How to BUILD a (gen 2) 5.7 LT1 sbc! | Horsepower recipe’s | More power and Reliability!

In this video I discuss the Gen 2 sbc LT1, what cars came with them, and how much power you can make. These engines are very underrated and have so much untapped potential!
#iroc #camarozl1 #bmw #chevy #caprice #corvette

[@SK84L1F3123]

My first v8 was an Lt1 in a firebird. Them things look so good and sound amazing also very quick even stock. I feel as though they’re a secret weapon and slept on, I’ve literally had machine shops ask me why I don’t just build an LS and at that point I knew I’m rocking with 350’s for life. I pray they stay slept on, and the ones who truly know mess with them. Don’t get me wrong LS’s are the shit but Lts in 4th gens and of that era are one of a kind in my eyes

[@henrywal]

Why are they one of a kind, I was just asking because I'm debating. If I go ls2 I will carb it.

[@user-rk7cw2bf9u]

51 Bel Air with a LT1 I love that damn thing and leaving it a LT1 just ordered heads, cam and air foil for it. I'm thinking it should be about 430HP NA and gonna toss a 125 shot on it.

[@1980bwc]

Ive just been gifted a 95 Z-28 from an old friend. Its still got the factory LT1 block and heads. Its been sitting since 2013 because of a head gasket. The engine has 2,500 miles on the build. He took it apart, had it line honed, and rebuilt it with all forged internals. He also sent off the heads and had his machine shop port and shave them. He got it back together, and now it has 11.5 to 1 compression and it dyno'd at 421 hp to the wheels N/A. He also installed a 130 shot of nitrous on top of that. It ran a 7.41 in the 1/8th mile. The car has only 81,000 miles on it, and the black leather interior is mint. The paint is shot though Sat out in direct sunlight for 11 years, and alot of the clear is bubbled up. Its red, but I really want to do a color swap on it, and paint it black. Would like to find a 98-02 parts car for the front end. Then im gonna put an SS hood and spoiler on the back. Of course ive gotta yank that 4l60e and swap it out for a T56. Best gift ive ever got, or ever will get. Lol

[@user-Dr.]

I like the fact that he made mention of the reverse flow cooling, a much bigger advantage than most realize, I have a 93 and a 95, street and race the 93, the 95 is for road racing only, I built 383's for both, and they are 13.5 to 1 compression on 93 octane, I use AFR heads, this much compression is only possible because of the reverse flow cooling, these are the perfect road racing engines, about 600 horse and a torque band like nothing else on the track.

[@highimjalen]

What did you do for tuning? I’m working on a 383 ‘94 LT1 and am stuck at tuning bc nobody wants to tune it 😑

[@user-Dr.]

@@highimjalen Yep, duckduckgo or whatever you use, pcmforless Keith is the guy's name out of Stow OH, you can call him to touch base, but first you get on his web sight, he has a form to fill out, he needs to know your cam total lift and duration at 0.050, T.B. size, that form has all he needs to know, look over the form, get all the info, get it filled out the best you can, than call him, you mail him your PCM he does it all put it pack in runs perfect, he's been doing it for a long time, he's good, he does obd1 also, like my 93 with the E-prom, just incase anybody else was wondering.

[@thomasmcdaniel4336]

​@highimjalen that's because obd1 cars aren't as easy to tune as obd2..

[@user-Dr.]

@@thomasmcdaniel4336 The 94 Camaro is obd2.

[@user-Dr.]

@@highimjalen Were you able to get your Camaro tuned.

[@jordanjustdiy5234]

I have a 96 LT1 swapped in my 87 caprice. I have no complaints and I’m planning on building it

[@theredwedge9446]

LT1 IS AN AMAZING ENGINE !!!!

[@bigty4725]

For sure! Nice firebird

[@theredwedge9446]

@@bigty4725 Thanks !

