How tough are these LS1s

[vxcalaiszzz]

[Mods: This is an advertisement for the LS1 bottom end not Starr Performance]

Most of you know I have Starr's PD blower kit. Running around 11lb boost, water injection and intercooler, higgins heads and baby cam, ALL stock bottom end = 500+rwhp.

This is a daily driver and I have just ticked over 35,000km since the kit was fitted on a stock bottom end 14 months or so ago :eek: and over 90,000km in total. How good are these LS1s. Yes I give it a caning sometimes, especially the auto, which is soon to come out for the third time :( . In maintenance costs, besides the auto, all it has cost me to date* is 2 broken blower belts.

For everyone who's holding back on modding their LS1, worrying about reliability etc how much more proof do you need. Time for a S/C, T, TT, H&C, PD, do it now and enjoy. :D

Hope others have had similar experience.

*Touch wood I haven't jinxed myself by starting this thread.

[Falchoon]

How much did it cost to setup in the first place?

Did you freshen the motor first or just throw it on?

What sort of trans have you got and how much do they cost for rebuild?

[Ghosn]

Gives me a tad more confidence when work gets done to my motor. :cool:

[vxcalaiszzz]

How much did it cost to setup in the first place?

Did you freshen the motor first or just throw it on?

What sort of trans have you got and how much do they cost for rebuild?

Pretty much threw it straight on. Starr modifies the sump. Cost was alot because I was out for reliability and power. Starr basic blower kit with intercooler was around the $19,000 mark, but add custom higgins heads, cam, more boost, water injection, big headers, big custom exhaust, diff gears and KAAZ, Harrop diff housing, PWR radiator/oil cooler, power steering cooler, trans rebuild and dominator stallie (around $4k fitted) , trans cooler, big injectors, fuel system upgrade, surge tank, a few days on the dyno by Delco etc etc you need to have a friendly bank manager. :eek: I paid for reliability and so far I have it.

Come to think of it, add stereo, suspension, brakes & wheels to the above and I could have had myself another Calais :shock: .

Not quite like this one though. :cool:

[Delco]

Pretty much threw it straight on. Starr modifies the sump. Cost was alot because I was out for reliability and power. Starr basic blower kit with intercooler was around the $19,000 mark, but add custom higgins heads, cam, more boost, water injection, big headers, big custom exhaust, diff gears and KAAZ, Harrop diff housing, PWR radiator/oil cooler, power steering cooler, trans rebuild and dominator stallie (around $4k fitted) , trans cooler, big injectors, fuel system upgrade, surge tank, a few days on the dyno by Delco etc etc you need to have a friendly bank manager. :eek: I paid for reliability and so far I have it.

Come to think of it, add stereo, suspension, brakes & wheels to the above and I could have had myself another Calais :shock: .

Not quite like this one though. :cool:

But its worth every cent isnt it , would not trade my combo for the world - nothing like a PD blown auto , even worth the grief of the auto being able to hold 425rwkw

[sloone]

But its worth every cent isnt it , would not trade my combo for the world - nothing like a PD blown auto , even worth the grief of the auto being able to hold 425rwkw

Can the Autos be rebuilt strong enough to cope?

[Delco]

Can the Autos be rebuilt strong enough to cope?

Yes but it takes time and development , we have been removing the trans every couple of 1000 ks to check third gear , we have trialed many different types of clutch packs and frictions as well as doing internal oil channel mods to try and hold the torque - been very succesful so far but not indestructable yet :D , Normal street driving has been awesome but the extra traction of slicks at the track put a huge load on it

There is a start of the write up without pics yet on our website http://www.chipmaster.com.au/Project%20Monaro3.htm about the trans build

[sloone]

Yes but it takes time and development , we have been removing the trans every couple of 1000 ks to check third gear , we have trialed many different types of clutch packs and frictions as well as doing internal oil channel mods to try and hold the torque - been very succesful so far but not indestructable yet :D , Normal street driving has been awesome but the extra traction of slicks at the track put a huge load on it

There is a start of the write up without pics yet on our website http://www.chipmaster.com.au/Project%20Monaro3.htm about the trans build

Thanks for that. Isn't it funny how you read something but don't really take it in. After starting to read the website I remembered that there was an article in one of the Perth Street Car mags. So I grabbed that and re-read it.

[Chris5.7ltr]

Thanks,I have been hanging enough to get my blower on now you have just made it worse!....won't be able to sleep again tonight...LMAO

Would love to get a PD set up,would have been nice to buy HRT.2 fast SS thats for sure.:bawl:

Ahhhhmmm,I should have waited....lets not talk about that! :vpo:

[vxcalaiszzz]

Can the Autos be rebuilt strong enough to cope?

In my experience to date they can be rebuilt strong enough to cope... :)

for a bit... :(

then rebuilt strong enough to cope... :)

for a bit... :(

then... but it cops an absolute caning from me and my lazy driving habits. I think my trans does more braking than my brakes :slap:

[sloone]

In my experience to date they can be rebuilt strong enough to cope... :)

for a bit... :(

then rebuilt strong enough to cope... :)

for a bit... :(

then... but it cops an absolute caning from me and my lazy driving habits. I think my trans does more braking than my brakes :slap:
As my SS so far only has 230 rwkw I hope it will last a little while, however (there is always a how ever) I will probably go the Turbo route so when I get the auto rebuilt next year (after April due to lease) I want to do it properly, but maybe I will have to do it properly and then properly and then, ah well I will just have to increase the maintenance contribution part of my lease. I wonder if I can get a bulk rebuild :deal: ?

