Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific - L98 vs LT1

I'm sure this has been done a million times, but can anyone give me a link comparing and contrasting L98s to LT1s? I love 3rd gens but would like to start learning the ins and outs of the L98 engine. Didn't it come in Corvettes of this era too?


Also, what cars came with L92s? How are they different from L98s?

L92 is a throttle body motor if I recall correctly

differences between L98 and LT1 lets see what I can come up with off the top of my head

L98 gen 1 small block LT1 gen 2

L98 21 inch runner LT1 3 inch runner

L98 standard cooling system LT1 reverse

L98 uses standard dizzy LT1 has cam driven dizzy behind water pump

L98 in F body uses iron heads only Vette gets aluminum LT1 in Vette and F body is aluminum B body LT1 is Iron head

Cams are totally different

L98 belt driven water pump LT1 cam driven

I think thats about everything if you have any other questions let me know

To sum it up:

LS1 > LT1 > L98

If it's newer, it's better.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/AaronZ34/Motivation/tpi8cn.jpg

the one thing i remember about my old IROC is that on the street it was a monster. It only ran a low 13 to high 12 but the low end torque was rediculous! It would fall flat on its face after about 5200 rpm though :)

Another difference, the L98 uses a distributor and the LT1 uses the OptiSpark.

Two questions...what's the runner and what is the dizzy?

I like the 94+ LT1 because they use a flash chip in their computer that can be program or read by a laptop. Don't have to burn chips or anything like that. The 94+ LT1 computer can just be reprogrammed for the speedometer for gear or tire size changes, no need to change out speedometer drive/driven gears.

You don't have to have a thirdgen with the engine that came with it(L98, or whatever). You can swap in a LTx/LSx. I've even seen a few thirdgens for sale with a LT1 already installed at thirdgen.org in the past year.

Two questions...what's the runner and what is the dizzy?

runner is the tube on the plenum,
dizzy is the gear that replaces the dist. on lt1's.
still drives the oil pump.

the oil pump is in the back of the block, water pump is in the front on LT1s. How can the dizzy drive the oil pump in LT1s? The oil pump is driven by a gear driven shaft perpendicular to the cam(also driven off the cam).

the L98 is no different from any 350 you get out there. 9.5:1 comp, all iron, stock bottom end is good for 6500 rpm and ~550 HP n/a
Everyone centers around the stupid factory intake as if you can't take it off, sell it to some street rodder on ebay for a good chunk of money, and replace the turd with an Holley Stealth Ram and have no RPM cap whatsoever (lest you spin past 8000 rpm)

the L98 is no different from any 350 you get out there. 9.5:1 comp, all iron, stock bottom end is good for 6500 rpm and ~550 HP n/a
Everyone centers around the stupid factory intake as if you can't take it off, sell it to some street rodder on ebay for a good chunk of money, and replace the turd with an Holley Stealth Ram and have no RPM cap whatsoever (lest you spin past 8000 rpm)

So is it 6500rpm or 8,000rpm?

And those heads must be quite godly to support 550hp.

Same with the cam.

And that distributor.

And that holy EFI system.

So basically, replace every part related to it being an L98, and it can perform like any other SBC. Who coulda guessed? You're genius.

The LT1 has more power in stock form than the L98, but i think the tpi has much more potential and can be had for much less. Since stock sbc parts will work, you have a vast array of parts to use. With upgraded pcm and runners, it performs very well, plus no opti to deal with. The longer runners on the tpi also make for a much more torque producing street motor.

Anybody that says you cant make good power with a TPI and Long runners is a fool

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/tpi/410837-400-rwhp-tpi-dyno.html

and I know for a fact that TPI gets along well with turbos and can go fast with very little

400whp isn't that good though. An LS1 can do that with bolt ons.

400whp isn't that good though. An LS1 can do that with bolt ons.

You mean bolt ons and a cam.

I feel so sad whenever I see my father-in-law drooling over a TPI like it is the most powerful engine on the road.

If you want to go old school go big block. Not many people can say that a SBC (or a factory TPI) is better than a BBC.

Those Engines are good till about 5000 RPM's.. A friend of mine has one. He shifts at 4800, I am still building power in my LT1 at that RPM.

400whp isn't that good though. An LS1 can do that with bolt ons.
Thats a really mild motor and people always forget to mention that an LS1 has a 15 DEGREE cylinder head and the advantages of years of research in runner design that came after the TPI engine (I know newer is better) if you need more than 400 wheel horse in a street car to cruiz around in you got a problem race cars are a different story

..if you need more than 400 wheel horse in a street car to cruiz around in you got a problem..
I don't need that much, I want that much..That is why I am building a 408ci L92.
There is nothing wrong with having power on the street, just don't hammer it all the time. When someone wants to play, then bring it out and fuck them up.. :judge:

Thats a really mild motor and people always forget to mention that an LS1 has a 15 DEGREE cylinder head and the advantages of years of research in runner design that came after the TPI engine (I know newer is better) if you need more than 400 wheel horse in a street car to cruiz around in you got a problem race cars are a different story

You're happy with 400whp?

Do us a favor, buy a Honda.

You're happy with 400whp?

Do us a favor, buy a Honda.
As a driver that would be nice I wouldn't build a long runner car as a race machine just a nice stoplight racer a street cruiser or maybe auto X car


OH and FUCK YOU I'll buy whatever I please thanks

Not everything has to be built heavy and not everybody wants 500+ Wheel horse sometimes a large area under the curve is more desirable

You're happy with 400whp?

Do us a favor, buy a Honda.