[@ssbrasco3896]

It’s is but do to lsx swap the world 🌎 it has become a dinosaur

[@SK84L1F3123]

You can say that again 😌

[@joshpriest7154]

Gotta 97 z28 just bought it love it but need more power forsure

[@nikothevirgo]

To be fair. The wait times on lt1/lt4 tick cams are insane, multiple people have waited 10 months or more, I've never heard of anyone not waiting that long. Not to mention all of their LT cams require a stall and gears along with a proper tune which is hard for some folks to understand. Oh & yes there's remote tuners you can send your PCM off to but most people want an actual tune that is more dialed in. Yes you can do the EFI Connections 24X kit or 0411 Swap, but many people aren't that wiring savvy, which is why the torqhead 24X kit is $1900 because it's easier. Bottom line, the cam cores are extremely hard to get because as you know everyone is focused on LS. Also off the shelf heads are hard to get too and are underperformed for the money. You can get way better bang for your buck getting some 643 or 374 heads as cores and sending them off to somebody like Lloyd Elliot and having them do work to them. But you'll still run into cam availability issues. They have some stuff floating around that are made cast but no one uses those anymore everyone has moved on to billet cores. With all that being said just jumping into a stroker build these days is not a smart or cost efficient idea. A stroker build with a stock top end is even worse. And that is what scares people away from the gen 2 LT, not just the opti location. What you should do is a video on bolt ons for these engines, tuners to go with, higher stall converters, rear gears etc etc. Even weight reduction 🤷🏿. This is not an engine where the build will be cookie cutter by a long shot. And this is coming from a gen 2 fanatic, it is what it is and calling it how I see. Jonathan Atkins from Tick Performance (own the Grubbworm car) has spoken in the LT group about this before. And another issue some people in general have is they select the wrong cams chaising the biggest numbers on paper and loud chop and are disappointed by the reality. While they could've just called the company and ask what specs would work for themselves. Another issue is people buy the wrong parts, buying gen 1 specific parts thinking it'll work merely because it's an SBC, or they buy gen 5 parts merely because it's also called an LT1/LT4 (LTX).

[@crimsonlight4205]

Well any decent sized cam is gonna require a tune and a stall converter… but you right, they have virtually no aftermarket support. Don’t think Lloyd Elliot even does heads for them anymore (haven’t had my lt1 for a long time so I haven’t checked) the rear gear ratio was pretty much perfect at 3:23 for some and 2:92? For others. They had plenty of get up and go off the line and could even do it on the highway too. Can’t reduce the weight much either (not on a trans am atleast) since most of the body is already fiberglass. Honestly lt1s are hard to build these days but they are very nice cars.

[@nikothevirgo]

@@crimsonlight4205 I only mentioned the stall & gears because too many people follow similar builds the guy in the video was talking about & forget the rest of the drive train and are disappointed by the results only focused on loud chop & larger cubes lol. Also Lloyd Elliot is on Instagram & he's still pretty deep into the LT stuff but even he himself has warned me about the shortage. But on the bright side Ray Hinton is working with Aftermarket LTX Block Committee & they are developing universal blocks that will be able to take LS heads, cam versatility, a one piece seal crank & will have blocks with bore sizes around 4.185 to 4.5 so we'll be seeing iron block 427 LT1 gen 2 engines in the near future. There's also another company designing a Whipple supercharge kit for LT cars so we've got just a little bit going for us... Or at least I think so 🤣🤣. And about the weight reduction, B & D body cars have a lot of weight that could be sacrificed. But like you said not too much for the F body cars

[@crimsonlight4205]

@@nikothevirgo damn that’s gonna be sweet, I’d rather keep the lt1 heads though, I like the reverse cooling since the heads are the main things that need to stay cool, it just makes sense.

[@nikothevirgo]

@@crimsonlight4205 Ray says they can be modified for the reverse flow cooling but I haven't personally seen it. So I guess we'll have to wait & see because I'm not gonna be the first to do it lol I'll just keep the OG ones if all fails no need to go against a 30+ year old grain 🤷🏿. I like the reverse flow cooling too because you can run higher compression on pump gas 🔥

[@crimsonlight4205]

@@nikothevirgo exactly, they really were ahead of their time in racing technology, I’ll never understand why it never caught on. Even helped reduce emissions too so that would’ve been a good way around the more strict emissions codes that are coming.

