New LT1 Engine

[transam93]

I was looking at a new engine for my trans am. I have a stock lt1 in the car right now. Now my question is, is it cheaper to rebuild my engine, or should i just buy one from goleen performance engines? I saw lt1/383 and it was pushing 440 ftlbs of torque for about 6k. What's your guy's opinion?

[wrightz28]

It is way cheaper to rebuild what you have, heck even to have it outfitted to a stroked 383 ci. and it will still only cost a fraction of 6g

[poormillionaire2]

I think it depends on what else you do with the rebuilt. Usually, people who go with a stroker kit also like to add upgrades, like heads, cam, and bolt-ons to get the most out of their engine. And stuff like that can exceed the amount of an already-built motor. Sometimes, its just cheaper and a more cost-effective route to go with a stroker crate engine.
GMHTP magazine did a budget LS1 stroker rebuild to measure the cost of doing it yourself on a budget vs buying a stroker motor. But they did everything themselves, except the machine work, and included the cost of tools needed for the project, as well as buying some top-shelf parts (such as a FAST 90mm intake manifold w/ TB). Everything they did came out to about $15K. Now you could find a good stroked LS1 for less and put out the same, if not more power.
I'm not saying that your experience will be the same, but it all depends on what else you want to do with it.

[ikeyballz]

personally id go with the brand new LT1, im sure they have some sort of warranty on it..and its easier to build on something already good. it better be putting out some mean power tho, for 6..

imho, id go for a engine with prebuilt with awesome internals.. and nos or supercharge the snaps out of it ;]

[wrightz28]

LT1's are considerably less than LS1's. And to have the current exsisting motor bored, decked and brought back to like new condition shouldnt be all that much anywhere even in the vicinty of 1/4 of $6,000 The car itself isnt even worht worth that.

[transam93]

Well i was looking at the 3rd one down from the top:

http://golenengineservice.com/html/lt1_lt4.html

[transam93]

Originally Posted by wrightz28

LT1's are considerably less than LS1's. And to have the current exsisting motor bored, decked and brought back to like new condition shouldnt be all that much anywhere even in the vicinty of 1/4 of $6,000 The car itself isnt even worht worth that.

I check the blue book value and it was going for 5k. The car only has about 98k miles.

[poormillionaire2]

Originally Posted by wrightz28

LT1's are considerably less than LS1's. And to have the current exsisting motor bored, decked and brought back to like new condition shouldnt be all that much anywhere even in the vicinty of 1/4 of $6,000 The car itself isnt even worht worth that.

Yeah, but if he wants to add a stroker kit, from say, Lunati or something, that's ~$2500. Plus, if he wanted to add a cam or heads, that would be more. But, I agree, just a rebuild, or a stroker rebuild would be cheaper than a stroker crate, but I was taking into consideration some of the extras that people like to along with it. It just depends on everything he wants.

[wufpak18]

i would just build what you have. the numbers they are throwing out are at the flywheel, not to the rear wheels. you could get so much more than 440 at the flywheel for so cheaper than 6k. if it was me, build what i got.

[FormulaLT1]

Build yourself a 383 LT1. You will put that crate motor to shame.

[2.2 Straight six]

think about it, you buy that crate engine and you're paying for a new block and all that.

rebuilding and upgrading is cheaper, you've got the base, all you're doing is adding and reworking.

[goldz28]

If your going to put down 6grand buy a LS7 from texas-speed. They are just over 6grand built for ya. LS7

[poormillionaire2]

LS7 is pretty sweet, except its a shortblock. So he would have to buy heads, valvetrain, etc. Not to mention he'd have to make room for the dry sump oiling system.

[gmack221]

while the timing of just dropping a long block into the car works out nicely (if its your only car), I'd rebuild your block, either yourself or by a good preformance shop in your area. Most shops will build a long block for little money for you, plus if the wrong parts get shipped they get it taken care of, but you will pay a little more for the parts going thru them. talk to some local racers (drag or dirt track), they will know who does a good job for a decent price, then go see the shop they recomend, if they will not take you on a tour & show you the machines that do the work they are not the shop for you to take your motor to. If you like what you see & it seems like they know what they are doing sit down with them tell them what you want your motor for & what parts your thinking of putting in it, they can write you up an estimate and talk about timing they will need for the work to be done.

Or you can do the assembly & save some money if your capible. Either way you should be able to get the 440 crank hp out of a rebuild & have the long block built for you (and painted) for way less then the $6K ... most shops will paint the block for you for free if you take them the paint, that way your block is painted & the freeze plugs aren't. They should have a clean room where they rebuild motors, & its done by someone who has done hundreds if not thousands of motors before.