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

[@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.

[@mattcossel29]

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

[@pizzandoughnutspage7817]

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

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

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

[@Cugy_2345]

Idk, L98 seems pretty underrated

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Gen 2 SBC, the optispark killed it

[@coreysharp9794]

​@@shadowopsairman1583 it's not that big of a deal 😂

[@shr1gma]

@@shadowopsairman1583 optispark issues were massively overblown, not to mention replacing it with a new one or a different distributor system is pretty cheap

[@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?

[@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.

[@robertbaker837]

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

[@geralduchman6663]

Tired of just seeing LS... great to see LT1 has not been forgotten.

[@BaseReality8279]

I just bought a 96 camaro 6spd lt1 a few months ago. 100,000 miles all stock original. Im very pleased with the performance and reliability. The motor runs like it was just broken in.

[@joeycordeiro3198]

noooo,, 96 manual may be a LT4 by default , you may have a easter egg my freind. Vettes came with LT4s by default with manuals so possibly z28 alao prehapts..If it goes like fire.. u may have a LT4.. just saying but not defanitly shure

[@BaseReality8279]

@joeycordeiro3198 thanks! I'll definitely look into this. Yes for being bone stock still sporting the original cats and emissions stuff it's a beast!

[@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.

[@jasonkepic1132]

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

[@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.

[@breakker6579]

This is exactly what my 1997 Trans Am is running with. Just using the cap and rotor on the opti.

[@Johnman3341]

The optispark is very accurate at reading specific camshaft location. They make a coil on plug conversion that still uses the optispark optical sensor that works really really well

[@keelandavis]

@@Johnman3341what is the conversion called?

[@dapper_gent]

The conversion kit was last seen hitchhiking when it got picked up by a starfish heading for the beach.

[@chrispompano]

LTCC LT1 Coil per Cylinder Converter by Bailey Engineering.😁

[@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 :-)

[@chrispompano]

I'm going to contact Ritchie with the build info i compiled on a C4 from 12yrs ago from many KZbin vids beating LS's & Z06's that everyone couldn't believe he had a NA LT1/LT4. Maybe you know who I'm talking about? Maybe Ritchie can do the build to find out what the numbers are since this guy never had it dyno'd.......it was an incredible sleeper!

[@chrispompano]

It was also a 355 & everyone was dumbfounded.....

[@puffkendrick6850]

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

[@justinjones7238]

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

[@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

[@jeffjarquin5600]

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

[@johnnyblackking169]

Got that setup today no Ls stock for stock it will make a 5.3 get over in a 1986 c1500

[@michaelangelo8001]

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

[@doolallyproductions7234]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@VictorMartinez-FV5HX]

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

[@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

[@toddjohn2142]

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

[@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.

[@marknowakowski6590]

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

[@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.😝

[@twotrackjack2260]

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

[@scottd7222]

I drive a 96 Fleetwood with Lt1. Love that damn car lol

[@NickDoesLife]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@jasonsapp792]

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

[@Johnman3341]

They also make a coil on plug conversion that works really well a s you can keep the EFI

[@Aph87]

Love the content Richard

[@TEAMPHY6]

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

[@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😊

[@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!

[@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.

[@Alss383]

If your heads were properly ported they will do better then the as cast Gen x 185 heads. For more power get Llyod Elliot to port the 21* trickflow heads and get the 2.05/1.6 valve options.

[@davidincognito7285]

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

[@Emilthehun]

Yesss! Richard always bringing the good stuff

[@ni_wink84]

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

[@bcbloc02]

You know we always want to see more testing 😎

[@Hallz999]

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

[@MrYz250fman]

The lt1 was the best sbc ever built. 10.5:1 compression from the factory. They were all roller motors. A lot of them were 4 bolt main but not all. Reverse cooling from the factory. The best efi system ever put on a factory sbc. Factory aluminum heads. I can look past the opti for all that or even delete it wich yes you can do.

