Original SBC's including LT-1, LT-4 & LT-5 are dead! And, if you shrink wrapped your C-4 thinking it will go the way of black on black, 427-435 HP mid years at B-J's, your dreaming. Never going to happen with the production numbers of C-4's. You better buy a stock pile of parts and they will soon get cheap (for awhile) as everybody unloads their stock.
In the last year, I've been to a number of the bigger rod shows and recently, the National Muscle Car Association drags. Thee motor of choice is clearly the LS series in different versions. GM traveling road show has shelved it's 502 & 572 there in favor of a 454 LS Crate motor. Even the blown ZR-1 motor is available in a crate if your pockets are deep. LS is where all the development is going and it's time to pay attention to guys working out the bugs to stuff it into C-4's.
With the likes of NHRA pro stock and NASCAR switching to fuel injection, I think the same will be said of any carburated combination.
You can live in denial until either until you consistently get your ass whipped or you need major engine work only to find the parts are hard to get. Frankly LS motors real strength is they hang onto the torque a little higher than previous incarnations and that's where the bragging rites are coming from for big HP numbers. You have to remember they are running titanium rods and intake valves to go another 1000 RPM and most guys won't twist them there so a properly prepared set of older heads will even the playing field. I know, there are millions of Gen 1,2,3 motors out there but the same could be said of flat heads once and although you can also find them, only hard core nostalgia guys will.
Then talk to the next generation of car guys. I was in the grocery store and the kid on the cash noticed my corvette emblem so he asked about mine. Seemed enthusiastic, so I asked when are you getting one? Oh no, wants a Subaru something or other "X"!! That's even bigger trouble for the sport and pretty clear when you look at the average age of people in clubs and at the shows. I'll leave the rest of that for someone else to rant.
What do you think, c'mon?
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|UPDATED|3/30/2012 4:32:54 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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A 4.4 L (266 cu in) supercharged Northstar was used in the 2006-2009 Cadillac STS-V and Cadillac XLR-V. The bore was reduced for increased strength and improved head gasket sealing. Variable valve timing is used on both the intake and exhaust sides. The STS-V engine produces 469 hp (350 kW) at 6400 rpm and 439 lb·ft (595 N·m) at 3900 rpm with 9:1 compression and the XLR-V engine produces 443 hp (330 kW) at 6400 rpm and 414 lb·ft (561 N·m) at 3900 rpm.
| Year | Model | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–2009 | Cadillac STS-V | 469 hp (350 kW) @ 6400 rpm | 439 lb·ft (595 N·m) @ 3900 rpm |
| 2006–2009 | Cadillac XLR-V | 443 hp (330 kW) @ 6400 rpm | 414 lb·ft (561 N·m) @ 3900 rpm |
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I would like a documented case of this just for the record on a stock vs stock basis. I accept the LT5 cost more, but the ZR-1 package vs the best LT-1 package. Show me. Even the LT-4 was an improvement but still. What killed the LT5 was the LSx coming in the C5 which borrowed many aspect of the LT5 operating system. The LT5 was a test bed for many of the LS parts.
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|UPDATED|4/1/2012 7:50:40 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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...... What killed the LT5 was the LSx......
I thought LT5 was killed after 95 because of mandated OBD II for 96? Of course there weren't many sold after the first two years. And the cost. And perhaps packaging in the C5. LT5 engine production ended in Nov 1993. I suspect there's more to it than LS engines. Like not enough buyers to make it worthwhile.
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