So I have been debating between swapping an LS1 or an LS2 into my '70. Either one I choose will get a Magnacharger roots type blower on it for an extra kick. By looking at the prices, the LS2 is not that much more expensive than the LS1 out of the box, so why does everybody go LS1? Is there a lot more hastle when installing the LS2? Can the T-56 hook up to either one? So far I am leaning towards the LS2, but then again, I have just started my research.

If you can afford it, I'd go LS2. I don't think there's anything different required physically to install it and the T56 will still work. I think most of the cars you see have LS1's because people started their projects a while back and there wasn't a choice to go LS2.

Ryan

Thats the thing, the price difference was only like $600 between the two, thats what got me confused.

I think alot of the reason people use LS1's is because of availability. A lower mileage used LS1 can be had for under 3 grand if you shop well because they came in everything from GTO's to Vettes to F-bodys. The LS2 is a bit more rare and less of them have yet to wrecked so the price for a used one is more than the price of a low mileage used LS1.

That makes good sense. I would rather start with a new engine so I think the LS2 is the one I will go for.

I have an LS2 in my GTO, the one thing to consider right now (it will change I am sure) is the LS2 does not have the aftermarket support the LS1 has for the moment. Computer management is picky, sensitive to heat, throttle management for torque get's in the way but there are some recent tuning tools that have come out on the market that address this but some are still having some problems sorting it all out. Too is the LS2 has darn near 11-1 compression, something to consider when going with a maggie or some other form of forced induction. The LS2 also has drive by wire throttle as well....

The LS2 is a great running package though, it's hard to beat :)

try www.ls1gto.com (http://www.ls1gto.com) www.ls2.com (http://www.ls2.com) www.ls1tech.com (http://www.ls1tech.com) for more info.

People run ls1's because ls2's just came out. The other thing is that 90% of the people that use them buy them used. Not many used Ls2's yet.

If you want to run a supercharger, and actually want to make any good power with it for the investment, you should buy a used motor and swap the pistons or heads to lower compression.

I don't care too much about making insane power, I just like the looks and sound, the power that the maggie will add safely on the stock LS2 will be plenty for my intentions with the car. The LS2 alone is enough for the streets. The car will not see any type of racing, just the occasional go when i am presented with a wide open higway. I get all of my racing jitters out at the track in my 350Z.

I have an LS2 in my GTO, the one thing to consider right now (it will change I am sure) is the LS2 does not have the aftermarket support the LS1 has for the moment. Computer management is picky, sensitive to heat, throttle management for torque get's in the way but there are some recent tuning tools that have come out on the market that address this but some are still having some problems sorting it all out. Too is the LS2 has darn near 11-1 compression, something to consider when going with a maggie or some other form of forced induction. The LS2 also has drive by wire throttle as well....

The LS2 is a great running package though, it's hard to beat :)

try www.ls1gto.com (http://www.ls1gto.com) www.ls2.com (http://www.ls2.com) www.ls1tech.com (http://www.ls1tech.com) for more info.


Ls1tech has plenty of info. The LS2 uses the 243 casting heads same as the LS6. 02-04 LS6s did get lighter valves than the 01 LS6s and LS2s. You may want to look into swapping to 317 truck heads or some of the new AFR, Dart, or ET perf heads to drop the compression if you want to run some boost. The 317s have basically the same port design as a 243 but a larger chamber They came on the 6.0 truck motor (LQ4/LQ9)

Parts interchange is very good between the Ls1 and Ls2. The knock sensors moved and the reluctor wheel changed between the 2. The Ls1 computer can not run on a LS2 reluctor wheel from what I understand. HP Tuners I believe was working on software to change that. http://www.hptuners.com/ has software to tune both LS1s and LS2s and an active forum on the website. A LS1 T56 will bolt up to a LS2.

If you are not looking for max performance the LQ4/LQ9 truck 6.0 maybe for you. They are basically the same design as a LS1 but Iron block 6.0s and cheaper. The LQ4 has the lowest compression of the 2. The Iron block will cost you 80-100lbs. If you are interested in this route look around on LS1 tech as the early crankshafts do not accept the LS1 flywheel but 01 or 02(?)+ does.

Like has been stated before, getting tuning for an LS2 is a bit shakey at this point in time. The LS1 has a plethora of tuning available.

Yeah, but I don't really want a setup that needs some crazy tuning. The only thing I want to do with it is put the Magnacharger on with a safe and conservative tune, which has already been done on the new corvettes.

Yeah, but I don't really want a setup that needs some crazy tuning. The only thing I want to do with it is put the Magnacharger on with a safe and conservative tune, which has already been done on the new corvettes.
They also sell kits for the trucks. Magnacharger has kits out for the Corvettes, trucks, and a street rod kit. Tuning would not be anymore difficult for any of the motors mentioned above.

The LQ4 would get my vote if you are not concerned about weight as it is the cheepest and lowest compression of the motors listed above. You also still get 317 heads. An iron block 6.0 would still weigh less than a traditional aluminum headed SBC.

http://www.extremeg.net/ was one of the first to use the street rod kit and he is an admin on Ls1tech. The Camaro has been sold but he owns a C6 with a magna charged LS2 now. The street rod kit should bolt on to the LS1, LS2 LQ4 or LQ9. Be sure to get an air to water intercooled maggie. It is amazing to see how much air temp affects a non intercooled maggie just by changing the direction of the fan on a dyno, very hard to tune. I would not trust a packaged tune on any FI application. Spend a little more cash and get the computer tuned.