[@armandochirino2240]

Finally the lt1 getting some love and also 24x sells the conversion kit to coils for about 2,400 lol

[@eatmysalt291]

I almost went that route, but an entire MSD ignition system is only 1500. Came with all the plug wires, coil, ignition box that gives 2 sparks per cycle vs the stock 1, and the MSD optispark. From what I’ve heard, they’re bullet proof and you can keep it running like a true LT1.

[@hiddenghost9200]

Are msd trash I heard stories where people go thru them pretty fast!

[@eatmysalt291]

@@hiddenghost9200 I’ve only had mine on for a couple months, but so far, so good. Come back in a year or two and I’ll be able to give you a more experienced opinion.

[@hiddenghost9200]

@@eatmysalt291 see ya in 1 year 🤣

[@KellAdk76]

It also came in the 1997 Pontiac Formula Firebird, I know because I have one. Mild cam, performance injectors, Cold air intake, Stall converter. She moves baby!!!

[@arosie05]

93 Trans Am owner here. I have the 383 stroker setup with a built 700r4 behind it ready for LT4 blower setup.

[@monopython8487]

Spun a bearing in my 93 from oil starvation... looks like im goi g this route... you are a blessing.. i didnt work all my life to watch my dream car sit a month after i bought it... had a small oil leak from the water pump gear into the timing cover gasket.. but i am grateful and i WILL have my 93 back on the road daily driving!

[@txxex9023]

Yay someone who has some info on lt1's very forgotten engine and I can't find crap on what to build on them so thanks for the help

[@theredwedge9446]

Honestly.... very similar to the Chevy 350. Check out ls1tech for more info and support.

[@nastynate838]

I keep telling you 200k before the summer is over . Keep going 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@3500camarz]

Nah Fam but next year sure

[@danieltippett5696]

I got an LT1 in my roadmaster and id have to say I love it as my first car

[@BIGWILL0715]

As a 1994 z28 owner every thing bad this guy said about the LT1 is 100% true

[@garrettferry8266]

Same

[@user-Dr.]

I guess I missed what he said was bad, but this gen 2 LT1 engine is considered one of the best automotive engines ever produced if not the best.

[@luisnavarro880]

I did a lt1 conversion to naturally aspirated and it runs perfect long tube headers and all electric pumps. .30 over. So much power it blew off the header gaskets and valve oil seals. Check your oil o seals that’s first to go after a major engine upgrade

[@r.x.m.215]

1996 C4 LT4 Corvette Grand Sport

[@feelthesteeltatt00piercing]

Please continue these videos . We all are enjoying them. Why didnt you do this years ago. Oh well looking forward to many more . Thankyou carguru

[@jamespepper2541]

Grubworm did a 6 in the quarter mile at 211 with a Lt1 block out of Impala SS!!! 😎 I had one with bbk headers and cold air intake and my car would brake the tires loose at 50mph!!! 😎

[@timothywing8604]

Short, but sweet! Good video... even better sweater! lol. These engines have been slept on for a hot minute. If I were to buy a 4th Gen Camaro, with this engine option, I think I'd skip the LS Swap. Plenty of power left on the table with these.

[@AbeW2010]

Just got my 95 z28 a few days ago this helped out a lot ✊🏾✊🏾

[@nthgth]

Had a 95 Z28 manual many years ago.. LOVE that they're still getting love. I hope to have another someday.

[@slimhardaway8]

You got some good ass content! 💯

[@3500camarz]

He needs to build a car for us. Walk the talk

[@the_gold_canopy]

The LT1 could take a serious beating whether spooled up or pro charged, and could be dropped in anything as long as you mated it to a solid transmission. Monster makes a rock solid built 4l60 for cheap.

[@nlopez2909]

Hell ya another video we blessed today

[@demetriusedwards6458]

love it im a Lt1 owner also i have a 1994 impala ss and it gets up and goes. thanks for the info most definitely going to be looking to put more in it.

[@92mrbangbang]

They make an lt1 to ls1 conversion the lets you run off the coil packs 😮 this is such a game changer

[@Deancutit]

My first time hearing about it too. I’m trying to understand how it works

[@sharodbell]

Found out not too long ago myself. Haven’t made a purchase yet but it looks very promising. And let us not forget, this is a system every LT owner should consider. For even if you are keeping your LT stock, at least with this kit you don’t have to worry about the water pump causing optispark failures👌🏾😎

[@paulflynn2481]

the stock aluminum heads can flow as well with almost the same numbers as the aftermarket versions. My ported and matched stock heads flow the same numbers as the trick flow for the costs of parts and a little patience and time.

