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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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someone enlighten me

  • Thread starter Thread starter BlackVert
  • Start date Start date Aug 22, 2004

BlackVert

15 Year Member
Oct 3, 2003
5,589
9
98
Bethesda, MD
Aug 22, 2004
#1
  • Aug 22, 2004
  • #1
i have read many threads about ls1s and lt1s and they all say they are better on the top end and ours are better on the bottom end. they also have more cubes than ours do. i have also read that as a general rule, more cubes usually means better lower end and worse top end than engines with less cubes.

so why are the lt1 and ls1 better up top? what can we do to get more top end power like those? is it the runner length?
 

super302

I'd do anything for free Bapples
May 29, 2004
2,878
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0
Davenport, IA
Aug 22, 2004
#2
  • Aug 22, 2004
  • #2
cubes isn't as big of a deal in this day and age, its about technology

It is true they are more top end, the ls1's have a mean bottom and top end both.
 

stang_gt_1994

Founding Member
Mar 21, 2002
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Powder Springs, GA (30 min. from Atlanta)
Aug 22, 2004
#3
  • Aug 22, 2004
  • #3
LS1 perform so well in the top end because the heads actully flow, unlike our cars. And for the cube question, if you had two motors with the same heads, cam, and intake and one was 302ci and one was 331ci, the 331 would make more torque.
 
M

mackey

Active Member
Jan 25, 2003
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Beverly, Massachusetts
Aug 22, 2004
#4
  • Aug 22, 2004
  • #4
Just to let you know, that with a new cam on a LS1 you can gain alot of power. I think it was anywhere from 60-80hp without touching the heads or intake.
 

BlackVert

15 Year Member
Oct 3, 2003
5,589
9
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Bethesda, MD
Aug 26, 2004
#5
  • Aug 26, 2004
  • #5
stang_gt_1994 said:
LS1 perform so well in the top end because the heads actully flow, unlike our cars. And for the cube question, if you had two motors with the same heads, cam, and intake and one was 302ci and one was 331ci, the 331 would make more torque.
Click to expand...
but even our cars that have heads that flow well, like trickflow or afr, also talk about the ls1's taking over on the high end, don't they?
 

Rootus

Officially Addicted
Feb 8, 2003
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Aug 26, 2004
#6
  • Aug 26, 2004
  • #6
Black96VertGT said:
but even our cars that have heads that flow well, like trickflow or afr, also talk about the ls1's taking over on the high end, don't they?
Click to expand...
Who wins on the big end is whoever has the most horsepower and can stay in that part of the power band (and aerodynamics helps). An LS1 has 42 more cubes to work with, and a good one puts down about the same peak horsepower to the wheels *stock* as I do with all my mods. But I bet his torque curve is wider, so it's easier for him to stay up in the peak horsepower area. But even so, I would expect to take most stock LS1's handily with my current setup, and I don't think he'd ever catch up.

Dave
 

WhiteDevil

New Member
Feb 4, 2003
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San Diego
Aug 26, 2004
#7
  • Aug 26, 2004
  • #7
Yeah that boggles me too. I had a run with a lid, ypipe, catback, Tbody LS1 SS camaro on the freeway from 75-120 and we ran dead even the whole time. And i raced an LS1 T/A with at least exhaust from a stop which i took by a car or two. I always hear how they put out as much power as us H/C/I guys stock. So why can i beat stock ones by a couple cars, and go head to head with modded ones. Technically i shouldnt. Weird stuff.
 

nmcgrawj

Advanced Member
Sep 28, 2003
3,651
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68
Indianapolis, IN
Aug 26, 2004
#8
  • Aug 26, 2004
  • #8
super302 said:
cubes isn't as big of a deal in this day and age, its about technology
Click to expand...


Too bad they have cubes AND technology. If you had to pick either or, technology would win. But the combination is the best in my opinion

WhiteDevil So why can i beat stock ones by a couple cars, and go head to head with modded ones. Technically i shouldnt. Weird stuff.
Click to expand...

Yea that is true, the only thing i can think of is a weight difference.
 

mo_dingo

20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 26, 2003
3,031
2
58
Tucson, AZ
Aug 27, 2004
#9
  • Aug 27, 2004
  • #9
They only dyno around 260-280 to the wheels, depending on the car.

If your torque curve is peaked and flat around 3800-6000, you should smoke the LS1, if you can hook & shift well.

It seems everyone thinks that the LS1 is unbeatable, and godly.

Back to the original post. The LT1 has 250 fwhp and the LS1 has 300/320FWHP. This means the torque curve is definately very good at higher rpm's for a stock motor. Too bad parts are so expensive!
Scott
 
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