I am finding myself straying from small displacement forced induction cars. I have become much more interested in the LSX series powered cars and would like some help with them. I have a LOT of questions but hopefully someone can link me or break things down for me because my knowledge extends only to bolt ons and mild upgrades.

I have become very interested in the GTO and I hear that the GTO+Turbo goes VERY well, even supercharged GTO's. I won't lie I think the next car I buy will be something scary fast and that is what I am shooting for. I would like help with the good, the bad and the ugly of what to expect in terms of maintenance, repairs, fuel efficiency (it shouldn't matter but I still would like to know) as well as getting the power to the ground.

I am trying to get a bit more educated in terms of the actual motor. I am shaking on terms such as:

Cams:
Pistons:
Rods:
Top end:
Bottom eng:
Short block:
Long block:
Bearings:
Bore:
Stroke (or Stroker):
Different displacement: 383, 402, 427 etc...

What does each do? What is the benefit of modifying? What does it do? How much? How does it change how the car runs?

What advice do you all have? This will be a car that is driven as much as possible until weather compromises drivability. Is it a bad idea to buy a car that has already been built and change what I would like to change?

What should I know?

 

read up on ls1tech.com

you'll get more info than here

 

I'm on LS1tech but there is a guy here with a built GTO and I'm waiting for him to chime in.

 

What kind of power you looking for?

 

The most power I can have without losing 100% normal streetable driving.

 

On LSX cars with FI your best bet is to stick with a stock Cubic Inch short block (with good rods and pistons).The stock crank is strong and so are the blocks,your best bet is a nice set of heads like AFR with a thick deck.With a APS turbo kit and a good fuel system you can easily make 600+ to the wheels and still be a daily driver. My wife's old SS had a turbo technology kit. It made 650 rwhp and she drove it everyday.

 

Kinda a dumb question but how was the gas mileage in and out of boost... and then mixed.

 

Best advice I can give you is to buy one already built by a reputable tuner. Let someone else take the loss for the mods.

If you keep boost under 9lbs you will be safe on stock Ls1 bottom end. Anything over 9lbs it will probably eat the number 7 piston. If you go forged bottom end while it is apart may as well go stroker and do a 383 or get crazy bore stroke and sleeve and go 422 or 427. Once you get to that point then the possibilities are endless as long as your wallet is deep enough.

The drawback is by this time you begin to realize you have a motor worth more than the car.

 

18-20 hwy,playing around 10-12,but it's hard to drive slow.

 

I've been a LSx owner of some kind since '97 and on LS1Tech since 2002. If you want reliable, daily driver power without going to crazy do a mild cam, intake, headers, exhaust and gears. You will be more then happy.

 

ls1tech is where the big names and all the experience are. Start searching there, there is more info than you will know what to do with.

And remember it's cam, rather than cams.

 

ls1tech like the others have said. Also for GTO specfic info ls1gto.com has good info.

 

If you want high hp and fuel mileage, then stick with the stock displacement. Go with the '05-06 GTO because they have the LS2, then change the cam, intake, ported heads and exhaust - this will get you 500hp+ at the crank, but you'll still get great mileage in town or on the highway. If you throw boost on it, then you can get the insane hp you mentioned, but you'll burn more gas too (maybe use nitrous as an alternative).

 

A friend of mine had a Camaro SS in 02 and he abused the **** out of it. 200 nitrous shot, raced every weekend and did donuts in about every parking lot he ever went too. The LS1 in there took it all like a champ and I am convinced had he not dorve it into a lake, it would still be running to this day.

 

You should know that LS7 is too weak for boost so thats what you need to buy cause it loves spray.

Also, kidd's a *****.