worth the build??

[DirtBike1128]

hey, so im a total newb, dont even have a car yet (i will in like 3 months) but i wanted to start looking now. i know that the GSR is, well, better (to say the least) than the LS, but its also harder to find and more expensive (unless its got a ton of miles). ok, first of all, im not looking to rice my car out, i would never b cought dead putting a wing on a fwd (but i mean no offence to those that do). I do however want POWAH. aFter hearing me babble incoherently, is it worth rebuilding the LS motor? id b preparig for a turbo kit in the future (my goal is 300+ HP).

-thanks

[lordvektra]

I would say it is, if you want to turbo and you have a clean start the LS is better to go with than the GSR because the compression is less. If you have the money to spend and the time to put into it I think you can do a lot more with a LS than a GSR, just more room to work with IMO.

[IntegraBoy2003]

Go with the LS

[Spectre927]

Originally Posted by DirtBike1128

hey, so im a total newb, dont even have a car yet (i will in like 3 months) but i wanted to start looking now. i know that the GSR is, well, better (to say the least) than the LS, but its also harder to find and more expensive (unless its got a ton of miles). ok, first of all, im not looking to rice my car out, i would never b cought dead putting a wing on a fwd (but i mean no offence to those that do). I do however want POWAH. aFter hearing me babble incoherently, is it worth rebuilding the LS motor? id b preparig for a turbo kit in the future (my goal is 300+ HP).

-thanks

What's the limit on stock internals? If you have the money, just replace the pistons with lower compression, not only will they be more turbo friendly, but stronger too.

[DirtBike1128]

i heard that the stock internals can handle 12psi safely. I would rather build up the engine first then go with the whole "intake/exhaust" route later. my only prob with this is...if i choose to drop in lower crompression pistons, wouldnt that drop my horsepower because compression is what makes power? i know that if u have a turbo low comp. is the way to go, but since im not sure how far into the future the turbo might be, should i leave the pistons alone and work on the rods and cams/head only?

[Spectre927]

I dont think slightly lower pistons will do anything. Look at the LS/VTEC. Then there's the type R, put that head, manifold and those headers-back on the GSR bottom, and I dont think there'll be much of a loss in HP.

[Spectre927]

Sorry, I didnt even respond to your main question. If you're going VTEC, then head work will really help. But even with an LS, if you beef up the valvetrain, especially some really nice cams, it will do you some good.

[DirtBike1128]

cool, i dont really know what else to say, but i think i got was I was looking for

-thanks

[whtteg]

Just to add a little first hand knowledge if you get some good cams and upgrade the valve train on a LS then you will be happy, like Spectre927 said. My friends LS before he took out the cams( that are now waiting to be installed in my car) it would rape a GSR. I was with him one day when we raced a B18C swaped hatch and the hatch barely put a fender on him and we raced til 110 ish.

[loesch8102]

Just buy a 1997 BMW M3 for like 14 grand. Then your set.

[DirtBike1128]

ok, well after hearing all of this, i think im gunna keep my eye on the LS(or other LSs). and from reading what u guys have said, and lookin around the fourms, ill beef up the valvetrain first (the works:cams, valves, springs, retainers) because im a little sketchy about goin VTEC(cause id probably have to bring it to a shop to get the head on). then ill work on the bottom end (pistons rods) but from what ive heard, stroking the motor kills torque and life. so, those r my plans...i guess theres nothin else to discuss, unless u really want to.

-thanks again