LS-1 power Vs. LT-1 power

[Dave C. '04 Z06]

I have a question for other LT-1 owners. I thought that the LS-1 cars were supposed to be 50HP more powerful than the LT-1 cars. But I have had 2 'power tests' with C5's and both times my car out-accelerated the C5.

The first one was from a 5mph roll at a light. Some guy with his girlfriend pulled up beside me in a 2000+ C5 (5-spoke wheels)and he was snickering and explaining to her that his was newer and had more power. After the light turned green and I started rolling out I heard him punch it, so I did too. I immediately pulled out on him. I went up through the top of third and then let off and he did a fly-by. His nose was at my rear for most of the way. To be fair he started creeping up on me very slowly at the top of third, but I think it was because I took my time going to third to make sure I didn't miss it.

The other time was on the interstate going to the Eckler's show. My friend with his '99 who was in the caravan decided he was going to put my LT-1 in it's place. He came up and started pacing me so I slowed down to 55 and put it in third. He punched it and so I did too figuring I was going to get toasted from that speed. Much to my surprise, and his disappointment I might add, I started pulling away on him and by the top of fourth when I let off his nose was 1/2 car behind my rear and he was still falling behind. He did a fly-by once I let off, incidentally.... He was so disappointed that he bought a $500 air box for his car at Eckler's and put it on later that same day.

My point of all this is that is my car quicker than normal, or this the normal thing? Are the LT-1 cars underrated, or the LS-1 cars overrated, or both?

FYI: My car is a stock 6-spd with 120K miles, K&N filter, air foil, and air lid cutout. Both LS-1 cars were automatics and appeared completely stock. Although the LS-1 cars were auto's, I figured an extra 50HP could make up that difference.

-Dave C. '97 Z28
1997 Camaro Z28 454 6-spd
1995 Corvette LT-1 6-spd

 

[KOPBET]

Street racing ...:nono :nono

<Flame suit on.>

 

[CKA_Racing]

Your car is not the norm. Have you owned it since new. Are you sure a previous owner has not tweaked it some?

Sounds to me like it's Dyno time to see what it has.

 

[CKA_Racing]

Street racing ...:nono :nono

<Flame suit on.>

We won't flame you, we'll just ignore you.:L

 

[KOPBET]

We won't flame you, we'll just ignore you.:L

You've already failed that test. :L :L

 

[CKA_Racing]

You've already failed that test. :L :L

Do i least get a C+
:J :L

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

hey there,
it is possible that you thought they punched it,maybe they gave it a good half throttle,downshifted and figured that would be good enough.then you punched it and pulled a little bit,then they 'really' punched it,but it will take a bit for there momentum to get going and when they started pulling up the race was over,i have seen a couple c5s do this and lose.not me however,if im going to race i will give it every thing i got.i only raced one lt1 on the highway,i pulled away pretty easy,the faster i went,the more i pulled away.i have an automatic,i run 13.4 @105 in the quarter mile.this time is with me babying it off the line and just before 2nd gear i can give it full throttle,lots of wasted power,those run-flat tires suck,the ls1 is a highway killer because traction is no longer an issue.its possible you have gears or something else also adding to the scenario,good times Todd.

 

[Edmond]

The first one was from a 5mph roll at a light. Some guy with his girlfriend pulled up beside me in a 2000+ C5 (5-spoke wheels)and he was snickering and explaining to her that his was newer and had more power.

Glad you put that arrogant @$$hole in his place! Hearing things like that really get to me, just because his car is newer, it's so much better?

I wonder what his excuse was... What if you kicked his @$$ in your Camaro? What would it be then? "Oh, it's only a Camaro and I've got a Vette'." People like that give us a bad name.

 

[KOPBET]

Do i least get a C+
:J :L

Ok. But you have to go have to go to the back of the room :L

 

[Dave C. '04 Z06]

Yea well,
If it makes you feel better, I was on a track somewhere. We went from a 60MPH roll at orlando speedworld, and from a 5 MPH roll at Moroso.