There's quite a bit of tuning available for the LS2's now. I just finished tuning my 05 GTO with twin turbos. Pretty straightforward. Hit a couple snags as I've never used the HPTuners software or tuned a factory GM computer, but the forum at HPTuners and LS1Tech helped with every question. Most all tuners have done forced induction LS2's by now, at least in my area.

You can also go aftermarket EFI also if you don't want to use the stock computer. Only drawback of the factory pcm at the moment is you have to keep the maf with the LS2, whereas the LS1 tuning offers speed density and maf removal in forced induction applications.



Jody

If you want to spend the money then get the LS2.

350ZNV -
I think I want the LS2/6 Speed combo too....400hp and 20MPG would be nice..... I also live in Vegas and I'm waiting for my steering arms from Tyler at ATS.... I want to talk to him about the swap into my 67 Malibu.... I need to sell my truck to finance it though....
...
I was leaning towards a drop out from a GTO (or maybe a CTS-V) so its complete with all accessories and still mated to the tranny.... where were you looking at getting your LS2 from? I leave right by Vista Chevrolet but I havent tried talking to them about parts or pricing....
...
also, I drive my Chevelle every day to work so I dont know if or how this will work.... cant have too much down time....

mcmlxix - I aplogise for the late response, I haven't been on this site in a long time. I plan on getting my the motor as a brand new crate motor. I haven't really researched my options on where to get the trans yet though. The guys at ATS are really awesome to work with. Nice '67 by the way :).

Get whatever you get a good deal on.

This swap is a lot of work

Swap gas tank for an FI impala tank, custom mounts, trans tunnel has to be cut and raised for t-56, custom wiring and a vats delete, must cut the Xmember to retain AC, might have to get custom oil pan depending on your mounts, electric fans, clutch master cylinder install, etc...


I went to an ls1 because I got a deal on the whole car.

Get whatever you get a good deal on.

This swap is a lot of work

Swap gas tank for an FI impala tank, custom mounts, trans tunnel has to be cut and raised for t-56, custom wiring and a vats delete, must cut the Xmember to retain AC, might have to get custom oil pan depending on your mounts, electric fans, clutch master cylinder install, etc...


I went to an ls1 because I got a deal on the whole car.

Thats why I will pay ATS to do it :). All they do is LS series motor swaps and T-56 swaps.

Thats why I will pay ATS to do it :). All they do is LS series motor swaps and T-56 swaps.


Wish I had your moola! Mine I will do most everything myslef apart from some welding and the driveshaft.

Wish I had your moola! Mine I will do most everything myslef apart from some welding and the driveshaft.

I wish I had the time, knowlege, tools, and facility to do that, but I don't :). I guess you always want what the other person has lol :D .

I wish I had the time, knowlege, tools, and facility to do that, but I don't :). I guess you always want what the other person has lol :D .

Well I dont have much of all this but I will once I am done.. It's a learning experience :D

I would go with a LS2 and a Magnuson. I know a guy who has a LS2 on his C6 6 speeed with Magnuson at 5 psi, also has a cam, headers, and cat back made 509.88 rwhp, 456.56 ft-lbs on a Mustang dyno.

As long as it has a good tune and you keep the boost low the higher compression shouldnt be a problem.

If you are going to go the LSX route, then consider a 408 or 402 stroker package. Using a used or even a brand new LSX series motor without forged internals is going to limit you. Being an LS1 owner myself I can tell you those motors are limited to around 550rwhp. For the same money as getting your supercharger you could get a forged 402/408 stroker and make the same power N/A. Also a great advantage to the LSX motors is lift you can run a gigantic cam on the street .640 lift with a six speed and see no problems.
check out some of these websites. www.texas-speed.com www.thunderracing.com www.katechengines.com And of course www.ls1tech.com

^^^Nice! Thanks.

I definately want to stay N/A. I have a supercharged and a twin turbo car and I just like N/A power so much better. I only want 400-450 at the wheels MAX. Any more than that and its too much for the street in my opinion.

Thats real achivable number in a 408 or 402, for that kind of power you can run some cheap head like the stock LS2 and still make big power without the cost of AFR's or Darts. Some of those companies like texas speed has great deals on heads for LSX motors. For example you can get some PRC CNC LS6 heads for 899.99 and still run up to .550" lift. Those are also fully assembled heads!

Awesome! I will have to check them out! Going for the swap in a few months.

Cool, keep us updated on that

Cool, keep us updated on that

Will do!

jfman - If you need another set of hands or are looking for some parts drop me a PM, I'd like to see your project and learn some too.

Thats real achivable number in a 408 or 402, for that kind of power you can run some cheap head like the stock LS2 and still make big power without the cost of AFR's or Darts. Some of those companies like texas speed has great deals on heads for LSX motors. For example you can get some PRC CNC LS6 heads for 899.99 and still run up to .550" lift. Those are also fully assembled heads!

L92 parts are also becoming available which look to be fairly cheap and very promising.

The L92 is the new Escalade 6.2 ltr. that uses basically a scaled down version of the LS7 ports.

You can get easily 400rwhp on a cam only and still be very streetable. A friend has a 224/224 114LSA (which is very docile) in a C5 Z06 and is ~410 rwhp with full bolt ons and the heads have never been off the motor.

The LS2 has more out of the box potential.. if you can afford the extra $$$

The LS1 is the best bang for the buck right now since they are plentiful on the salvage market.

We made 570/505 on my LS2 (engine dyno, corrected) with just a mellow cam, heads, intake and headers..