LT5 swap?

[4thgenowner]

Has anyone EVER attempted an LT5 swap? I got the chance to ride in a LT5 ZR1 and DAMN! Thats one F-ING awesome engine! I wondered if anyone has attempted this.

[zlightning]

I highly I repeat highly dought it. The LT5 is a monster of an engine with a monster of a price.

[scottblack]

It's also a very unpractical engine. If something breaks then BAM 20 grand for another motor. You'd do better doing an LS6 swap, more reliable and more power. Plus it will fit. We don't know if an LT5 would fit.

Scott

[HAZ-Matt]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Scott Black:
You'd do better doing an LS6 swap, more reliable and more power. Plus it will fit. We don't know if an LT5 would fit.
<hr></blockquote>

Well, you are half right. The LS6 would be a lot easier to install. As in a hell of a lot easier. And should be cheaper too.

BUT The LT-5 was rated at 405HP in later years, just like the LS6. The difference is in the torque... the LS-6 makes 385ftlbs, as opposed to the 375 of the LT-5. But the LT-5 revs to 7000rpm stock, and the LS-6 revs to 6500, and there happens to be more area under the horsepower and torque curves for the LT-5. You will also be able to rev the LT-5 higher after modding it then the LS-6 because it is DOHC; I've read about people reving to ungodly high rpms in the LT5. And the LT-5 is one of the most reliable engines ever made. Consider this... a guy hit 200mph in a lightly modded ZR-1 with 140K miles on it (he had exhuast and he removed the side mirrors that day). Also the ZR-1 holds the world endurance record: 24 Hours Endurance @ 175.885 MPH for 4,221.256 Miles. How bout this is a quote about the testing of the LT5:
"The engine ran at wide-open throttle, with the dynamometer cycling from peak torque for five minutes, to peak power for five minutes, and back again in a sawtooth cycle. The engine would run this way for the next eight days without respite--if it held together. The days passed, with the technicians changing shifts every eight to twelve hours. Tony Rudd made sure there would be no trips out of the country as the engine passed its seventh day, running without a glitch. Rudd made numerous trips to the test cell once the engine passed 195 hours, stopping by every hour on the hour. When it passed 200 hours, the technician running the test, Peter Bettridge, shut the LT5 down.... This was the first time we had done a peak torque/power cycle without a problem. It was a milestone." Ok, the LT5 ran at 200 straight at max torque and hp. I think it is reliable. And I don't think the LS6 would run that long.

As for the difficulty.. the LT5 is larger than the LS6, so it may not fit. Also there is only one interchangeable part between the LT5 and a regular SBC. You will need to use the ZF6 transmission from the ZR-1 (although I know there is 1 4L60E ZR-1 in existance that was converted by Lingenfelter), unless you can rig something.

Long story short, it would be easier and cheaper to do the LS6 swap. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: HAZ-Matt ]</p>

[Ryan Clark]

I have a buddy at work with a 1990 Zr-1 It has 18,000 miles on it. Red w/ black leather, Black powdercoated wheels, Lingenfelter Long tubes, B&B exhaust, x-pipe, CAI, and a chip. He let me take it out one day by myself. I was nervous, this is the most perfect car I have ever seen. Everything was done just right on it. I didn't think it would ever stop pulling it was going so fast. (anyway, lets get out of my dream to own a zr-1 and back to the swap)

That is a HUGE motor. I don't think it will fit. I know it won't fit. The headers would run into the K-member.

[v6maro]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by HAZ-Matt:


Well, you are half right. The LS6 would be a lot easier to install. As in a hell of a lot easier. And should be cheaper too.