[@watchandjewelryloft4713]

I wonder what the HP/tq gains are with an otherwise stock LT1 with ported and matched heads. And maybe a tune.

[@paulflynn2481]

@@watchandjewelryloft4713 there was article years ago about stock eliminator class with regards to the LT1 head. It had a comparison flow chart to show how well they do flow. If I think of it I will hit you back

[@ottobauner9828]

If looking for a lt1 becareful when looking at 94-96 Caprice these had the option of a 5.7lt1 BUT the Standard engine was the "baby LT1" the L99 this was a 4.3 v8 identical to the 5.7 lt1 just smaller

[@biggregsparks8364]

What's better about the LT1 over LS at 2400 RPM they make 325 foot-pounds and carry that torque all the way to 5000

[@sharodbell]

Got a 96’ vette lt4 and I love how the torque feels. If I want an LS I’ll just get a c5z or c6z. I don’t want to lose that LT experience just for better tune-ability and after market support. I’m fine leaving it stock if that’s what it ends up coming down to. 🤷🏾‍♂️😎✌🏾

[@GhostSS1LE]

Your videos be fire 🔥 and I be on the lookout for what's next from you. Im from Memphis also and make a video about 2 door tahoes beefing them up and engine mods or swaps

[@bigty4725]

Right on! I got a 93 corvette with a lt1

[@NewStart1o1]

Im sticking to My LT1 but I been seeing some impressive LS motors but The sound and the tuffness of My LT1 is unmatched 🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️

[@johnjohnson-cx9ho]

Thanks for another video. Taking notes..

[@TheManic.5-OH]

Damn I didn't know you could delete that fuggin optispark! That shit was the definition of 'you doin too much' by gm 😂

[@rodjohnson3727]

Great job 👏 I have this in my 78 malibu..

[@larenzowesley30]

Was thinking about doing the same what transmission you running?

[@neal6473]

That's what I'm talking about amen brother 👏👏👏👏👍☺️.

[@TEAMPHY6]

I wanna love my LT1 but I can get a running LQ4 for the price of those LT1 rockers. Prices for LT1 parts just doesn't make sense.

[@VicMcLov1n]

This why I rock wit you ✊🏿

[@CirocObama.94]

The fastest manual Camaro is LT1

[@ebkbk9902]

exactly thats the 2nd fastest manual domestic car and 3rd fastest manual car on the planet!

[@davontedavis9878]

Ayyyyyeeeee fam did one for appreciate you dawg

[@jaymak1337]

I Had 388 Stroker My Brother & When Chargers & Magnums Thought They We’re The Shit With Those Hemis Lmao I Destroyed So Many With “Old Man Technology” 😂

[@coreymobley9979]

I might do this to my 93 roadmaster. LT1 rider

[@officialmfast]

Came in the impalas too

[@Mr.Vazquez]

Do a TPI 350 L98 in the C4 Corvette from 1988 to 1991 I just pulled mine out this morning, love to see your ideas and feed back. Callaway and zr1 would be different vids separate. but do one about the base platform and it's 700r4 lol.

[@JavierRodriguez-db2vh]

Amen brother! I did everything you said!!!!

[@DieselTheLab]

Bro, I’m getting an LT1 soon, can’t wait to upgrade it.

[@ericmontez87]

What would u do first to ur LT1?

[@SOUTHSIDESUPERSTAR]

Lt1 aka Ls killer!!!

[@KingLexus]

Nah

[@SOUTHSIDESUPERSTAR]

@@KingLexus shyt

[@kipc8734]

love this video

[@elianpz]

Got a 396 with a plate kit and a dana rear end. Shit is a headache but daim it goes and sounds good.

[@drutillman9108]

Love these

[@Theycallmekenney]

That damn opti spark!!! The water pump always leaked on the opti spark in my 96 SS

[@crimsonlight4205]

Sounds less like a problem with the opti, and more like someone has no idea how to put a seal on a water pump…

[@Theycallmekenney]

@@crimsonlight4205 its a known factory issue what are you talking about?

