It has been quite a while since I have updated my CK5 build. I renovated a foreclosure which really got in the way of my 454-496 stroker engine build, but now I am back at trying to upgrade my 90 K5.
After doing a lot of engine simulating and cost estimating, I decide it made more sense (both from a time and $ standpoint) for me to just buy the 502 ram jet crate engine then having the 454 that I pulled stroked & bored to a 496, piecing together the EFI setup or buying a "plug & play" kit from Holley, Fast, etc. I know those with tuning skills will probably disagree, but I do not currently have that expertise and I am trying to get the project done by mid-summer.
Just when I was about to add the 502 RJ to my cart, and piece together the accessories I read that for the same-ish $ amount you could build or buy a LS3 turnkey crate which would give you similar to more power, be lighter, and more fuel efficient (everybody agreed LS7 is better option but to pricey for my budget, and LS3 seem to stand-out as the best of the other LS options).
However, after trying to research this for several hours, I only came up with peoples opinions without much back up. Most of the threads were LS-something vs BBC, and the BBC option was always carb'd. That to me seems like a clear apples and oranges comparison. Especially when talking about drive-ability and fuel economy.
So my questions are...
1. I feel like I would be very happy with the RJ's hp/tq curves, is it reasonable that I could get an LS3 turnkey that has a similar tq/hp distribution (that high & flat torque that the 502 has and a BBC is known for).
2. Would there really be any savings as for as MPG's? I know that gas mileage is not something that most of us are concerned about, but it seems foolish to disregard since I want to do a lot of road driving and we are talking about spending similar dollars, so why not get something that is more efficient.
3. Outside of the engines contribution to MPG's, what about the weight difference. I could never find the approximate weight of either engines, just that the LS3 was aluminum, and therefore should be lighter.
4. Reliability - a lot of people commented that the LS3 was more reliable (once again this was often compared to a carb'd BBC of any kind). Thoughts? People also commented that GM builds crap engines and the RJ is just that. All of those people were building GM vehicles, so I did note the hypocrisy, but is there anything to it? Would a RJ or LS3 built by a third party shop be inherently better than a GM built option?
5. Compatibility - Would the LS3 be more or less compatible with my 4L60E setup that I am currently running?
Anything else I should know/do?
Thanks,
Chris Liles
After doing a lot of engine simulating and cost estimating, I decide it made more sense (both from a time and $ standpoint) for me to just buy the 502 ram jet crate engine then having the 454 that I pulled stroked & bored to a 496, piecing together the EFI setup or buying a "plug & play" kit from Holley, Fast, etc. I know those with tuning skills will probably disagree, but I do not currently have that expertise and I am trying to get the project done by mid-summer.
Just when I was about to add the 502 RJ to my cart, and piece together the accessories I read that for the same-ish $ amount you could build or buy a LS3 turnkey crate which would give you similar to more power, be lighter, and more fuel efficient (everybody agreed LS7 is better option but to pricey for my budget, and LS3 seem to stand-out as the best of the other LS options).
However, after trying to research this for several hours, I only came up with peoples opinions without much back up. Most of the threads were LS-something vs BBC, and the BBC option was always carb'd. That to me seems like a clear apples and oranges comparison. Especially when talking about drive-ability and fuel economy.
So my questions are...
1. I feel like I would be very happy with the RJ's hp/tq curves, is it reasonable that I could get an LS3 turnkey that has a similar tq/hp distribution (that high & flat torque that the 502 has and a BBC is known for).
2. Would there really be any savings as for as MPG's? I know that gas mileage is not something that most of us are concerned about, but it seems foolish to disregard since I want to do a lot of road driving and we are talking about spending similar dollars, so why not get something that is more efficient.
3. Outside of the engines contribution to MPG's, what about the weight difference. I could never find the approximate weight of either engines, just that the LS3 was aluminum, and therefore should be lighter.
4. Reliability - a lot of people commented that the LS3 was more reliable (once again this was often compared to a carb'd BBC of any kind). Thoughts? People also commented that GM builds crap engines and the RJ is just that. All of those people were building GM vehicles, so I did note the hypocrisy, but is there anything to it? Would a RJ or LS3 built by a third party shop be inherently better than a GM built option?
5. Compatibility - Would the LS3 be more or less compatible with my 4L60E setup that I am currently running?
Anything else I should know/do?
Thanks,
Chris Liles