I personally think this post, along with every other one of yours in this thread, is rediculous. There was nothing in the original post about ls1's. The ls1 is a superior motor in every way to both the lt and tuned port but that wasnt the question. 400 wheel horsepower is a lot of power and very fun to drive on the street. From the sound of things you dont have anywhere near this. A stock ls1 will put down around 300 at the wheels. 400 wheel hp will equate to roughly 460 flywheel hp with 15% drivetrain loss. No bolt on only ls1 can do that, you will have to add a cam or mild FI to get to that number. The L98 has much potential with newer technology and can be built cheaper. 5000 rpm shift points are fun on the street when you dont need or have the room to rev past 6500. Why place extra stress on your motor from the extra revs when you can make that power lower in the powerband? If high revving is what its all about, then why do people even bother to build 383's???? Why not just build 327's and rev them to the moon? Because they want low end grunt and street-friendly torque. Please take your useless comments and informationless posts elsewhere as this is a friendly forum dedicated to answering questions and helping others solve their problems. So go have fun at your fiero forums or driving your mommy and daddy's Camaro and come back when you buy your own.

I don't need that much, I want that much..That is why I am building a 408ci L92.
There is nothing wrong with having power on the street, just don't hammer it all the time. When someone wants to play, then bring it out and fuck them up.. :judge:
True but there gets to be a point where drivability is compromised for huge power on the street a power adder is where its at IMHO

Do I need half the shit I have on my car fuck no do I want it yes

Point is theres a car and a motor for everyone and everyones application just because its not up to your standards doesn't make it any less cool if you want a huge high horse motor go for it but don't belittle other peoples shit just cause your shit makes more power thats just an asshole thing to do

I personally think this post, along with every other one of yours in this thread, is rediculous. There was nothing in the original post about ls1's. The ls1 is a superior motor in every way to both the lt and tuned port but that wasnt the question. 400 wheel horsepower is a lot of power and very fun to drive on the street. From the sound of things you dont have anywhere near this. A stock ls1 will put down around 300 at the wheels. 400 wheel hp will equate to roughly 460 flywheel hp with 15% drivetrain loss. No bolt on only ls1 can do that, you will have to add a cam or mild FI to get to that number. The L98 has much potential with newer technology and can be built cheaper. 5000 rpm shift points are fun on the street when you dont need or have the room to rev past 6500. Why place extra stress on your motor from the extra revs when you can make that power lower in the powerband? If high revving is what its all about, then why do people even bother to build 383's???? Why not just build 327's and rev them to the moon? Because they want low end grunt and street-friendly torque. Please take your useless comments and informationless posts elsewhere as this is a friendly forum dedicated to answering questions and helping others solve their problems.


Thank you thats the best post in this thread yet IMHO

So is it 6500rpm or 8,000rpm?

And those heads must be quite godly to support 550hp.

Same with the cam.

And that distributor.

And that holy EFI system.

So basically, replace every part related to it being an L98, and it can perform like any other SBC. Who coulda guessed? You're genius.
Are you fucking retarded? Did you fail reading comprehension? The BOTTOM END can handle 550 HP and 6500 rpm. An HSR can provide airflow in a 350 for up to 8000 RPM. The heads aren't that great, so you REPLACE THEM with good ones. Kinda like when you take an LS1, put a cam, and heads on them, you know to make them go FASTER. Asswipe... :eyes:

You're happy with 400whp?

Do us a favor, buy a Honda.
just curious, but how much does your turd SS make? I am sure my LS1 makes more. Besides with a name like FieroZ34, your opinion and taste in cars is completely illegitimate.

How about we all stop being bitches and get back to the Thread Topic..
L98, or Tuned Port..
Basically the same low-end as the LT1, still a Gen I 350, just without the Reverse Cooling. It has the standard Distributor, and the Water Pump isn't driven off of the Timing Chain. The upper end is the power killer, long runners give it good torque at low RPM, but it's maxed at like 5K. I have seen an after market setup that had 4 Runners, instead of 8.
The LT1..
Similar low-end as the L98, but Reverse Cooled and with the suttle differences as metioned above. It also uses the OPTI Spark Distributor. The upper end however, little bit better setup. Heads are capable for higher Compression cause of the Reverse Cooling, they flow a little better, and the Intake has them nice short 9" Runners, capable of going to some good high RPM's.
Both are Multi-Port Fuel Injected, and use the same Throttle Body.
I am sure someone can fill in the rest..

A LT1 is nothing more than a reverse cooled L98 with Vortec type heads and a good MPFI.
Its everything SBC guys have hoped for.... with some really big QUIRKS. 1) the cam driven water pump, 2)the POS opti, and 3)the plastic oil pump drive necessated by the POS opti. Other than that the LT1 is golden.

There are solutions to all the quirks as usual.

Um 400hp AT THE WHEELS! Is good enough on the street.....

Fuck how fast are bolton LS1s going with a tire? Yeah 11s!

And thats in the mid 300hps....

Intake has them nice short 9" Runners, capable of going to some good high RPM's.

I hope your including the head in those numbers cause an LT1 intakes runner is way shorter than that

Total length of the Runners, including Heads, is like 9". The L98 is around 27". Good Torque, but hits it's limit quick. The LT1 Intake can out-run the Engine.

You could also do a TPIs mini ram for a L98. Very similar to a LT1 intake and shows great gains up top compared to the stock intakes.

or an lt-1 intake conversion but I think Holley stealthram is the best option it gives a very wide power band and IIRC its fairly similar in length to LS1 intakes