[@crimsonlight4205]

@@Theycallmekenney it’s not? They solved it in 95 by putting a vent and a tube on the opti so when it gets wet the water would be able to leave. And if your water pump was leaking multiple times then you should really learn how to properly seal one. My water pump quit once in 200k miles. Never had to replace the opti. The only times people have trouble is when they never change the cap and rotor (because it’s a bit of a pain in the ass) and when the opti get wet from a water pump leak (change the cap and rotor once you put the new pump on to make sure there’s no water still in the distributor) it’s all about proper maintenance.

[@Theycallmekenney]

@@crimsonlight4205 you really think I care to debate with you online? Get a life.

[@crimsonlight4205]

@@Theycallmekenney it’s not a debate? I’m simply informing you of how to properly maintain an lt1. It’s a common misconception and would benefit lt1 owners to know

[@n0tahacker996]

the white caprice you posted is my car lol ill show u receipts lol

[@KobaBlack113]

Better than the LS.

[@teddybowman215]

Don't forget the Pontiac firebird

[@ja5435]

The question I want to ask is when are you going to build a race car on your channel

[@johnnyblackking169]

You also can put a distributor in it to with no problem

[@arthurjones5390]

When you finna show your build Guru dude ?

[@PowerstrokeSynd]

Trans AM also.

[@crimsonlight4205]

All firebird, just different from levels.

[@DONTXCRASH]

Man knows some (a lot of!) shit!

[@chrisduncan8457]

Man this is the video I've been waiting for. Black Guru, where should I start at if I'm not trying to race but I do want to burn Rubber on 24s?

[@rich2583]

Lol what are your even saying 😂😂 Are you 6 years old?

[@ttuggle31]

What’s up Gary this is Terry T

[@jarmaljackson]

I still got my 94 z28 24x cammed injectors and what not still fun to drive

[@jermelpettway7949]

Do a video on the Ford t bird super couple 89-97 straight sleeper Its a modded 1 on here makn 800hp&1200 torque on Dyno with just turbo,cam&ported heads & a stock bottom end

[@notplane1239]

Would this recipe work for a tpi 350?

[@WelshKennelzCombine_DMV]

Yessir

[@maldo72]

good stuff

[@AntChiulli-Chiulli_RS]

2023 v6 camaro automatic

[@alexlove2588]

The coil conversion is a nice idea, but that scat stroker kit need to be melted and used for a new block. You can't square a stroker engine... ever

[@kyngsea7096]

Stop sleeping on this man shi can we get him to a 100k sub

[@jozy3354]

Guru can you get on these c63 owners?

[@alexishuerta9087]

What’s the difference between this lt1 sbc and a vortec 5.7l in the obs trucks

[@bbowman3526]

How much hp does all that add without doing boost

[@francoflorez5529]

Do a ka24 single a dual cam build

[@antdjones05]

This setup you explained.. What kinda hp can be expected in the end?

[@gohardperformancefiggous5580]

Bro can you do a review on cAlloway corvette twin turbo c4

[@Anthony0899]

Yo with the conversion kit , i can still use the regular waterpump , as well as leave everything else stock ?

[@user-oj8rt3cy7n]

now change the gear ratio to something like 3.73 and that’s a track killer

[@eddy3061]

Just built a 1995 383 Lt1 for my 68 Camaro. kept it fuel injected

[@hammergrands4520]

I have a 1992 c4 and it's an automatic. Really want to do these upgrades and also convert to Manuel. I just don't know where to start with it all. I just went through the cooling system, new injectors, and now I have a pulley squeaking on me. So once this is done I'll be is the clear for the most part I think. Do I just start saving or part by part it together?

[@andydhillon1977]

Converting to manual transmission in the C4 is not an easy task.