But anyways, I guess I will get it dynoed. I am sure it's stock because it even had the skip shift when I got it, although I've only had it for about a month. It has the stock rockers, pulls the correct vacuum, etc...I'm very familiar with the LT-1 engine, but not so much with the LS-1 (in corvette trim) is why I asked.

I heard once that the torque tube in the LS-1 'vette has some losses, but I didn't think it would make that much difference.


Hawaii-5-Lo:
I think he stayed in it when he got on it from 5MPH. The reason is that I never got that far in front of him....he was always right there. It's not like I pulled way out on him, and he started coming back. But I was by myself and he had his girl with him, so that's probably about a 120lbs extra. And my friend in the '99 is no lightweight, although he's only prob 50lbs heavier than me. And if they run 13.4 or 13.5, then that's pretty quick. I haven't run mine yet (nor do I plan to really) but my friend had a 1993 and I think he ran 105MPH in the 1/4 (but he ran in the 14's cause he didn't launch well).

Who knows? I'll get it dynoed maybe... but I was just curious... so it is not normal for the LT-1 car to be equivalent to an LS-1 in acceleration.

 

[Dave C. '04 Z06]

oh yea..

If I was in my Camaro, his hole would have really puckered when I left him behind. The Camaro is on a different level from these 300HP cars. It's pushing more like 500. But that's why I bought the 'vette... the Camaro is too aggressive for a daily driver anymore.

 

[JT ZR-Won]

You will probably push some pretty good numbers on the dyno. Your car doesn't sound stock, and if it is, you've got a strong one. I've gone at it a couple times with LS-1 Corvette's and I can beat them but it's never by a long shot.
My Dad has a '93 automatic LT-1 Vette with Borla exhaust and we went at it hard from a 50 roll. I beat him pretty good, but I was in the right gear at the perfect RPM for the LT5. I think by the time he downshifted I was already gone.
You should try and get some 1/4 mile times on your car. It's a blast, and you'll have a good idea how strong the car is.

Jay

 

[Edmond]

Re: oh yea..

If I was in my Camaro, his hole would have really puckered when I left him behind. The Camaro is on a different level from these 300HP cars. It's pushing more like 500. But that's why I bought the 'vette... the Camaro is too aggressive for a daily driver anymore.

NOTHING is too aggressive for a daily driver!:L

 

[Edmond]

You will probably push some pretty good numbers on the dyno. Your car doesn't sound stock, and if it is, you've got a strong one. I've gone at it a couple times with LS-1 Corvette's and I can beat them but it's never by a long shot.
My Dad has a '93 automatic LT-1 Vette with Borla exhaust and we went at it hard from a 50 roll. I beat him pretty good, but I was in the right gear at the perfect RPM for the LT5. I think by the time he downshifted I was already gone.
You should try and get some 1/4 mile times on your car. It's a blast, and you'll have a good idea how strong the car is.

Jay

I think your LT5 would take an LS1 from a 50 roll. Those LT5's were meant for the higher RPM operation right?

Dave,

You also did have the advantage of the 6 speed, being able to downshift into your sweet spot is a great thing.

 

[Dave C. '04 Z06]

Daily driver>>

Edmond:
It's not so much the Camaro's aggressiveness that makes it impractical because I could live with that. It's the 8-10 miles per gallon that's the killer. On the highway it gets around 18mpg, but in the city forget it!

Also, it wasn't like I left the LS-1 cars in the dust with my Corvette...it was a fairly even match. And you're right, with the 6-speed I certainly had an advantage at the highway speeds being able to stay in the power band.

And about the LT-5's..those things are sweet! My friend had a ZR-1 and it ran 12.9 @ 112....and what's so impressive is it did it while having a super smooth idle! The Z06 is just as capable these days, but back in the early '90's the ZR-1 was certainly the king.