[@weskirkland5850]

1:47 High mileage LT1 guys... I learned the hard way this thing will kill your'e engine. Not this part but the gear on the other end that drives the oil pump. Mine was worn super thin after 180k of hard miles. I cranked it up one day and the gear teeth had worn so thin they sheared off when I started it. no oil PSI = rod knock. killed an otherwise still good engine. After my fiasco, I'd recommend you pull this thing every 150k and replace the gear on the other end. GM PN# 19052845. It will save your otherwise good high mileage engine from destruction.

[@weskirkland5850]

2:08 that gear if worn will ruin your engine if you don't change it before it wears out.

[@weskirkland5850]

GM PN# 19052845. That gear cost me around $8k. It's not to hard to change surprisingly. took about 3 hours to get to it and change it, another 4 hours to put it all back together.

[@Haithamz]

Great job 👏🏻

[@bluenecross]

Test a Torquehead 24x coil on plug conversion!

[@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

[@Alss383]

Definitely opti spark.

[@Alss383]

I'd rather have a dual plane or Holley stealth ram over the TPI.

[@nFlames2]

Need to do one on the new 4.3L v6 all aluminum heads & block makes tons of HP.

[@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.

[@plumbs7199]

Very nice little small block .

[@LegendCampbell]

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

[@wingingittracy8508]

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

[@LeftForDeadGarage]

I have two full LT1 swaps just sitting here doing nothing. Hmmmm maybe modify an old Yorker intake I have and see what happens.

[@Johnman3341]

For anyone wondering they make a coil on plug conversion for these thats really inexpensive.

[@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

[@sjhudon386]

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

[@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.

[@Whosaids0]

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

[@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.

[@clintonmaurer5758]

I may have to start buying these up now

[@sleepersportlabs]

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

[@petermuller161]

Carb camera was intense!

[@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

[@chrispompano]

It would be fun to go backwards & put a factory TPI on the LT1 & then a SuperRam or FIRST TPI, if they could be adapted & also run an HEI distributor........but, I am just using my far fetched imagination & liv'n in the Draconian TPI Dark Ages or shall I say TPI Stone Ages!

[@richardholdener1727]

I ran a Super Ram on the LT1-that video is up

[@jeffreymayer8550]

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

[@MrGeorge1978]

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

[@vortecmacs]

Shame we didn’t get to see the stock intake

[@larryanderson2766]

Was always curious about those

[@therocketshop]

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...

[@therocketshop]

@@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]

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

[@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

[@glastornjet73]

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

[@johncalhoun8011]

Richard! I have a 91 Chevy Truck with a 2Brl TBI Fuel System. I want to have the Engine Rebuilt. How can i increase Horsepower to about 300-350 ? Best route to take?

[@morganallen1853]

Can you try the classic cc306 cam and gm847?

[@marknowakowski6590]

Dang chocolate milk coming out of there sheeeeesh.

[@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

[@chrispompano]

I think I read to get a better water pump that doesn't have the weep hole dripping onto the OptiSpark, & an updated sealed OptiSpark , like MSD makes one..... or convert it to all coil packs by Bailey LTCC Coil Conversion Module - LT1 to LS1 …

[@claburn123]

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

[@okramrimitsog5931]

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

[@richardholdener1727]

that doesn't work

[@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.

[@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.

[@joncarlson3014]

is there a good video on a mod to the gen 2 head and putting them on a gen 1 block?

[@utahcountypicazospage5412]

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

[@philwishart5833]

LT1 all the way!

[@Simple_Youtube]

What is the best Optispark upgrade/eplacement??

[@dreadnaught688]

Guess I'm buying an LT1 corvette

[@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

[@Danno74Z]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@CNTablet-sg7qx]

@@richardholdener1727 I've got a set of Canfield Racing LT1 heads. "Supposedly" over 310cfm intake and 225 exhaust at .600 Want to test them?

[@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?

[@doctorwhodj]

Best thing is it's a roller engine.

[@aurayelinamejias6048]

Impressive

[@leftlanewilson]

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

[@Carl_Jr]

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

[@richardholdener1727]

IKR

[@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.

[@billwilliams2242]

More LT1

[@Gregoman89]

Wish I could find a good lt1