[vxcalaiszzz]

As my SS so far only has 230 rwkw I hope it will last a little while, however (there is always a how ever) I will probably go the Turbo route so when I get the auto rebuilt next year (after April due to lease) I want to do it properly, but maybe I will have to do it properly and then properly and then, ah well I will just have to increase the maintenance contribution part of my lease. I wonder if I can get a bulk rebuild :deal: ?

Mine's on a lease too. ATO pays for nearly half of my maintenance bills. :cheers:

[VooDoo]

Mine's on a lease too. ATO pays for nearly half of my maintenance bills. :cheers:

If i didnt claim my repairs *cough* Mods *cough* each yr id still be driving a stocker. Im sure im going to need to replace my very expensive intake manifold this yr with a PD blower.

just waiting for last yrs tax before bolting it all in :)

[Delco]

As my SS so far only has 230 rwkw I hope it will last a little while, however (there is always a how ever) I will probably go the Turbo route so when I get the auto rebuilt next year (after April due to lease) I want to do it properly, but maybe I will have to do it properly and then properly and then, ah well I will just have to increase the maintenance contribution part of my lease. I wonder if I can get a bulk rebuild :deal: ?


I broke my stocker at 240 rwkw , after that it was holding until the 370 rwkw level , taking it that bit further to 430rwkw has seen it suffer on 3rd gear WOT changes * which it sees daily ;) , but every change we make to the clutch and clutch hub design makes it stronger.
Pretty confident the lasted mod which I hope to do next week will see it ok to handle some more power :D its like a drug , you just cant get enough of it

[VooDoo]

Mines holding out at 241rwkw ok but im sure it will suffer with the PD. Whats a rebuild worth these days?? My poor auto has a little more weight to carry arround :( I have a spare 4L60-E but its from a VS 5L and im told different to a gen3 versions.

[RedHotSS]

D'oh! This thread is driving me crazy ...

I agree Delco, going stuff to your LS1 is like a drug :)

I have the usual bolt ons and 230 rwKw in my VX SS auto and was happy but now I need more. Very seriously considering going down the PD path but have recently become confused with all the options available now and on the horizon (383 stroker, H&C, T, TT etc). Also, the PD package is now down to $16,800. Don't you just love competition!

Sorry to hijack the thread a little ...
Delco: what makes the combination of PD + toughened auto so good over, say, a stroker?
(BTW, I think you tuned my car on one of your trips to Melbourne).

RedHotSS

[Dacious]

The old smallblock chevvy bottom end since day one has always been the bomb. With solid lifters and h/d valve springs the old ones would pull 7,500 rpm all day long. The new one, similarly, will pull those revs if the valvegear is upgraded to suit according to the guys in the US. At 6 or even 6500 rpm there is a large safety margin. They just got the block dimensions, bearing sizes, component dimensions and basic engineering spot on.

The old big block motors needed work to oiling and crank/rod assemblies to do similar.

That doesn't mean you can't overload it. I'd say at high loads the stock pistons might be first to cry quits.

[Chris5.7ltr]

D'oh! This thread is driving me crazy ...

I agree Delco, going stuff to your LS1 is like a drug :)

I have the usual bolt ons and 230 rwKw in my VX SS auto and was happy but now I need more. Very seriously considering going down the PD path but have recently become confused with all the options available now and on the horizon (383 stroker, H&C, T, TT etc). Also, the PD package is now down to $16,800. Don't you just love competition!

Sorry to hijack the thread a little ...
Delco: what makes the combination of PD + toughened auto so good over, say, a stroker?
(BTW, I think you tuned my car on one of your trips to Melbourne).

RedHotSS
HRT.2Fast wants to sell the PB Blower set up from he's SS if he is offered the right price so it might be worth talking to him.
You might get it cheap!(then again you might not:hide: )

[RedHotSS]

HRT.2Fast wants to sell the PB Blower set up from he's SS if he is offered the right price so it might be worth talking to him.
You might get it cheap!(then again you might not:hide: )

Thanks for pointing me in his direction Chris5.7ltr - have sent him a PM. What's your commision? :)

[Chris5.7ltr]

Thanks for pointing me in his direction Chris5.7ltr - have sent him a PM. What's your commision? :)
I get to take your car for a drive if/when you get it! :lol: :lol: (j/k)

[Delco]

D'oh! This thread is driving me crazy ...

I agree Delco, going stuff to your LS1 is like a drug :)

I have the usual bolt ons and 230 rwKw in my VX SS auto and was happy but now I need more. Very seriously considering going down the PD path but have recently become confused with all the options available now and on the horizon (383 stroker, H&C, T, TT etc). Also, the PD package is now down to $16,800. Don't you just love competition!

Sorry to hijack the thread a little ...
Delco: what makes the combination of PD + toughened auto so good over, say, a stroker?
(BTW, I think you tuned my car on one of your trips to Melbourne).

RedHotSS

Here is a series of graphs from my car , chronicling std engine (blue), supercharged std engine (green),383 head cam combo (pink) and then the blower back on the 383 head cam combo with different exhausts ( red and black) http://www.chipmaster.com.au/images/MONARO_HISTORY1.JPG


And this one is my car std engine with a PD (blue) compared to a identical car ( same auto,diff gears etc) but fitted with the big intercooled capa kit ( 500kw kit) (red) it also shows the boost response

http://www.chipmaster.com.au/images/PD%20VS%20VORTECH.JPG


I know which one drove better :D

[Tre-Cool]

so that's what the blue monaro put out that day huh?

I though the engine would put out more hp for 12psi on the vortech though.

I think it's best i'm only going to be using 9 psi for the ute and not using a pd blower. P.S I puchased Sidey's intercooler kit.
:burnout:
Can't wait to come back home to perth, to get the blower installed. :burnout:

pps, I hear my car made it onto page 38 of the latest perth street machine. :cool: