Engine choice - Gen I SBC vs. LSx

[carbuff]

Hi guys,

I believe this is my first post here, but some of you probably remember me from days of old... I'm starting to plan my next project, and I'm looking for a little input from others of you who may have gone through the same choice...

So, my car will be another 2nd gen Camaro. My question of the moment is, what should I do for a powerplant... It will be backed by a T56 either way, but I'm debating the merits of a LSx style motor against a Gen I SBC...

World Products is now offering an aluminum version of their Motown SBC block. So, depending on the exact pricing, I can probably purchase a 415ci short block for close to the same costs as an LS2 block based 402ci short block. Figuring that most of the rest of the components are going to come out to about the same total costs, I can probably put together roughly similar setups with either as my start point.

The question is this. From everything I read on the LS1/2/6 boards, it seems that you can make a lot of NA power from an LSx based platform pretty easily without radical camshaft timings, etc. I just read about a 402ci LS2 setup that's making in excess of 550rwhp on a 244/250 cam. To me, that's just amazing! I don't know exactly what it would take to get similar numbers from a Gen I SBC, but I bet it would take a good bit more cam and be a more radical motor.

Have others seen the same types of results? And if you were starting from scratch right now, which way would you go? There are some reasons why using a Gen I style SBC would make things a bit easier... (still injected, mind you). But it's hard to overlook the capabilities of the new style engines...

I'm interested to hear what others think about this topic...

Bryan

[XcYZ]

Hi Bryan. I definitely remember you and your car. I still have pictures of it stashed somewhere on my computer, it was an awesome color combo.

Getting to the motor, that's a tough one as there are a lot of different ways to approach it. However, there's NO disputing how awesome the LSx is. If I had to start from scratch on a motor right now, I'd most likely do a big bore LSx. As you pointed out, it's just amazing what's being done with that package. It's lightweight, parts are just about as easy to find as parts for a SBC, and you are ahead of the game when in comes to the EFI. If you plan on having fuel injection anyways, I'd do the LSx.

My next project will have an LS7 with boost.

[DCreations]

Welcome bryan

Are you planning on running some big meats out back?

I say go with the lsx style motor.

[camcojb]

Hey buddy! I agree with the above, the LSX engines have great heads that can really flow with some port work. That and the light weight is very cool. If it was an all-out race motor I'd lean towards the standard small blocks, but for a 450-500 rwhp n/a deal I like the ls setup.

I would be very curious how he got 550 rwhp n/a; my big blocks never made that much, and although they were not race engines they were pretty stout.

Jody

[[email protected]]

i say the LSX. right now i have a 2000 z28 with a 231/237 tsp grind cam with about everysingle bolt on you can put on it and i put down 387.9 hp and 362 tq N/A and with some more time with hptuners or ls1edit i really think we can hit the 400 mark no problem. if i could do it all over id mimic my setup but with a lunati rot assembly and a set of afr 205's with a 300shot

[Blown353]

I'll echo what others have said-- if I was starting from scratch, I'd go LSX. Big time factory engineering development dollars spent on that engine that no aftermarket manufacturer can match, very efficient cathedral port heads, etc. With the adapter plates for the motor mounts being a dime a dozen, modifed oil pans and headers available from several outfits to drop them into early chassis, it makes the decision a pretty easy one IMO.

Even though I would favor the LSX, if you were going to go aluminum SBC, I'd lean more towards a Dart block. I've seen the World Products / Motown offering, and while a nice piece it's not up to par compared to the Dart pieces when it comes to casting and machining quality. It's not a bad block, but you can do better for just a little bit more.

Troy