BUT The LT-5 was rated at 405HP in later years, just like the LS6. The difference is in the torque... the LS-6 makes 385ftlbs, as opposed to the 375 of the LT-5. But the LT-5 revs to 7000rpm stock, and the LS-6 revs to 6500, and there happens to be more area under the horsepower and torque curves for the LT-5. You will also be able to rev the LT-5 higher after modding it then the LS-6 because it is DOHC; I've read about people reving to ungodly high rpms in the LT5. And the LT-5 is one of the most reliable engines ever made. Consider this... a guy hit 200mph in a lightly modded ZR-1 with 140K miles on it (he had exhuast and he removed the side mirrors that day). Also the ZR-1 holds the world endurance record: 24 Hours Endurance @ 175.885 MPH for 4,221.256 Miles. How bout this is a quote about the testing of the LT5:
"The engine ran at wide-open throttle, with the dynamometer cycling from peak torque for five minutes, to peak power for five minutes, and back again in a sawtooth cycle. The engine would run this way for the next eight days without respite--if it held together. The days passed, with the technicians changing shifts every eight to twelve hours. Tony Rudd made sure there would be no trips out of the country as the engine passed its seventh day, running without a glitch. Rudd made numerous trips to the test cell once the engine passed 195 hours, stopping by every hour on the hour. When it passed 200 hours, the technician running the test, Peter Bettridge, shut the LT5 down.... This was the first time we had done a peak torque/power cycle without a problem. It was a milestone." Ok, the LT5 ran at 200 straight at max torque and hp. I think it is reliable. And I don't think the LS6 would run that long.

As for the difficulty.. the LT5 is larger than the LS6, so it may not fit. Also there is only one interchangeable part between the LT5 and a regular SBC. You will need to use the ZF6 transmission from the ZR-1 (although I know there is 1 4L60E ZR-1 in existance that was converted by Lingenfelter), unless you can rig something.

Long story short, it would be easier and cheaper to do the LS6 swap. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: HAZ-Matt ]<hr></blockquote>


The LT-5 engine is not DOHC, it's a quad cam.
-Steve

[scottblack]

Well that is interesting stuff. I always thought the LT5 was constantly 385HP. Good info!

Scott

[black34v6]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by v6maro:



The LT-5 engine is not DOHC, it's a quad cam.
-Steve<hr></blockquote>

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] -- dude.. DOHC = "quad cam".

DOHC = dual overhead camshafts per bank of cylinders. in a V engine, this equates to two camshafts per head or 4 camshafts -- such as the 3.4L DOHC has two camshafts (one intake one exhaust) per cylinder head. and the Northstar DOHC has two camshafts - one intake one exhaust - per cylinder head, translating to.. o yea...4 camshafts! how bout that.

edit: o yea, i forgot to mention. i looked into this one actually. as a viable swap into my car. here are some facts:

1) any SMOG'd state with A.R.B laws and regulations will not allow this engine in any car that is not the model year or older (engine in said car has to be model year or newer according to A.R.B) -- but that's only if you live in a state that has smog inspections.

2) the engine would fit. BARELY. the engine is basically a DOHC LT1 -- somewhat like a northstar engine huh? anyway, someone fit a northstar engine into a 4th gen camaro, it can be done with the LT5, but yes, it would be a TIGHT TIGHT fit. you probably wouldnt be able to change your oil filter without removing the engine. dunno what you'd do about maintenance either, and then theres the question of solid motor mounts. youd have to use them. meaning you'd rattle your teeth out of your skull just idling the car.

anyway. just my .02. take it at whatever its worth to ya.

-R

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: Russell ]</p>

[HAZ-Matt]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by v6maro:
The LT-5 engine is not DOHC, it's a quad cam.
-Steve<hr></blockquote>

Ok... except that it is a DOHC, 32 valve engine. Dual OverHead Cam means that there are two cams per cylinder bank, one for intake, and one fore exhuast. Since the LT5 is a V8... boom, there are 4 cams. If you look on the LT5, it does say "4 CAMS 32 VALVES," but that does not change the fact that is is DOHC.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=319766

EDIT: Russell beat me to the punch!!! took me forever to find a suitable thread on corvetteforum [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ September 03, 2002: Message edited by: HAZ-Matt ]</p>

[jmorgan]

i hear theres a whearhouse full of LT5's lmao

only thing is they sell them for 14K yes im not lying 14K


besides avaliblity for parts suckssss


umm go buy a 98 LS1 and put money into it

[HAZ-Matt]

There is one on ebay going for about $8000 right now. It's a crate motor.