[@frankieking7517]

How can you make some power with the just the stock 350ci

[@kashmoney1350]

Could all this work for the 4.3L

[@BuiltDifferent13]

Yeah but you know what The 350s hit peak torque at 2800 instead of 4800

[@claudiavilla8394]

I have a 96 ss impala I want it to keep up with the “Charger 392 “ they always pull up on me 😅 …. Everyone keeps telling me go with an LS motor the computer for the lt1 is too old bla bla bla 😑 I love my LT1 anyone here have any suggestions

[@eliteaudioinstallations4242]

Bro what can I do on my 2018 ram 2500 6.4l

[@magnificentballer]

So the Cadillac Fleetwood brougham has a 5.7 LT1 in it ?

[@d-rell8135]

Yes 94-96

[@1hunda100]

I need some 1 to do this for me

[@Promoter87251]

Looking to upgrade a 2013 v6 jeep what do you recommend?

[@KingLexus]

😂 get rid of that V6 & go get a 5.7 jeep instead atleast.

[@Swankyestbrute]

look up horsepower tube this guy has already done a pinout with the ls 4.8/5.3 0411 pcm then you can avoid a 1000 dollar harness

[@ja5435]

That’s 5K just for the heads

[@raymondraymeredith2905]

Pontiac?

[@IllegalC4]

Only costs like $10k lol

[@marcadominguez]

Whats up oil man

[@RockBottomGarage]

That’s one way to close out a video..😂😂😂😂

[@hiddenghost9200]

How much horsepower will this set up give me ?

[@jetlife77]

Man I got to get out of California. This smog shit ain't it. Can't to shit really to my Impala ss

[@MazzInCali]

Bay Area INC member here. Get the f outta Cali asap. I gotta 96SS. just dropped it off at the best shop in Reno for some serious work. F Cali.

[@KingLexus]

Facts

[@sharodbell]

Go holla at Sac speed shop. No smog emissions can stop us. Just gotta get out of that mind set. I had to learn the same thing. It sucks but where there’s a will, there’s a way. Don’t let the law stop what makes you happy. Live your life to the fullest fam cuz we not gonna be around forever so love it up you feel me👌🏾😎

[@jetlife77]

@@sharodbell 🍻💪

[@L92_Joe]

Fun fact homie the fleetwood was actually a D body (still just a stretch B body) but figured I share 😂

[@TsukuyomiPlayz]

Why you sweating so much brotha?

[@biggregsparks8364]

8 and 1/2 to 9-1 is old school compression ratio how the new coyotes 12 to one and they boost the s*** out of that thing on the 85

[@user-Dr.]

I run my LT1 383's at 13.5 to 1, no boost needed, ain't a Mustang built that can run with this thing on a road course.

[@biggregsparks8364]

@@user-Dr. which heads did you go with? you could break 500 rear wheel. very few lt1 builds do it NA. sounds strong. i have a 9.7 compression 383 lt1 with p600b procharger revving 6900 making 11 lbs boost, t56 magnum. originally built by Lingenfelter in 1996

[@user-Dr.]

@@biggregsparks8364 You got a Lingenfelter built car, that's pretty cool, I put Air Flow Research heads on both of my cars, they're comp 195, 56cc chamber part #1039p, the one in my 93 I had dyno tuned, it did 488, I went with a pretty mild cam after lots of trial and error, I built the engine for the 95 the same, so the tune would be the same and I really like the engine, I do road course track days all summer and this engine is a beast this car will run with anything, I've been street driving and racing the red 93 for nearly 30 years, we recently bought this black 95 just for the track, ran it all last year with the stock engine in it, it ran real good, I just need more power, the new engine is almost ready to swap in, try to have it ready to go by spring, got this car all stripped out, much lighter, can't wait til spring.

[@biggregsparks8364]

@@user-Dr. awesome. People always talk about the LS and I have a 2011 LS3 6 Speed and it's pretty God damn fast for what it is but prefer built Gen 2 lt1s better the iron block is good for like 1500 horsepower with Boost and all the 5.0s I've ran into always want to race everything but I always win hurts feelings when they got a $45,000 car

[@raymondr5991]

Why u got to say black or anything to do wit race..just build a bad azz motor MAN DAM..

[@twotwocold]

Bruh better be driving nothing but hot shyte💯 searching the internet for information about motors, and posting it like he's intelligent 😂😂😂😂

[@39slow]

Hell naw I ain’t building dat shi