Road Race Camaro.. TT Block Choice?
 

Im building a 69 camaro with a max-g chassis frame. Its going to be a road course/street car. My goals is ~1000fwhp using and ls platform and twin turbos backed by a paddle shifted 4l80e.

Here is the pickle Im in. At that power level I have 3 choices of blocks..

1) GMPP Iron LSX --$2g ---- about 215lbs after machining
2) ERL prepped LS2 http://www.erlperformance.com/ -- $5200g ready for crank ----about 115 lbs after machining
3) LQ9/LQ4 6.0 liter truck block -- about $600 --- about 175lbs after machining

I would love to have an aluminum block since the tt setup will add even more weight but the price is a little extreme. Figuring a machined lsx block will be around 2600, the ERL prepped block is twice as much, another 2600.

Afer maching the LQ9/LQ4 will be about 1g and the ERL prepped block will cost me 4200 more.

Whats your opinion? I dont need to break any records, but I would like to be competitive in the road course. Iron or aluminum over the nose of the car?

having aluminum is HUGE, but so is 2600 in my pocket. if you have the money go for it. if not, try to move the engine as far back as possible and call it good.

its really hard to justify weight, but think about all the extra weight youre adding with the turbos and plumbing. whats another 100 lbs........

considering that the 6.0 iron block can hold 1000hp the lsx isnt exactly needed and adds more weight..

so its more like a 4g price difference between the lq9/lq4 and the erl prepped ls2.

Ive read that lingenfelter has gotten 1000hp out of stock ls7's.. only other cheap aluminum alternative

thats actually the ERL prepped block with new liners, 2 more bolt holes and a thicker deck.

If only it wasnt so expensive I would jump on it.

The lsx block being $2600 and able to hold 2000hp is awful tempting even though its about 80lbs heavier than the ERL ls2.

The iron 6.0 seems like a bargain at 700 for a new block but you are pretty much limited to 1000, 1100 hp.

I don't think you need an aftermarket block at 1000 hp, Kurt (W2W) had no problem with my stock LS2 block at that level. Still doesn't as he's spec'd another for Troy at 800 rwhp with the stock LS2 block, no ERL prep, nada.

My two cents................. :yes:

Jody

im having several thoughts on this... the first is that if 2600 is a huge deal... twin turbos propably isnt the right choice.... which leads me to the second argument, that twin turbos, while trick and cool, propably isnt the right choice anyway, if you want to go track, you need to be concerned about weight... very concerned, and adding pounds is like subtracting horsepower, not to mention tirewear and poor handling.....

my bet is that if you built a light weight camaro, aluminum/CF front end, power nothing!!! manual tranny (possibly a sequential race unit) lightweight driveline and a race spec LS7 (which will be closer to 750-850 FWHP depending on how much "race" you want...) you will be able to do faster laps than with a 1000 FWHP 4l80e monster... (a 4l80e weighs 254 lbs wet!!!) a TT setup propably adds well over 100 lbs...

and a kinsler IR setup on a built LS7 in an engine compartment that screams race is just as impressive! even more so IMHO!

anyway... thats just my 2 cents...

You've had no problems? No head gasket problems, pushing water, or strength of the aluminum at the power level. 1000fwhp seems like a lot for a stock sleeved aluminum block.


I wouldnt mind paying 2600 more if that is what is required but over at ls1tech, is seems like the erl prepped block is more for 1/4 miles cars running way more than 1000fwhp. It just seems that a stock ls2/ls7 or lq9 would suffice for the power levels I want.

Im not building a dedicated track car as I want to have a/c, decent sound system, power brakes, power steering. I just want to run it around the track and be competitive.

After the feedback I got over here and at ls1tech I have it narrowed it down to...

-->nasty NA ls7 matched with a t56. are you talking about the clutchless jericho and liberty trannys? (how do you figure 850hp NA ls7?) I would be more than happy with that but I havent seen any NA with that kinda power.

-->a turboed ls2 with a 4l80e paddle shifted.
-->a supercharged ls2 with a t56 (little better on weight)

Lets hear opinions between these.

Thanks again for all your feedback. Appreciate it.

Just thinking about a supercharged ls7 as it has dry sump oiling.. would be light, dry sump oiling and since its not turboed I can back it with a lighter t56.

MTI Racing has put an eaton tvs blower on an ls7 and made over 800fwhp.

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/corvet...ti-racing.html

Katech makes an Air Attack ls7 with a magnuson up top that makes 750hp.. should be too bad to bump it up to 800 and change.

http://blogs.gmhightechperformance.c...ine/index.html

Procharger claims 820rwhp with a F1 on a modified ls7

http://www.procharger.com/C6_LS7.shtml

Sorry if it looks like Im going back and forth, I just wanna get every option out there and hear everyone's feedback.

for track duty.. the throttle response of a positive displacement blower and a manual tranny will work and feel much better... it will feel less "nice" and more aggressive than a turbo and a paddle shifted auto.. but it depends on what feel you want... magnusson LS7 and t56 is a totally different animal from a twin turbo & auto.....

thanks for the feedback. I think I was trying to do too much with one car... hence the high hp twin turbo and the auto tranny. tryin to make it a good road course car and good 1/4 mile car all at the same time.

ls7 with a blower is a much lighter and easier setup then a twin turbo ls2/lq9.

Not worrying about 1/4 time and consistency, the t56 is an easy choice since its more fun and lighter.

Thanks again guys. Any suggestions on blowers, procharger, kenne bell, eaton?