Which engine to go with?

[scherp69]

So I am undecided what engine I should go with. I'm currently building a pro-touring 68 Acadian (exact same thing as a Nova for those that don't know). It will be used 99% of the time on the street with the goal of getting it to the track one day to see how it does. I want a motor that will be as close to or over 500hp as possible. I know I want to do a LS conversion, and here's what I been debating about lately. Keep in mind these are Canadian prices.

Choice one is the GM 480hp LS3 crate engine. I can get it for about $6800 CDN. Engine is all aluminum and comes with car intake. Still would need to get a wiring kit for it.

Choice two is a L92 with cam and intake upgrade putting it to about 525hp. Will run about $7800 CDN. Engine I believe is all aluminum and has LS3 heads. Still would need to get a wiring kit for it.

Choice three is a Mast Motorsports LY6 with 480hp. Can get it with a car intake upgrade for about $8500 CDN. Engine has a cast block with LS3 heads. Comes with the Mast wiring controller which is apparently really easy to hook up. Engine is already broken in on the dyno.

Choice four...help me out if you think there's a better option for around the same pricing.

If you do make a selection or have an opinion, I would really appreciate it if you told me why you think I should go that route. I don't know much about LS engines at all so this is all a learning experience and any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Mkelcy]

Originally Posted by scherp69

So I am undecided what engine I should go with. I'm currently building a pro-touring 68 Acadian (exact same thing as a Nova for those that don't know). It will be used 99% of the time on the street with the goal of getting it to the track one day to see how it does. I want a motor that will be as close to or over 500hp as possible. I know I want to do a LS conversion, and here's what I been debating about lately. Keep in mind these are Canadian prices.

Choice one is the GM 480hp LS3 crate engine. I can get it for about $6800 CDN. Engine is all aluminum and comes with car intake. Still would need to get a wiring kit for it.

Choice two is a L92 with cam and intake upgrade putting it to about 525hp. Will run about $7800 CDN. Engine I believe is all aluminum and has LS3 heads. Still would need to get a wiring kit for it.

Choice three is a Mast Motorsports LY6 with 480hp. Can get it with a car intake upgrade for about $8500 CDN. Engine has a cast block with LS3 heads. Comes with the Mast wiring controller which is apparently really easy to hook up. Engine is already broken in on the dyno.

Choice four...help me out if you think there's a better option for around the same pricing.

If you do make a selection or have an opinion, I would really appreciate it if you told me why you think I should go that route. I don't know much about LS engines at all so this is all a learning experience and any info would be greatly appreciated.

I've gone through a similar process and settled on the GMPP 376/480 with the GMPP wiring harness and the GMPP accessory kit w/o air. The harness is plug and play, comes complete with electronic throttle (aka gas pedal), MAF sensor, wide band O2 sensors, bungs, etc. and is programmed by GMPP for the LS3 with the hot cam installed. With respect to the other tuners out there, this is not GM's first time at the LS3 tuning party.

I also went with the GMPP accessory drive because it was cheap and engineered for daily use in the Corvette. Finally I got the Kwik Sanden AC compressor adapter kit for use with the Corvette accessories and I think I should be good to go. I may upgrade the accessories at some point in the future, but this car is already costing cubic dollars.

Oh, a 2 year warranty on the engine also isn't too shabby assuming GM survives.

[waynieZ]

Sherp69 Check with Frank From Prodigy he had some LS engines for sale even an LS7. Not sure what he's got left but worth a try.
Wayne

[130fe]

Here's another option for you: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-L9...1%7C240%3A1318 The L98- LS2 with LS3 heads and accessories, harness and some other misc stuff. Swap in another cam and you could easily have 500 hp (crank) for less $ than the others.

I bought an L92 crate and am now try to decide whether or not I am going to keep the VVT or not. The one good thing about the mast stuff is the wiring and alot of the bugs are worked out for you. Just depends on how much power you want.

[MattO]

I'm working my way around an L92 right now. Speartech would probably be the first company I would call for a controller and harness.

