Building a LS1 to 450WRHP

[ssms5411]

This is something I plan on doing in about 3 years, I want to get a higher milage LS1 with the 4l60e tranny, will rebuild the tranny with a Trango shift kit, corvette servo and probably 3500-4000 stall . How much can a stock tranny hold? Also rebuilding the LS1 engine , Forged pistons, maybe a little more compression, clevlite 77 bearings throughout the engine, Going to do heads also need to know what heads are the best? Cam I want to have nice street matters since I'm probably not going to race it. Another parts wil be headers, I found some shorties because my car is low and I don't want to scape everything. It going to be a 2002 LS1 with Auto trans can get one together for $3000 to $5000. Heads Ive priced at $1200 but don't know which is the best. Then intake I want somthing more than than the LS6 it comes with, thinking about a Fast intake haven't priced it out yet. I'll have $18,000 to do this , I priced out some stuff like forged piston kit was $1000, cam around 400 , also what about the rearend will it hold 400-450 hp I have 3.73 gears with a T/A gridle. Ill be having a shop do the rebuilding on the engine and tranny and install. All I want to know is what goes with what and makes the best LS1 engine even if it is below 450 wrhp, no power adders just motor. Thanks,

[LETZRIDE]

you don't need to touch the bottom end to get 450rwhp out of the LS1 - a well spec'd custom cam and heads will be more than enough. There are guys running 10's cam only in them if you go aggressive enough.

I personally wouldn't go with a high milage LS1 - especially because it is likely to have had a hard life...go with a low mileage 5.3l if you really want to do the swap- cheaper and you can get them coming with 330hp from the scrap yards.

look into a ford 8.8/9 rear end, heads, cam, 5.3 and you'll more than meet your goal with reliability and without having to spend anywhere close to your budget.

However, I personally would keep your turbo car because you can massage your turbo car for far less to be just as fast or faster than what you'll build

[ssms5411]

Thats good to know about the bottom end. All I can find is high mileage ls1's, really don't want the 5.3, dont know anything about them. Looking at Perfom built for transmission and stall. Rearend should be good if i don't take it to the track. Then ill look for a rearend. When that comes around. Just looking for the heads at the moment, theirs alot of options. I will be going with a tubular k of course since the rest is already done. This is still so far away, hope the 3.8 can last anothet 3-5 years.

[ssms5411]

The only way i would keep it turbocharged is if i had FF turbo headers, maybe ill see if i can find someone to make some, i already have the turbo and accessories. Also the turbo cam st5. Just an idea.

[ssms5411]

So made some e-mails, to Cartunning to see if they still sell their kit, should be interesting to see. Also ill see if i can get Zzperformamce Alm. Heads , they look outstanding. Will spend about half of what a ls1 build would be. I guess will see what happens. Im going to go ahead and have my cousin do the ST5 cam install and double roller this next year.

[2.8 Bird]

Yeah LS1s are getting cheap now. You can buy a decent one for less than 5k now.

I found one with 85k at 5500 once.

[ssms5411]

Well got word back from Kevin at cartunning, $2500 for the hotside. Looks like ill see if i can have some made, Peak boost said $1500 but that was almost 6 years ago, ill see what they say this coming week.