lsx vs sb you decide
 

if you had a choice which would you pic. an lsx motor great motors but every body is doing it these days. or 400 sb with a fuel injected magncharger a little differant. hp and about the same. ls with better idle, 400 chopper muscle car idle. i wish i knew how to take a poll. thanks anthony

LSX all the way

Everyone's doing a LSX conversion because of the better driveability, fuel economy, etc. The heads have better flow numbers and easy to upgrade hp numbers with tuning. Go with LSX.

sparky that is perfect but i dont have the funds to do both anthony

Since you're starting from scratch and appear to have enough of a budget to afford an LSx engine, go with the LSx engine. It's that much better to deal with overall than a built SBC. To me the simple things like how easy it is to replace parts and to not deal with temperamental gaskets like those found on a SBC are worth it.

LS all the way. Once you see the light, there's no going back. :thumbsup:

Anthony, I added a poll for ya...and voted LSx!!

anthony thank for the poll....... no love for the sb!!!!

LSX seems to be the way to go now that it has such an aftermarket support. An LSX of the same power as a SBC would be much more streetable and reliable. If I didn't have so much $ wrapped up in my SBC I would be doing a LS motor myself!

Its simply a matter of goals. If your going to stay below 550 hp and your on a serious budget. Go Gen 1 parts are cheap an their is no hidden conversion cost's.
If you have 600 hp goals then the LS is the only way to go and you should realize that these goals will cost you.

for me the cost is about 12 grand. 6K for a GTO dropout (this includes trans)
4K for a supercharger and 2 K for mounts headers and Misc stuff.


Now can you build a 600 hp Gen 1 for that sure.. but not a stable one. Once you get to these numbers you need to go with a Dart block which are 1400.-2k easy. Add in a set of 3K Afr's and a 1K cam lifter rocker combo, 3 k on the efi 2 K on crank rods pistons. Quick math puts you at the same numbers with no trans pluse $$ for a charger and cooler (no cooler for blow through BTW).... it adds up fast... and at the end of the day you wont have 18 degree heads or an alum block.....

so far we have 135 views and only 16 - 17 votes. come on vote, your vote could help me deside sell my sbc parts and buy an LS motor over magnacharger. i was thinking of doing the 400 sbc. id also like to see pics of your engine bays .thanks anthony

Anthony perhaps if you outlined your goals, HP,TRQ, and Use it would encouraged people to respond.

Cause its pretty much a no brainier if you want a 600 hp car with good drive ability the clear choice is LS.
If you goal is sub 575 lets say and its a limited use car then its a new discussion. I have milled this over so many times on paper and in my head while making this decision myself

The ultimate in my opinion is either an injected big block or a LSX. LSX is really reliable cheap power.

Todd I dont know but often wonder what the weight difference is between the vatious motors. I assume a BB is a could hundred pounds heavier.

If its not. I just saw a Procharged BB here for dirt cheap... lots of potential there

i am making the car a pro touring car with stance and handling take it to the local car show etc drive it on weekends. i estamite the 400 when built would make around 450 hp not too agressive and a supercharger would make around 560-580 hp. i have a new roller comp cam.edlebrock etek 200 heads. but with the cost of the supercharger machine shop cost. could still get a LS motor from frank at gp. that my dilemna. thanks Anthony

Very common delema. keep in mind that at those levels your pushing a stock block. Under boost .. your asking for a headache. I was in the exact same spot.

Here is my plan sold the heads, intake carb MSD hearders and various other SBS stuff, also sold the Bell housing, seling the trans (4 spd) end of day made around 2k.

Phase 1 GTO drop out 6k 400 very reliable HP, Phase 2 magna charger, 550-600 very reliable hp. Not pushing the limits of the hardware.

Now if you were to lower you HP numbers then you can be safe at the 500 hp mark.. For you edescribe use that is a good number and very achievable with you Gen1.

My advise start with the motor with the most potential the LS

In my book, your wasting your time and money with what is avalible today by building a SBC. LSX unless you just need big block torque. I doubt you will ever see an LSX out do and big block. no replacement for displacement. Except in mileage.

Just remember that the LSX has about 50 years of engineering development over the first gen. Improvements on all fronts. Think of where TV's were 50 years ago compared to today. Which would you choose?

