Here ya go...

 

Timeout a minute, I need to whip up a big batch of popcorn.

 

All a function of what you want to do and are willing to spend. All are better options than Blue Oval.

 

Is that cuz you cuss at the LS when it kicks your @zz?

Don

 

Big block = big Knock
Small block= big bucks to step up to big Block
LS= well I hope they were right, and all this adaptation was worth the time/research/resources.
ALL BS aside I kinda wish I could have talked to D Reher himself instead of whoever it was….but that’s done and over.
So….what’s up with that water pump anyway?
I hope that’s resolved and your rolling down the road soon 👍

 

Big block = big Knock
Small block= big bucks to step up to big Block
LS= well I hope they were right, and all this adaptation was worth the time/research/resources.
ALL BS aside I kinda wish I could have talked to D Reher himself instead of whoever it was….but that’s done and over.
So….what’s up with that water pump anyway?
I hope that’s resolved and your rolling down the road soon 👍

Kind of,, new water pump is on, car runs, haven't driven it yet because...... one bad thing leads to another.. while cutting off the Gates power clamp on the heater hose.... I slipped with the razor knife and put a pin hole in my brand new Cold Case radiator, Yes, I really did.... I swear, if it wasn't for bad luck... I'm absolutely beside myself .. seriously.. WTF??????

 

 

Ill take the LSX

 

LTX > LSX

If I had unlimited money, I would go LT, then big block, then LS. LS just doesn't do it for me. Too weak down low.

 

LTX > LSX

If I had unlimited money, I would go LT, then big block, then LS. LS just doesn't do it for me. Too weak down low.

Explain “weak down low”

my LS3/525s and my built LS7/620 are very strong engines. The LSX 454 we put in a friend’s 69 is awesome even if only 700 hp

My son’s LS9 just finished in his 2010 ZR1 is 895 RWHP on the Dyno. Around 1100 HP crank. Very good street manners and over 20 mpg trip.

 

A customer had a 413 built for twin turbos. Right now it pushes nearly 425 horse and the torque is about the same on pump gas and it's carbureted . I'd have to call him to get exact specs. It'll be banging over 1000 hp when the turbos are on but it'll rum just fine as is. I guess that is pretty lame and tired .

 

There is no doubt that today’s modern engine designs like Chevy’s LS series are far superior than the old school engines. If the older designed engines were better the manufacture’s would have stuck with them.

 

All comes down to money and what you want.

500 hp daily driver I’d go LS/LT for dependability and fuel economy. Offset is the initial cost to transform the car.

800+ hp pump gas weekend warrior - BB is probably your only choice.

1,000+ hp all will work but except for monster BB some forced induction needed. All are options at this point.

A car is a combination of parts and a good car has matched items. Big power requires a lot of supporting hardware to be safe and useful. Don’t brag about having 800 hp if you can’t get below 10 in the quarter.

 

I hope you guys all know I started this just for fun. .If I had unlimited funds I would "Tesla" my 68

 

Mine's a BB so of course I'm biased. Nothing wrong with a SB either... some of those 383's are pretty impressive and reliable too. I appreciate the concept of the newer LS converts, but when I open the hood, there's nothing as purty as a dressed BBC. Now if budget wasn't an issue... I wouldn't mind a roadster shop chassis with this BB Hemi-Head beast somehow fitted under the hood. They shoved one in a Nova IIRC, guess it would fit in a Camaro LOL.

Who cares about gas mileage anyway LOL.

Mike

 

Lousy gas mileage translates to a lot more heat which leads to all kinds of problems. Efficiency is key imho….

Don

 

My cute little small block has served me well throughout the years, decided to kick it up a notch. So by choice I vote for LS.

 

My LS3/525s are very street friendly

Obviously you are clueless about LS engines.

 

My LS3/525s are very street friendly
Obviously you are clueless about LS engines.

John,
Your 389 Pontiac engine was great in it's day. Comparable to Chevy's 396.
How would you compare the 6.2L LS which is smaller than the Pontiac 389 ?
Twice as much power ? And I'm not knocking the 389. Modern engines are that much better.

Back in the day engines were rated on the dyno without accessories attached.
Horsepower numbers took a dive in the early 1970's when HP numbers included accessories like alternators, water pumps and fans.
So modern engines are rated lower than they would have been in the 1960's.

 

68rs76z28 : you are not informed about LS engines

All I know is a Gen 1 383 small block with great "fast burn" heads and a 220/230 cam made 435 hp.
The same size LS made 480 hp with the same spec cam, a 45 hp advantage.

So a 378 cubic inch LS (6.2L LS) can make the same hp as a mild 454 (480 hp).

I love BBC's, but I am no fool. The LS kicks the crap out of engines designed 50 years ago.
So what ?
The Big Block Chevy can be cheaply built to cubic inch displacements 540 and above.
It's not as efficient, but it looks better to me and it gets the job done.

I love them both ; a 6.0 LS is in my 68 Camaro and a 489 BBC is in my 67 Chevelle.

Spread the love around IMHO !

 

I went through the same dilemma. I have a 327 68 Camaro not enough power. So I purchased 400 bare block, then purchased a 454 with 286 heads, then purchased a set of 781 heads, sold the 400 block, then I was going to purchase a trick flow top end kit (have not pulled the trigger yet). What I like about the small block it can make power and it is lighter ( with aluminum heads on a big block you can get closer to small block weight). Big block you can make power easy but expensive and heavy. Mind you a big block in Camaro looks great. LS New technology ( I am glad that it only took GM 42 and 32 years sbc and bbc respectively to come up with an engine we would consider putting in our early Camaros - Bravo GM) is much better in many ways. A little more complicated to set up and not as cheap as a sbc. Some people love the look of an LS motor in an early Camaro others do not, just personal preference.

Good Luck

 

While I appreciate the LS engine concept, I've never understood why GM hasn't embraced and stuck with a DOHC V8. Yes, they tried it a couple of times in the past, but how many true performance cars in the world don't have a DOHC power plant? Ford intro'd the DOHC V8 in the '90's IIRC and that has evolved into the Coyote engine. Chevy had a DOHC option in the '90's for the Corvette but gave up on it. Supposedly the 5.5L DOHC C8 Corvette is being developed possibly to compete in LeMans and other major races, but they would have to also offer that engine in at least 300 production cars.

The "old" Corvette DOHC V8.

Ford's modular motor DOHC V8.

 

Big Block = easy to work on, good power, too much weight on the front end
LS = good power but need computers/ecu's to run (and also fail). Looks out-of-place in an older vehicle.
Small Block = light-weight, easy to fix, bazillion parts available, excellent power to weight ratio, light weight on front ends

 

 

Honestly I would convert mine if I could. Electric cars are crazy quick and fun to drive!

 

Electric is the future.

Right now the only thing holding it back is battery technology which is the key.

Elon Musk and others are developing lighter, longer lasting and quicker charging batteries. It won’t be long and you’ll see 500-600 mile range and 10-15 minute charging.

 

With zero environmental impact and no cost for charging? Awesome. Greta will be happy.

 

It is the future but there are a few other problems with electric :charging time, charging locations and plug compatibility. If at a hotel where do you plug in. If at a service station how long does it take, you would need lots of charging stations to accommodate everyone waiting to charge.

 

Electric is in it's infancy, It will grow exponentially in the coming years.

 

Lets not let this turn into another awful political thread. It started as just a good-natured joke-post about Big Blocks, Small Blocks, and LS motors. Its another "Belly-Button Discussion"... everybody's got one but they're all a little different.

Fact: denying that ePower has become a major factor in the automotive scene is not realistic. Someday in the future there'll be a retrofit battery module, probably a two or three piece unit that fits where our gas tank and floor pans currently reside that will provide 500 mile range with a retrofit eMotor that gives you the equivalent of a 500 HP/500 TQ gas motor. Tesla S already has passed the 500 mile range, and the Plaid has 1100 HP?