Good luck making 500rwhp on a LS1 with a stock bottom end. Can be done but its far from cheap. ls6 or ls22 is a better starting point if you dont want to rip apart the bottom end. Things get expensive quick in the LSx world.
+1
Most cam only LS1's make around 400whp. Gonna take some serious heads to make 500whp with a stock bottom end.
1UZ's are dirt cheap and strong.
I apreciate the info, but I'm really curious what world you guys are living in. This thread wasn't even about the original motors, just the chassis.
The 1UZ's I have access to (ebay, as
I'm midwest) are $1500+. I'd either have to rebuild one if I got a high-milage (cheap) car, or pay 2-3x more for a car to start with a low milage engine. The R154 trans is priced the same on ebay, but likely be much older than anything I'd stick on an LSX. I've seen LQ4's for under $500, and tranny options for under $1k.
I'd be doing a bit more fabbing & buying with the LSX vs electronics on the 1UZ (I'm good at both), but the 1UZ wouldn't be turn-key either. I'd still be pulling shit all apart & buying a clutch, doing more age-related maintenance (5-10yr older motor), getting a custom driveshaft, doing much more tuning using MS, etc - I can see this going on. If I went 1UZ/R154, an accident would cost 3x as much. All that for something with 1.3-2.0 litres less displacement that no local really knows jack shit about. Not only that but an iron block version is no heavier than a 2JZ or 1UZ.
At this point I have to once again mention
I'm in the midwest. There is a machine shop 1 block from my house with an LSX motor all the time. My buddy had an ls1 makign mid 400's NA and high 500's with spray. He only toasted it with a nitrous mishap (full shot off idle), which spun 3 main bearings. Now it's fully built (by said machine shop) and pulling wheelies with $1k in turbo parts he built & tuned himself.
Stock 4.8L internals (shortblock) besides regapped rings. 1203hp:
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/hrdp_1109_stock_gm_ls_engine_big_bang_theory/523hp 5.3l - stock longblock (at that HP), 150k miles, ching-chong turbo, NO intercooler:
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_1104_594hp_53l_gen_iii_small_block_for_3252/viewall.htmlIMO the 1UZ is only useful to me if I sell it. The SC300/400 seems to be a much better option now that I've looked into it, but not because I'd keep the existing engine. In the end I see both needing just as much work but the LSX having more options and more power.