, shorty headers, windshield washer reservoir delete, Control arm delete LOL, and few other minor mods. If I had a chance to buy a complete 43K mile LS1 fully dressed for $700, I would have went that route, but $700 complete 5.3l compared to $3500 LS1.... Those Damn economics again.
To each his own, I can't wait till my next build....6.0 Iron
OH, you can remove the fold down back rest with 2ea 10mm shoulder bolts for another 15lb reduction

im not saying the 5.3 is better, it just smarter. you want to pour alot of money into ur motor go ahead, each to his own. i know the ls1 got more power, but from the owners i have personally met, they said they rather have the 5.3 build than pour into "money cube". xschop got alot of mods done to his car, got a 5.3 and loves his. ls1 owers are happy, but how many want to up the ante on that motor for more power? i just dont want to see someone pour to much money into an ls1 and it blow up in his face. that all im trying to prevent.

xschop: that sounds more like ~15lbs of weight reduction, especially since half that stuff went back on in another form...unless that cruise control weighs a lot and i don't know it!

Modenas: The LS1 is no more likely to blow up than the 5.3, that's what i'm saying! In fact, from a performance perspective, i would definitely argue that the LS1 is (stock for stock) a much better engineered and much more "heavy duty" (rods, pistons, cranks, bearings) engine.

Why wouldn't i want to up the ante on the motor for more power? There is absolutely no concern in my book about blowing up an LS1. It's a performance engine, and it's built that way! I have personally seen stock bottom-end normally aspirated LS1's making 450+hp, and spraying nitrous on top of that.

Some people go the 5.3 route because of their budget, or because they don't care about the weight difference. Budget wasn't a concern for me and i DO care about the weight difference, so i went with an LS1.

Ditto. I'm not worried about the LS1 blowing up. It'll handle all the power I need to make and then some.

Can't argue with the fact that the 5.3 is cheaper, but I didn't want the additional weight and was able to get a complete LS1 take out with everything I needed for a fair price.

I still laugh at the fools that stick in an LS block, Steel Flywheel and Quicktime BH.
I wonder what the weight difference is between that setup and the 5.3 with the 12.5 lb Fidanza flywheel and C5 alloy BH?
My whole point is I have $3500 in my ENTIRE swap including wheels, tires, monster brake upgrades....and the new Pioneer sound system to boot!......

That's nice, we're all happy for you. I'm happy with my LS motor, as I'm sure other are too.

I am getting right at 30mpg's with the NA tranny and haven't even installed my VSS kit (not sure if mpg's will increase). I'm not knocking the LS engine either, just not promoting it LOL. If you have the earlier LS engine block it has crappier cooling flow as well. It has to be babied to operating temp before getting on it and when something breaks (usually the starter bolt bosses)......toss the block

I'm sure I won't hit that kind of mpg with my 944S2 tranny.

I found an '02 Camaro SS motor, the end of the run usually yields the best motors and this way I get the LS6 intake mani and tbody too.

Get the Brain and harness too so you can plug'n'play

Getting *everything* from that car. Motor, accessories, harness, pcm, maf, etc, etc, etc. Need to find a flywheel, this car has an auto trans. If I can get a lightweight one for a decent amount I will.

The car with the S2 trans should really kick butt....

You can't just go talking about how the LS motor weight difference doesn't matter, then brag about saving 6lbs on your flywheel and another few pounds on your bellhousing...

Thats 12 lbs of rotational weight eliminated. Has anybody put the Quicktime BH on a scale?
Hell has anybody run their car with it yet, last time I heard they still had the TT bolts clocked wrong... The slave depth was wrong too....

Well I started a S#$T fest in here. I went and picked up my block and parts from the shop today. The machine shop can bore the sleeves out 20 over and it should clear up the cylinders.

The kit also includes the whole engine rebuild kit for that 890 option which still seems high. Still searching though.

I am doing my research on other piston options, but I do agree with the idea of a 0-mile engine. I got the raw end of this deal and was lied to. I have pictures to prove it.

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Notice the chucks missing and the melted ring lands. Only two of the pistons are like this, but still something happened before I owned it.

That blows...literally....looks like they were squirting it...or Walmart forgot to add the oil on the "discount" oil and filter special...

Ouch, that's some serious detonation that happened there.

I'll find out shortly about the QT bellhousing, one is going into my car...

I think QT's 21lb spec on the 944 BH is off since they take a 22lb BH and weld about 5 lbs of steel plate to it.
Sorry too for jacking your thread Collin. I'll ask my builder about pistons for you.

dont mind, its funny watching the info.

Let me know on some pistons. I would like to find a discount but it seems it will have to wait until fall semester. I spent the rest of my grant fixing the 99 maxima front end and getting my riding lawn mower working.

This is just one of my projects, its also THE PROJECT!!!

bp944 has a set for sale, i dont know what size but i know he got pistons for sale

Holy Detonation! Thats one abused engine. Wonder if it was boosted?

Have you thoroughly checked the intake for fractures....or a big friggin hole? If your piston looks like that, you must of had high pressure in the intake. Regardless, sorry to see that. Do some checking over at LS1tech for some vendors that can rebuild it for cheaper. Usually a shop with higher volume will charge less...and often, sustained high volume means a good business with references.

I took it to a small shop that I know is good. I have checked the intake, the upper end of the engine looked good. It did have some missing bolts here in there in the heads when I took them apart, so I figured some one had been in it before.

I will have to take my time i guess, since I dont have the full amount to buy pistons too. I will be doing research.

gl, hope it all goes well

This block should fix the flexy skirts....

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