Torque or Hp

[hammer74]

I'm getting ready to build my LT1 to go in my crawler. Not only do I play on the rocks but do a lot of trail riding which involves mud, sand, water, etc. What rpm range would you guys recomend me building my motor. Should I build a 1000-5500 torque bottom end motor or focus more on high Rpm's. I've ran stock LT1's for years but want more power I just have to decide where I want the power to be at.
Thanks
Hammer

 

[mbryson]

Torque

 

[bobdog]

mud, sand, water, etc.
Hammer

The first place I would put my money is a conversion to a standard distributer ignition. Do a search there are several shops that do it. It wont take long running a LT1 in the water and mud before it will have 0 hp and 0 torque.

 

[Maverick]

I'm getting ready to build my LT1 to go in my crawler. Not only do I play on the rocks but do a lot of trail riding which involves mud, sand, water, etc. What rpm range would you guys recomend me building my motor. Should I build a 1000-5500 torque bottom end motor or focus more on high Rpm's. I've ran stock LT1's for years but want more power I just have to decide where I want the power to be at.
Thanks
Hammer

high RPM is a relative thing...5500 is pretty good for a crawler, and some consider that high RPM, whereas I'm guessing you're talking 7k-8k.

What are the numbers for LT1's? (haven't been paying attention)

Even when I had my 396 that'd spin to 6500, the highest I ever really went at the dunes or in mud was 5500...that rpm just worked well with my gears and tires (sm465, 205, 3.73 & 33 MT's) low range, first gear (not granny) gave me wheel speed and grunt. Was in a couple places in the mud where wheel speed was needed...in REVERSE, and I was glad that I could spin it up past 5k.

Gears can take care of low low crawling speeds, but I'd still wanna smooth idle. If you can build it so it pulls hard through 5500 I think you'll be fine.

 

[hammer74]

The first place I would put my money is a conversion to a standard distributer ignition. Do a search there are several shops that do it. It wont take long running a LT1 in the water and mud before it will have 0 hp and 0 torque.

BobDog,
I have ran LT1's for about 4 years now and have had no probs with the opti-spark much less anything electrical related. I'm not sure who is giving you this info but take it from someone who owns and runs LT1's the reliability is there.

Hammer

 

[Caleb]

BobDog,
I have ran LT1's for about 4 years now and have had no probs with the opti-spark much less anything electrical related. I'm not sure who is giving you this info but take it from someone who owns and runs LT1's the reliability is there.

Hammer

not saying the reliability isn;t there but I agree with bobdog...spend a few minutes searching the net and you will come across a TON of horror stories about it...

oh, and I agree with what the others have said...get that torque down low and you should be good...BTW how many LT1s have you ran...I would think after your first you would know exactly where you would want it...

 

[chevtech]

BobDog,
I have ran LT1's for about 4 years now and have had no probs with the opti-spark much less anything electrical related. I'm not sure who is giving you this info but take it from someone who owns and runs LT1's the reliability is there.

Hammer

I used too see lots of opti-spark water/coolant intrusion problems at the dealer.

It's a pretty well known problem.

:-\