What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen
#1
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Sparta, NJ
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 1987 Camaro Z28
Engine: Carbed 355
Transmission: Borg Warner T56
Axle/Gears: 4th gen 10 bolt 3:73 Richmond gears
What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen
What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen???
#5
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Johnstown, PA
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 94 camaro z28
Engine: lt1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen
If your talking about a basic swap it's hard to beat a LQ4. Theyre cheap and make good power. Of course if money is not a problem thats a little different...
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 614
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: Camaro RS
Engine: obd2 350 lt1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen
I think any of them would be more enjoyable than stock but personally i would go with an ls7
#7
COTM Editor
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,929
Likes: 0
Received 1,860 Likes
on
1,274 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Trending Topics
#11
Supreme Member
Re: What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen
The best one is going to be whatever you find thats as complete as possible for as cheap as possible without needing much invested to install.
Fastest swap ive seen done in a day was a carbed lq4 mated to the 700r4..and was done on cheap from just gettin deals for parts on forums before hand.
Fastest swap ive seen done in a day was a carbed lq4 mated to the 700r4..and was done on cheap from just gettin deals for parts on forums before hand.
The following users liked this post:
speedballgarage (05-21-2023)
#12
Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Re: What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen
You cant go wrong... Personally... Im a fan of the alum block motors. It adds a decent amount to the price tag...but worth it in my opinoin.
If you like boost...4.8/5.3 with a decent turbo will give you driveability and ALL the power you can use on the street. Plus the motors are dirt cheap and take lots of boost reliably with few upgrades.
If you want an NA monster, stick with the bigger cube versions.
LQ4/9 are good mid ground choices because you can usually pick them up cheap, and they are pretty stout motors. Bolt them in pretty much as is, or with a cam and they'll treat you well vs. the old stuff. If you get restless, some heads, bigger cam, few go fast goodies and it will respond to whatever you want it to do.
Just cant go wrong...
J.
If you like boost...4.8/5.3 with a decent turbo will give you driveability and ALL the power you can use on the street. Plus the motors are dirt cheap and take lots of boost reliably with few upgrades.
If you want an NA monster, stick with the bigger cube versions.
LQ4/9 are good mid ground choices because you can usually pick them up cheap, and they are pretty stout motors. Bolt them in pretty much as is, or with a cam and they'll treat you well vs. the old stuff. If you get restless, some heads, bigger cam, few go fast goodies and it will respond to whatever you want it to do.
Just cant go wrong...
J.
#13
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hou. TX
Posts: 5,538
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 86 TA, 91 B4C
Engine: 5.3, 4.8
Transmission: 4L80 4000, T56
Axle/Gears: 4.30 M12, 23.42 10 bolt
Re: What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen
Any of them are better than the junk that they came with.
#14
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Sparta, NJ
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 1987 Camaro Z28
Engine: Carbed 355
Transmission: Borg Warner T56
Axle/Gears: 4th gen 10 bolt 3:73 Richmond gears
Re: What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen
can an lq4/lq9 be turned into an ls engine? if so what is needed to do it?
#15
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Near Wichita Ks
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1997 K1500 SS/SB
Engine: LT1 with TPI on top
Transmission: 4L60E/np241,
Axle/Gears: 3.73
#16
Supreme Member
iTrader: (20)
Re: What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen
You dont need to change truck manifolds out for ls stuff if you can fit it under hood. Truck manifolds flow pretty good and can support big power. My buddys el camino has been low 11's at 119 mph with cam only truck 6.0. Stock heads shortblock and stock intake manifold. It was impressive. Longer runners on truck manis help make some more torque too
They may not be as pretty as ls intakes but if you are doing a na combo on a budget and didnt want to spend 300 on a ls6 intake or 100 for ls1 stocker then use the truck one
4.8/5.3 i wouldnt bother with for na builds when 6.0's can be found for not much more. Granted a 5.3 can run hard. Buddys cam heads carb 5.3 is a mid 11 sec car but a 6.0 will make it more fun as the big cam low cube motors dont make much low end. 6.0 will make low end torque and more power overall. Plus 4 inch bore you can run ls3 heads for a real awesome street combo with a mild cam. Big power and torque package for cheap, very streetable.
4.8/5.3 are best for boosted builds
They may not be as pretty as ls intakes but if you are doing a na combo on a budget and didnt want to spend 300 on a ls6 intake or 100 for ls1 stocker then use the truck one
4.8/5.3 i wouldnt bother with for na builds when 6.0's can be found for not much more. Granted a 5.3 can run hard. Buddys cam heads carb 5.3 is a mid 11 sec car but a 6.0 will make it more fun as the big cam low cube motors dont make much low end. 6.0 will make low end torque and more power overall. Plus 4 inch bore you can run ls3 heads for a real awesome street combo with a mild cam. Big power and torque package for cheap, very streetable.
4.8/5.3 are best for boosted builds
#17
Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Re: What would be the best LS engine choice for a third gen
Figure out your budget, and what you intend to do with the car (percentage of street/track/roadcorse driving), then go from there. You can narrow down your choices pretty good with budget and hp/performance/use goals.
J.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post