1992-97 LT1-THE "OTHER GUYS" SBC! BIG SCORE, NEW PROJECT OR JUST A BIG WASTE OF MONEY? WILL IT RUN?

OTHER GUYS' MOTORS RULE! IS THE GEN 2 LT1 THE BEST SMALL BLOCK EVER MADE? HOW MUCH POWER DOES A GEN-2 LT1 MAKE? WILL A MOTOR THAT SAT FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS START AND RUN? CAN YOU RUN A GEN-2 LT1 WITH A CARBURETOR? WHY DOES THE OTHER GUYS SBC NOT GET ANY RESPECT? WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT A HIGH-COMPRESSION, ALUMINUM-HEADED, REVERSE COOLING SMALL BLOCK? CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO WHERE I PURCHASED A QUESTIONABLE LT1 THAT HAD BEEN SITTING (UNLOVED) FOR DECADES. WOULD IT RUN, OR WAS THIS A BIG WASTE OF MONEY? CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO WHERE I BOUGHT AND DYNO TESTED A GEN-2 LT1 IN THE HOPES OF STARTING A SERIES OF PERFORMANCE UPGRADES ON THE ALUMINUM-HEADED 350. BEFORE MAKING MORE POWER, WE HAVE TO MAKE IT RUN!

[@drdanimalsize]

I had no idea you could just throw a distributor and carb on a stock lt1. Now I know what I want in my blazer!

[@mrbig7718]

Me neither. My local junkyard has quite a few that look like they are in pretty good condition. Looks like my next option for my Monte Carlo

[@johndelta00]

Camshaft and valve springs away from 375-400hp also.

[@glastornjet73]

Lt1’s are fantastic! Where else can you get an aluminum headed 300+ hp 350 for $500 or less! I love them i have dozens lol couple lt4’s and 6 lt cars! John is right throw some ported heads from lloyd elliot on one with a cam and valve springs and a carb manifold 450-475hp easy

[@utahcountypicazospage5412]

@@johndelta00you realize this is 236hp wheel after optimized set up as Richard said a monster cam would only put this at 320 wheel or so lt1 always needs heads

[@johndelta00]

@@utahcountypicazospage5412 where did I say anything about wheel horsepower?

[@casamequite]

The LT1 was a game changer. The reverse flow cooling (head first) allowed compression ratios to bump back up to factory muscle car levels. Finally a low tech solution that cut through all the "high tech" BS.

[@pizzandoughnutspage7817]

Gen II LT-1, the most underrated engine ever!

[@mewrongway]

Agree, I was able to kick mustangs to the curb in a caprice wagon! lol

[@Cugy_2345]

Idk, L98 seems pretty underrated

[@mattcossel29]

Finally! Long time lt1 guy here.. I've been patiently for you to do some more gen 2 content!

[@CarportGarageDragRacing]

Great little motor, I had one, with bolt ons, exhaust, gear, converter it ran a 12.9 in the 1/4. I then stroked it to a 383 with ported stock heads and ported stock intake by Lloyd Elliot along with his LE3 cam, it had 12.5 compression and ran 11.08@123 with a pretty tight converter at 3600 lbs race weight.

[@Supercharged111]

These can be run off of a GM 411 PCM if you have the OBDII reluctor and timing cover. That's how I'd run one on the street. Eliminates the opti bit of the opti spark from the equation on the cheap.

[@robertbaker837]

Takes me back. Back in the 90s early 2000s, dads were putting these in their 40 fords all day.

[@justinjones7238]

Now we're talking. Let's test 1.6 rockers, camshafts etc

[@jasonkepic1132]

I can't tell you how happy I am to see more "Other Guys" installments! Much appreciated Richard!

[@puffkendrick6850]

Yes just picked up 4 of the 93 to 95 Lt 1 and fixin to buy 95 Trans AM. to terrorize the streets.