This is what I have to say,

Three years ago when I started my motor setup there was very little in the aftermarket parts area, even valve covers were few and far between. I hate the way that a LSX looks stock. so I went with a SBC and a procharger, EFI. I like it, but if I was to build a something today, I would just get a tricked out LS7 with a bunch of sheet metal parts and call it a day.

i agree 100 percent stock ls1 look like sh!t i think i hate the factory intake manifolds and coil setup unless they are moved. BUt dressed up they look bitchin and deliver excellant power.

how much hp do's a stock L92 make. what would it take make 570-600hp same with the LS7. thanks

I have to say that you might not want to get sucked into the madness around here either. If you have a bunch of money tied up in your small block combo, then use it. You can get caught up in chasing the biggest, newest, greatest thing around here. Ask me how I know. At the end of the day you are going to lose your ass on used parts. I'd go LSX over a small block but not if it strains you financially. If you want to feel better about the small block, go post the poll over on Camaros.net. LOL

X2
and to add to the cost of the aftermarket part is still very high IMHO,headers is a good example.

If the OP is anything like me he will get the need for more so the LS brings more potential to the table. Believe me I fight this arguemnt in my head all the time. I am a long time SBC guys who has been in the small block camp forever. Its tough to make the jump

LS.:thumbsup:

it looks like most of you would purchase an LS motor. I think the sbc with a efi supercharger would look a little different to what most everybody else is doing. knowing I don't have the finance to up grade the LS by much after the purchase. and i think 500 or so hp may not brake any records but will be fine for me. and you know something bigger, faster, newer always show up at the shows to take your trophy. I thank everybody for your input, keep voting like to see the result.

supercharged ls2 550hp@ with the lsx you will miss that s/c whine ( its a mad max thing):)

Tough Call
 

I'm in the same boat as you Anthony. My car will only be a car show car or a weekend warrior and not driven much as well, so I see your question.
I LOVE the sounds of a SB or BB, but these LSx engines are just screaming for performance parts. Intake, headers and full exhaust and you're on your way to some serious horsepower gains. Never mind cam swaps and of course, tuning!!:_paranoid :unibrow:
GOOD LUCK!:lateral: :cheers:

You can make serious power with any of these. Sure, LSx platform puts up good numbers and you get EFI to boot. If starting with nothing, then LS crates are good options. However, you can still build a solid SBC or BBC for similar money minus the EFI. Typically those will be built with all forged internals which isnt' the case with LS crates.

I have a big investment in BBC stuff so that is why I'm sticking with that. I love the LS stuff but not enough to eat a huge loss. I also love the BBC sound :-). Not to mention so many people are dumping new BBC and SBC stuff now just to get on the LS bandwagon that you can get some really good deals. On the flip side, don't try and sell any SBC/BBC parts in this market :( .

John

from the choices above, definetely go LSx. you can go anywhere from a stock 350hpLS1 to a 620hp LSX454 crate up to 2500hp+ built engine with forced induction/nitrous. there are reports of the 4th gen camaros getting 28mpg on hwy with ls1/t56 combo, very respectable IMO.

i would go LSx under any circumstances unless you were either building a drag-only car or a show-only car, then it'd be a forced induction (of some sort) BBC. but for driveability purposes, LSx all the way.

for HP to displacement numbers with equal driveability, NOTHING beats the LSx.

I am Johnson deep in a small block 400 stroker. I would do an LS motor any day over a SBC.

just checking in to see if every body changed there mind for the old Chevy small block. it seems to be going the way of the dinosaur. every body is making a very strong point for the LS motor and really its hard to find any fault with your logic as spoke would say.............thanks .......Anthony

How about both? Doesn't Bill Mitchell The Engine Shop make a hybrid that uses standard SBC bottom with LS heads?? Probably more expensive than just going with the LS.

Vintage look = SBC

Close the hood and drive it= LS

As much as it kills me to say LSX

LOL!!!:_paranoid
Those new LS3's that are in the 2010 Camaro are wicked!!:yes: It's already @ 426 HP @ the crank.
Throw on a full exhaust, a cold air intake and a tune and you get a 50 horsepower gain?!!?! WOW!!
I can only imagine what a cam/heads/intake package would do!!!:_paranoid
I do LOVE the sound of a BBC though. CANNOT BEAT IT!

Lsx
 

One with a F-1 Pro Charger is even better.

VERY NICE!!!:cheers:

Lsx
 

I'd say LSX all the way - look forward not back!:bow:

Big block. I know it's not on the list of choices for the poll. Big block.:D

LOL!!!!
Nothing says muscle like a BBC!:cheers:

Turbo SBC...

Can't help but play devils advocate. :unibrow: