Thread: What motor to get?

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I am going to build a 1st gen camaro up and not sure what motor route to go. I am looking for about 450-500 at the wheels and hope to get better than 15 mpg. This will be a daily driver.

My original plan was to get a ls1 motor and put a supercharger on it. I have read up a little on the swap and it looks like its going to be more than a weekend swap. (not a simple drop in that I was hopeing for)

How realistic is it to get a regular 350 motor (one that came in the car) up to this hp. I am all about boost but dont want N2O.

I have read a bunch of threads here and most people are talking about only hitting 300hp with these motors. I am getting rid of my 300 hp/tq 4 cyl. that gets 28mpg and I am not looking to get into a less hp car with worse gas mileage.

What options do I have here? Is 500hp realistic with this other motor or is the ls1 going to be the best route?

Thanks for any suggestions.

you can make that horesepower with either of them, the question is budget.... btw you do realize if you go carburated, then with that kind of horsepower you'll be happy to get 10mpg... thats the reality of a muscle car... also, no swap is a weekend swap unless you've got a lot of practice and know your car in and out.... realisticaly you're looking at a good week if you have the time and the right parts

Basics-500 HP at the wheels with an auto trans is approx. 625 at the crank. Make sure everyone is talking wheels or crank to be consistant. For 350 cubic inches to produce 600plus HP is not an simple rebuild nor a mileage master. An Ls1 w/huffer is cubic dollars. As far as a drop in, stroking the existing 350 with good parts all around is the most realistic path IMO.

So I guess the best solution here would be to get enough parts to keep the stock 350 running decently. Then keep researching and buying the parts for the ls1 swap. I am thinking that the ls1, which seems to be fairly inexpensive, should keep up with the mustang block, correct? My buddy is putting 500hp 440tq to the wheels. (cobra)

If I am understanding everything, in the long run the Ls1 with a super charger should get me the most dependable motor with the best gas mileage?

Will hold more power and wont be as hard to make hp. after the swap is complete?

Sounds like you have a few dimes rollin' around. The options range from stroking the 350 vortec heads Weiand miniblower on the low side to LS1 centrifugal on the high side. HP is always easier to make with more displacement. A big block is an option.

283 Twin Turbo. It would be like having two of your import engines under the hood. Hook it to a Holley Projection.

The reason I was leaning towards the ls1 is that it gets a decent mpg when you put it up against a carb. motor and they just seem more dependable being FI and all. I was hopeing to spend ~$12k on a 67-69 camaro which is in decend condition, then pick up a ls1 camaro or bird that has been totaled but still has a good running motor for ~$4k. Then keep ~$5k aside for stupid crap that will be needed in which I did not know until the last min. When its all said and done Less than 20k for a bad azz First gen Camaro that gets good gas mileage and is dependable.