[@LelandSlatton]

Love it when you do the Gn2. LT1 and 4 stuff so cool

[@NinjaBoxe]

Thanks for the video. I am very happy with my LT1. Fully built 383 with Forged SCAT crank and H beams. Mahle pistons. LE2 heads. 24X through a 411PCM etc.. 11:1 SCR. I also have free access to dyno so I tested every single change I made to it. Last year I tested in at 506chp @6400 rpm, with 58mm throttle body (yes the intake is ported to that), and an off the shelf 280XFI cam. Swapped out the XFI cam with a TrickFlow very similar cam (230/234 - same lift), but with 110LSA instead of 113LSA, just to see how much of a difference that would do. The curve was a little more steep as expected - Nothing radical. Was approx 10hp less below 3500rpm, curve crossed over at around 4000rpm, and ended at 525chp @6100rpm. So more hp with less rpm. Then swapped out to the stock 48mm TB (with air foil) just for the fun of it. To my surprise, that had almost no affect. 518chp. Identical curves. Just the last 100rpm was less hp... That stock TB can in fact flow pretty well. Next project is to lower compression to about 9.7 SCR (around 7.4 DCR) and then add a VS 7875 and see what that will do :-)

[@patlandymore7035]

Your timing of this series couldn’t be more perfect! Two weeks ago I purchased a 1996 Z28 with only 49,000 miles…an ex Arizona car for summer driving. Have been doing lots of research on the OG LT1 and have been impressed. Really looking forward to your results.

[@edpetrocelli2633]

For a while I had a bunch of those in my shop, one of my customers loved those motors, we called him LT-1 Bob. I`ve still got a set of heads and virgin block for them. They have reverse cooling flow and require special heads and block aswell as a specific water pump and respond well to modification. No one seems interested in them anymore propably due to the mistique of the LS. I`ll await the next of your vids on this engine, I never dynoed them.

[@twotrackjack2260]

Great video, very much looking forward to more testing on this platform! Carb cam was awesome 🤘

[@jeffjarquin5600]

Love the gen 2 Lt1. They make a great 1/2 ton truck engine. They respond well to cam swaps.

[@bcbloc02]

You know we always want to see more testing 😎

[@michaelangelo8001]

Yes, I have six of these. Trying to figure out what to do with them. I'm definitely interested.

[@marknowakowski6590]

YES,YES,YES more testing and mods PLEASE I will follow all of it.

[@ktsaylor5947]

had a '92 corvette with the 2nd Gen LT-1, ran it for 14 years without a problem... Poti-Spark even behaved well over that period Love seeing this revived for some testing on the dyno

[@ni_wink84]

I left engine parts in that room once… 😂 btw love the carb camera

[@toddjohn2142]

Super interesting. Been waiting with fingers crossed for some lt1 tests. Looking forward to more.

[@doolallyproductions7234]

Put twin turbos on it and make it the Callaway engine we never got

[@jasonsapp792]

I was gifted a 96 Corvette engine/trans ...this is very promising...my 79 Z28 may get this engine now

[@W.A.R.R.]

Great to see the lt1 on here. I’ve been fooling with lt1’s for about 15 years now. Have had 15-20 of them in that time. Cheap and easy to buy and get running again. Currently have 3 of them and all of them are cammed at minimum. Thanks for driving up the value when I’m ready to sell lol

[@Emilthehun]

Yesss! Richard always bringing the good stuff

[@mclaggen6144]

one of the fastest stickshift cars in the world runs an lt1, Grub Worm it runs 6.50's at 200+

[@utahcountypicazospage5412]

I guarantee it’s only lt1 block nothing else lt1 lmao lt1 had horrible head flow small ports

[@pizzandoughnutspage7817]

I think there an older TFS 21* heads, still an LT-1 block is mega stout if you know what you’re doing.

[@chucksingleton3708]

Grub worm doesn't run a lt1 anymore. Lt1 heads flow around 300 cfm when ported and polished

[@GIGABACHI]

Back when I had my LT1 cars (94, 95, 96) I used the Truck Vortec oil filter. Same threads, taller filter, more capacity and filtering media. It was fun, I was younger and had much more energy and motivation. Today I would tell you keep the LT1 and give me a 4cyl Highlander Auto and FWD or a Tacoma 4cyl, auto and RWD.😝

[@mikkokuorttinen3113]

Congratulation for 1.start up! I loved to see the 4-barrels view of the pull :) Can't wait to see the following episodes on this engine and the L-98!

[@adamtheninjasmith2985]

I think part of the reason the lt1 got left behind in the hot rod community back in the day is it just doesn't look as good as the tuned port injection. My dad never cared for them or at least he would way rather swap in a tpi engine. I'll have to get a hold of him and see why lol.

