Thread: LT1 rebuild - I need to get back in the garage

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It's been over 30 years since I sold my '71 SS Nova and I kick myself for doing it. But I have an itch to get back working on a 350 small block. I want a streetable engine that will easily drop into an older body. Trouble is I don't have anything yet but an itch. The building block of choice seems to the LT1. I see where this engine was put in a number of sedans including the 92-96 Caprice. It was also put in the Vette and the Camaro over about the same time period. The rated hp for the Vette version was a bit higher than that of the sedan. Can someone explain why the difference? If I found a sedan motor I'd like to know how to upgrade it to Vette specs, if this is even possible without changing heads, etc. I understood the Vette had aluminum heads versus cast iron for the sedan but were there differences other than the material? I also think I read where the cam in the sedan motor provided a bit more bottom end to allow for the heavy body weight and this may explain the rated hp difference as well. Any insight here would be appreciated.

I also see that not all 5.7L V-8 in this time frame were LT1s. How can I tell the difference? Hopefully there is an easy way without the need to take something apart. I see the Buick Roadmaster wagon had this same engine but the owners seem pretty proud of their rides and the selling prices I've found are pretty high.

And finally, any suggestions on a good way to find a starting motor. I can always go online and buy a short block or long block but I'd still need all the other 'pieces'. It seems best if I could find a runnng car that is basically junk and then strip out what I need and scrap the rest. Any ideas here would be appreciated.

I am by no meams a know it all of LT1's, just what I learned building a motor for my '95 Z-28. You will want to look for a vented Opti motor. These optisparks have 2 vacuum hoses, 1 off the intake and the other, plumbed to the intake elbow that pulls fitered air. This loop helps keep the opti from building up condensation. Vented opti's would be '95-'97. I wasn't aware any of the LT engines had cast iron heads. Early '95 Camaro's had the OBD 1 ECM's while later '95 and up were OBD 2. Most guys who like to play with these engines like the early ECM's for the ease of use. There are many out there that can fine tune and reburn these ECM's to your mods. If you decide on LT4 stuff, the head and intake are a package, meaning you can't mix between the two. Decide if you want a manual or automatic and buy appropriately, I believe the ECM's are different in this respect programming wise. One last thought, you can buy any 93-94 LT1 and mod it to a vented Opti. You just need a '95 cam, timing chain cover, optispark and vacuum lines.

Take a look at AMAZON and find a book that at least describes the differences and what can be done to them. I had to with the Ford 4.6 - 5.4 modular engines, and am still somewhat confused. Just make sure you look at the publish dates as some are getting old, not current with the later offerings.

Amazon.com: Chevy LT1 engines

The Corvettes 92-96 and camaro/firebirds 93/97 had aluminum heads--engines are reverse cooling---Buick, caprice, caddie had iron heads---we built probably 30 of them last year and get core blocks from core supplier, install billet angle bolt 4 bolt main caps, Callies or Scat forged stroker cranks----
the blocks are getting scarser to get as the dollars for junkers pretty well did in that era of cars no matter what the make was---

what do you plan on putting it in and how do you want to drive it????cruizer ecomy or strip?

Thanks Jerry, learn something new everyday.

the plan is unclear but the vision is to have a cruiser. Old body style but under the hood an modern FI motor capable of 20+ mpg and produce, relatively speaking, some significant power.

I found a 97 firebird motor from a salvage shop. 'minor fire' is the claim. I need to look at it but they want $750. Just the engine. I'll need the wiring as well.

I wouldn't necessarily be set on an LT1. These days you can find an all aluminum LS1 to pull out of a wrecked car for cheap too or even a newer 5.3 for cheap. I wouldn't pay $750 for one with no wiring harness especially if the word fire is related to it. Finding the right year harness might be difficult because the connections vary a bit from year to year and model to model. You can easily pay $750 for a new harness so I would look for one all complete in the car to pull out everything you need.