So I have been doing the research and talking to those who are in the know as I have been debating swapping over to an LQ9 setup to run boosted via procharger.
Obviously the LS is the motor of the Gods and it has no issues...or at least the internet seems to think so. Speaking to my machinist (Jeff Lawrence of Lawrence Racing Engines Inc and a few other machinists I know they all pretty much had the same two gripes with LS motors
valvetrain first oiling and 10 head bolts vs SBC's crank first oiling and 17 head bolts. Now obviously there are guys still making huge power with these drawbacks but the surefire way around it would be to go with an LSX block, 6 bolts per head and crank priority oiling. But that's big money and overkill for what I plan to do.
Anyway, it just kind of surprises me that my machinist, the engine builder at my shop and his friends shop (Merkel) all seem to urge me to keep the SBC (LT1) for my 750hp+ boosted project. I mean these are the guys in the know, I know jeff has done many LS builds and he practically flat out talked me out of spending more money with him in scrapping my already paid/machined/balanced LT setup for a new LS setup. Hell, after talking to AI about their LS head combination, they told me that the 200cc LT1 heads I have from them now should support the power levels I wish to make.
What do you guys think? I am kind of on the fence here. I was all set to go LQ9 for the big power it can make...but I hate to think i'd be going with a setup that may have more weaknesses even though it'll have the ability to make more power. Ideally I would go LSX, but then im getting into big money for an LSX block and aftermarket heads.
Obviously, there ARE guys out there making big power with LQ setups....but likewise there are guys out there making big power with LT1 and SBC setups too on factory blocks.
Obviously the LS is the motor of the Gods and it has no issues...or at least the internet seems to think so. Speaking to my machinist (Jeff Lawrence of Lawrence Racing Engines Inc and a few other machinists I know they all pretty much had the same two gripes with LS motors
valvetrain first oiling and 10 head bolts vs SBC's crank first oiling and 17 head bolts. Now obviously there are guys still making huge power with these drawbacks but the surefire way around it would be to go with an LSX block, 6 bolts per head and crank priority oiling. But that's big money and overkill for what I plan to do.
Anyway, it just kind of surprises me that my machinist, the engine builder at my shop and his friends shop (Merkel) all seem to urge me to keep the SBC (LT1) for my 750hp+ boosted project. I mean these are the guys in the know, I know jeff has done many LS builds and he practically flat out talked me out of spending more money with him in scrapping my already paid/machined/balanced LT setup for a new LS setup. Hell, after talking to AI about their LS head combination, they told me that the 200cc LT1 heads I have from them now should support the power levels I wish to make.
What do you guys think? I am kind of on the fence here. I was all set to go LQ9 for the big power it can make...but I hate to think i'd be going with a setup that may have more weaknesses even though it'll have the ability to make more power. Ideally I would go LSX, but then im getting into big money for an LSX block and aftermarket heads.
Obviously, there ARE guys out there making big power with LQ setups....but likewise there are guys out there making big power with LT1 and SBC setups too on factory blocks.