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Optispark was the problem

[@Haithamz]

Great job 👏🏻

[@Aph87]

Love the content Richard

[@VictorMartinez-FV5HX]

I have an 95 LT1 out of a TA . There great engines first reverse cooled American production V8.

[@paulwolfe7660]

I did exactly this to my 9c1 caprice. Headers, roller rockers, edelbrock rpm, holley carb. 272hr cam, I had to use the short caprice style hei from a earlier caprice, had to enlarge the intake manifold hole for it too to fit under the firewall. Sweet engine.

[@NickDoesLife]

So timely Richard! carb swapping my 93 Camaro as we speak!

[@michaelallen2501]

Please test a set of Trick Flow Gen X 185 heads with the 54cc chambers and 21° valves. I'm looking at replacing my ported stock heads with a set of those.

[@TEAMPHY6]

Sure would love to see some twin Holset HX35s or cheap GT3582s on there plus 1.6rr/pac 1218s and a cam

[@ryanhines719]

Like you swapped the optispark out and not many people know you can swap it to a dist. Also doing the 24x kit from EFI Connection works well for fuel injection setups but might not be in the budget for some. But a good dist swap, Holley carb or Terminator x Stealth works well too!

[@Hallz999]

SNAP ON ... SNAP OFF ....SNAPPY PAPPY HAPPY ... fired right up

[@plumbs7199]

Very nice little small block .

[@adamreynolds1851]

Awesome I've been waiting for this ,I have a torque head system and a terminator x for a 5.7 from a 93 z28 ,it will be cool to see how much they can make and hold up to

[@clintonmaurer5758]

I may have to start buying these up now

[@LegendCampbell]

Ohhh goodie, I'm building this block right now!

[@davidincognito7285]

Man I dig these engines. I wish they'd have made more lt4's and 5's too.

[@mathieusynnott8915]

My lt1 is getting rebuild again by new owner. It did 525hp with 383, 07-503-8, 1.6rr and head port, intake port. Its getting redone with welded intake holes and redrill for SBC victor jr intake with carb, insane LE2.5 stage 4 porting. Expect 600. Will see.

[@exploranator]

Looking at the fuel reluctantly dribble into the carb throat in a stuttering manner makes me wonder if heating the boosters or the fuel up to near-boiling would help to make more thorough atomization. I did not know the behavior of the fuel was so NON-atomized and stuttered.

[@wingingittracy8508]

I would like to see an lt 4 hot cam test please

[@larryanderson2766]

Was always curious about those

[@dreadnaught688]

Guess I'm buying an LT1 corvette

[@CLEEPER1]

I just got a 65 Malibu that Has a 383 lt1 with trickflow heaads and 12 to 1 compression. Cam is 248/258 .576/.576 114+4. & its pretty strong coming from an LS guy. Thinking it needs a procharger though😊

[@Whosaids0]

I bet this one surprises a few people after the mods start. I know mine did back in the day, lol...

[@bluenecross]

Test a Torquehead 24x coil on plug conversion!

[@aurayelinamejias6048]

Impressive

[@Gearbhall]

so fun seeing the engine not spin high enough for the crossover point

[@Whosaids0]

The dyno runs crossed at 5250. Maybe not the first one, but that was unrelated issues.

[@pollycat1294]

look at all the air bleads. that will be fun to fine tune!

[@richardholdener1727]

very easy

[@vortecmacs]

Shame we didn’t get to see the stock intake

[@sleepersportlabs]

I’m doing this build but using a 411 ecu and running the LT1 like a LS motor

[@billwilliams2242]

More LT1

[@THEFERMANATOR]

I kept hoping for a shot of the passenger side of the balancer to see if it was a 96/97, or 95-. If it's a 96/97 they have a crank sensor with a 4 tooth reluctor. You can easily run them on an 0411 PCM using an L31 tune file. Or you can buy the timing cover from eficonnection and convert it to a 24/1x reluctor to run coil near plug ignition. How about running the TPI intake on this one like you did the L99 4.3l?

[@richardholdener1727]

I don't have that intake any more

[@sjhudon386]

Seems like it made alot of torque over the stock intake!

[@tuiske84]

Yes! More LT1 videos please :) is thatLT1 with 2 or 4 bolt main caps?

[@richardholdener1727]

not sure

[@christopherc3017]

Probably 2 bolt. The corvette only got the 4 bolt.

[@Marc_Wolfe]

That's not a later version with the 4x crank sensor? That plus the high voltage part of optispark, done; same as average distributor as far as fuel injection.

[@jeffreymayer8550]

ME!! I have one in my '97 Formula!!

[@kevinhollingsworth5816]

I've been contemplating about what engine I need to go with in my 95 GMC K1500. Definitely was thinking going to a carb. Getting a LT1 may be in the running.

[@johnnygeorgopoulos4072]

Seriously just get a 5.3 or 6.0 LS from the junkyard with under 100k miles, if you're starting "fresh", there's no reason not to, especially with the benefits over a small block, hell, they're even better deals in comparison to big blocks unless you're going all out and cubic inches become the limiting factor. I don't currently have the funds myself, and my L31 Vortec is still 🤞 kicking along nicely in my 230k mile 97 GMC RCSB K1500, but when the funds are right, I'll be dropping in an LQ9 along with at least a cam, throttle body ECT, unless I decide to throw a used blower or piece together a cheap single turbo kit for it, but honestly, just the came and throttle body on the LQ will be putting down way more at the wheels than the stock L31 did at the crank ... and if you want to build that junkyard block, you could always buy a rotating assembly and get her bored to have a 427, those things make killer power

[@philwishart5833]

LT1 all the way!

[@bostonws6]

Richard this is a pointless thing to do. The whole point of the gen 2 LT is to be run with the fuel injected intake manifold and the opti spark not a garbage dual plane carbureted intake and a drop in distributor...you might as well be using a gen 1 sbc at this point..

[@Danno74Z]

Hi Richard, When do you think you will get back on the LT1? Thank you!

[@vortecturbo]

🙌🙌

[@turbobros_online1561]

Woohoo!!!!

[@glastornjet73]

If that oem spline drive opti is good its worth a pretty penny! Probably 350-400

[@morganallen1853]

Can you try the classic cc306 cam and gm847?

[@claburn123]

What were the squirters/ jetting when you switched to the edelbrock carb?

[@randykeeton5622]

LT1! LT1! LT1!

[@danielmoon7322]

Hey @Richard I have a complete engine harness and stock pcm if you want to test mods with the stock style intake and ignition...

[@doctorwhodj]

Best thing is it's a roller engine.

[@grandmasmalibu]

They're great except that they suck for upgrades. The intake bolt pattern isn't old pattern, but it also isn't Vortec. The heads are also old school design unless you get the much rarer LT4 variant which are basically Vortec clones. The Optispark is a disaster of a distributor and isn't supported AT ALL in the aftermarket. The reverse-flow coolant system adds more weirdness to the list of things that don't interchange. The accessory drive doesn't work with old or new SBC stuff (it's unique to that gen of LT1). Just start with a truck Vortec motor and you'll make more power for FAR FEWER DOLLARS and greater interchangeability.

[@xmo552]

I agree on all points made. Didn't know the block is supposed to be stronger.

[@michaelangelo8001]

That's interesting, but its not really an LT1, without the stock manifold...

[@dickbrugh5562]

Please explain. The manifold isn’t what made the LT1 different. The cooling system was the main difference. It’s still a LT1 regardless if it has a fi or carb intake manifold.

[@ng6424]

❤

[@Simple_Youtube]

What is the best Optispark upgrade/eplacement??

[@chrishansen7004]

Hey Richard, if money wasn’t an issue what heads cam intake setup would you run on a mild 454 that can still rev too 6000rpm?

[@richardholdener1727]

to achieve what desired power curve?

[@Carl_Jr]

That engine is so clean inside you should have been wearing a surgical mask! 😷 😁

[@richardholdener1727]

IKR

[@bdugle1]

Gen 2 converted to Gen 1? Do you still have the reverse flow cooling system-as I seem to recall. Show us the range of mods available, thanks Richard

[@richardholdener1727]

we ran is as a reverse flow cooling-feeding the heads first

[@camaroguy2919]

Hey Richerd you probably get this question from time to time but how do you run the Gm TPi on the DYNO with out the stuffy GM computer thanks.

[@richardholdener1727]

we use Holley ECU

[@utahcountypicazospage5412]

236hp 306tq wheel lt1 stock ports are so small but a high dollar heads and big cam should wake it up

[@leftlanewilson]

What was the timing set at for the last 2 pulls?

