Does an Iron Block 370 sound better for a turbo than a 408? - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

redbanditZ28 · 06-12-2006, 08:30 AM

I am getting a newly forged fully built engine that is a 370 ci. I am not sure, but i am guessing that its an LS2 block. I mean they don't make a 370 LS1, right? Anyways, I hear that the more cubic inch, the more it affects gas mileage. Is that true? It seems like it could be. I mean i am looking to still make my car mostly street legal and friendly. I would guess a 408 iron block would be too much for what my needs are. Plus i plan on using the STS rear mount turbo. I hear that setup works better some how on smaller cubic inch engines. Not sure if that is true or not.

Most importantly, What the hell do i do with the old stock engine once i get the new one installed? I mean what do you guys do with your old block or engine? I almost wouldn't want to part with it so if something happens after a while with the new one, i still have my old one to use. Does that make sense at all? But my mechanic is going to install the engine. Should i ask him to take the stock engine apart to the point where its in pieces that i can carry by hand or should i invest in something that holds an engine or what? I'd really appreciate some insight on this.

Tru2Chevy · 06-12-2006, 10:36 AM

I would leave the stock LS1 assembled and sitting on an engine stand in your shed/garage.

- Justin

redbanditZ28 · 06-12-2006, 08:13 PM

Next question then, Where can i buy an engine stand and how much would one cost? Also, any ideas about how i would transport it from my mechanic to my house which is a town over? I mean i am really open to suggestions here. I would really like to keep the engine if i could. Because if i get tired of the whole turbo thing and something major breaks, it would be nice to just put the stock engine back in and call it quits.

V · 06-12-2006, 08:18 PM

you said an iron 370 in th title and then you said the 370 would be possibly an LS2, i just wanted to clear up that i belive yes the LS2 is around 370(whatever 6.0L is) and the LS2 is aluminum, but there is also an iron 6.0L motor(LQ4 & LQ9"ss") and the 408 is the 6.0 stroked/bored. I will eventually be doing a 408 but keep in midn a iron motor will be considerably more front end weight, so get a tublar k member and aarms right off the bat.

qwikz28 · 06-12-2006, 08:29 PM

a built LS2 motor can handle alot of boost and its aluminum which will save you some weight on the front end

redbanditZ28 · 06-12-2006, 08:47 PM

Now what makes an LS2 engine handle more boost better than an LS1 engine? or a 370 or 408 iron block for that matter? I just want to try to understand this all. I mean wouldn't either a 370 or 408 hold up better to high lbs of boost than an aluminum LS2? or no? And also, so is the 370 iron block an LS2 or an LQ engine? I got a little confused the way it was posted. I understand the part about hte LS2s being close to the 370 ci but aluminum, but i wasn't clear about which block i am looking into.

qwikz28 · 06-12-2006, 09:42 PM

no the LS2 is just a little bit better built then the LS1 and has been known to handle more boost in stock form. the bigger cubes doesnt hurt either. an aluminum block is not stronger then a iron one but if your not going with a high boost application, i think aluminum maybe a good alternative

rgaynor85 · 06-13-2006, 04:03 PM

isnt a ls2 a 402ci motor.

Tru2Chevy · 06-13-2006, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgaynor85

isnt a ls2 a 402ci motor.

No. The LS2 is approximately 366 cubic inches.

1 liter = 61.0237441 cubic inches

402" = 6.6L

- Justin