[scherp69]

Thanks for your input so far guys. I have talked to Frank a few times about engines already and the L92's he has. That's one of the one's I'm debating about with an intake, cam and lifters upgrade. I'm sure if he saw this thread he's probably shaking his head and going "here we go again"

To be honest, the whole LS thing is completely new to me. I don't know what the differences are. I guess what I'm trying to figure out is what makes the L92 a better choice than the LS3, or vice versa, or why's the LY6 a bad choice, etc. I do know that a complete aluminum will definitely keep the weight down. One question I have about the L92....what is VVT and why is that desirable or is it even something I want??

Originally Posted by Sparky67

JThe pricing that you are receiving on the LS3 seems to be a bit high.

Really??? So far I haven't found anyone cheaper. Summit wants $7800 US ($8900 CDN), Jegs wants $7700 US (about $8800 CDN) and Pace Performance wants $6500 US (about $7500 CDN) so really I can get it for about $700 cheaper than any of the big name sellers. As stated I can get it for about $6800 CDN so about $5900 US. If I found it even cheaper, that may make my mind up. The 430hp version seems to run about $450 - $500 cheaper at most places.

It's funny when I was going to go with a good old sbc I had my mind made up, then I had to come on sites like this one and see what the LS engines can do Any other input would be greatly appreciated.

[CamaroPat]

For comparable money, you could run a fairly mild LS engine of some sort (around 400hp) and throw on a supercharger, or electronically boost controlled turbo setup. Turbo kits are still pretty expensive, but the potential is amazing. If your budget needs to remain realistic, there are some fairly economical supercharger kits available. The upshot to this decision would be that if you equipped your supercharger with a quick change pulley system, you could extract a few more pounds of boost for track use or use with higher octane fuel (whether it's race gas or e-85) and with a ten minute pulley swap you'd be back to having very streetable engine. I was going to use a Magnacharger on my '99 TA before I got rid of it. I raced a guy who had one and I lost MISERABLY, easily 1.5/2 seconds in a quarter mile. I talked to him for a few minutes after my beating and he was very pleased with the manners and reliability of the setup. There are other centrifugal supercharger setups worth considering as well. Just a thought.

[tones2SS]

Those newer LS3's are getting GREAT numbers with a maggie supercharger!

[70rs]

Originally Posted by tones2SS

Those newer LS3's are getting GREAT numbers with a maggie supercharger!

Uh, hey buddy. Did you notice the date on the post before yours?
He picked up a L92 and already has it in the car......

Just teasin' ya there pal!

[69MyWay]

I'm rapidly blazing a narrow trail with a 8.1 (496 cube) Chevy Vortec - made from 2001-2006 in the 2,500, 3,500, Avalanche - and other light duty trucks/vans.

Also found up to the current model year in MEDIUM duty trucks and marine applications. Mine came from a 2007 Medium duty truck - think dump truck - school bus.

Why?

1. It is different - I love LS swaps...but they are getting pretty boring.

2. 496 cubes

3. It runs on the same 24 tooth reluctor as a LS engine - and computer. Can go dbw or cable - or run on a stand alone system. You would do everything that you would normally do to install an LS - just substitute the mill for the big block.

4. Has standard old school motor mounts AND LS mounts cast on the block - will bolt into anything - pure universal donor.

5. Roller cam

6. Coil over plugs, sequential port EFI

7. 496 cubes

8. Once piece front and rear seals

9. four bolt main

10. uses standard big block exhaust goodies

11. Will bolt up to ANY GM transmission - standard old school bell housing and can accept a manual flywheel...and transmission - NO problem

12. 496 cubes

13. A decent amount of aftermarket parts - thanks to hot rod boats and hard core truck guys. There are cams, heads, intakes, headers...etc. available from mild to wild

14. 496 cubes

15. Very affordable - as they have not caught on...and might not ever - serving as quite possibly the last Rat motor the general will ever make.


I am wrapping my swap up now into a 69 Vette using a Richmond six speed. When you first see it under the hood you think "My...that is a huge LS engine..." but it isn't an LS engine.

I just swapped a comp HR270 and matching springs with a set of magnum roller rockers - tuning, headers...and CAI.

With a little effort - 400+ hp and 500+ ft lbs is not an issue.

With some extra effort - 500+ hp and ft lbs is totally possible with options to stroke to 9.1

www.raylarengines.com has some goodies - but there are others here and there.

Did I mention 496 cubes? Big blocks rock.