[@therocketshopper]

these engines make their extra power because of higher compression. The reverse cooling system allows them to run on pump gas with that higher compression. In my experience the best plan is to save the rotating assembly and put it into a regular SBC block and throw the rest away. Also they have skinny piston rings which is worth a little power.

[@RotaryJunkie]

Pretty sure the LT1 heads are a considerable improvement over any factory SBC head...

[@therocketshopper]

@@RotaryJunkie no they are not. They don't swap easily because of the reverse cooling passages, and they are not better than vortec heads

[@RotaryJunkie]

@@therocketshopper Oh wow, now that I actually look into it, they're actually completely shithouse. Surprised they make the power they do now.

[@speedmullen]

Cool man!! Will that motor bolt up to a TH350? ;-)

[@richardholdener1727]

yes

[@msh6865]

What I want to know is if the LT1 with carb and intake will still fit under the stock hood of a '93-'97 F Body? If so, this is the easy low buck solution to the persistent Optispark problem.

[@richardholdener1727]

not sure

[@CNTablet-sg7qx]

I have a 1997 LT1 w/4L60 and a 1998 Vortec 350 w/700R4. Both run great. One of them will be used in my 68 Camaro soon. Richard, how does the head flow compare between the 2 sets of heads?

[@richardholdener1727]

too close to call

[@okramrimitsog5931]

Hi Richard can you do an sbc bottom end with ls style heads on it please

[@richardholdener1727]

that doesn't work

[@michaellongoria647]

Not bad for a motor that’s 25+ yrs old.

[@fmanion24]

Does lifter preload effect pistion to valve clearance?

[@richardholdener1727]

no sir

[@ardennielsen3761]

acceleration power or stall torque? ... the 8.8 axle can live with 80hp of acceleration but the moment there is loss of traction and regain of it... that's where the 260-330lbft is hiding in the old 4.6... "N-Drop"... lighter crank and the HPacc goes up and the BHP goes down... dyno inception, what type of power. ... then, 5psi in a old 4.6 sohc could brake... a 1.5 shaft floater AAM1150... tho those shafts are easy to swap on the spot. that LT1 with some gearing, a normal 9 inch isn't enough.

[@holeshot1721]

312hp=base 336 =tunedhp to save all you the 20mins

[@richardholdener1727]

thnx for supporting the channel

[@ryan8456]

Can the Holley term X control the LT1 4x1x crank and cam set up ?

[@adamreynolds1851]

I asked same thing ,that ls supra has it done on his page with a break down of how he did it. Torque head and terminator x

[@ryan8456]

@@adamreynolds1851 torqhead is 24x/1x im asking about 4x/1x like the vortec 350s it would still use a distributor for spark want a single coil

[@keithsmith9889]

I know there are simple firing order swap cams that pickup 40, 50 hoarse just swapping some firing orders but does anyone make big high lift big duration firing order swap cams?

[@richardholdener1727]

there is no firing order change that picks up 40-50 hp-we have tested 4-7 swaps and it does not change power

[@ryan8456]

@@richardholdener1727 ask Holley to add the 4x 1x crank and cam files to the term x software and use a 96-97 front cover and reluctor the use the opti or another standard distributor for spark

[@lilpoindexter]

dude...no, not even free is one of these worth it in 2024

[@E.T.GARAGE]

The only thing really bad about the Lt1 from that time was the opti spark.

[@michaelallen2501]

And today we don't even need it. My LT1 uses a cam position sensor and 8 coils now instead of a distributor.

[@cocoworldwideoriginal998]

Not to mention the reverse flow cooling that didn't work with anything else. It never had the junkyard engine potential of other sbc and it didn't have the power potential of "ls" platform.

[@cocoworldwideoriginal998]

Loved the one in my roadmaster despite it not having as much aftermarket support

[@E.T.GARAGE]

@@michaelallen2501 👍😎👍

[@michaelangelo8001]

Can't speak for others, but the one's on my Corvettes have always worked perfectly.

[@fmanion24]

How much timing did you have in it?

[@richardholdener1727]

35

[@BubbavilleTX]

Any ideas when the next LT1 video will post? It’s been a month already…

[@richardholdener1727]

patience

[@BubbavilleTX]

🤣😂🤣Yeah in my timeframe, it could take years. Thought it might mirror the Cad 500 series from a few years back.