LT4 LT4 & LS1 Iron vs Aluminum

[AlHewitt]

I'm a new guy to the list and I have not seen this subject yet. If it's been tossed about before please forgive the intrusion.

I read where the LT4 is has a cast iron block with aluminum heads. As I understand it iron is machinable, meaning durning an overhaul the cylinders can be over bored, for example. The LS1 has a cast aluminum block with iron inserts cast into it and aluminum heads. These iron inserts were reported to me as not being machinable. So what optoion does the LS1 have to clean up ware?

Thanks

 

[Fugitive]

Great question! I don't think the LS1 can be cleaned up.Makes you wonder what's better about the LS1 other than weight difference?

 

[Hib Halverson]

It is correct that the Gen 2 engines use an iron block and the Gen 3s use an aluminum block with cast-in-place iron liners.

Early Gen 3 aluminum blocks cannot be bored over effectively but can be cleaned-up as long as the clean-up hone removes no more than .005-in.

Later Gen 3 blocks (generally '00 or later) can be bored .015-.020 without compromising durability.

 

[Last Stingrays]

The alum. block with steel liners could be bored to accept a thicker liner and then be machined to stock specs. Just a thought.

vince

 

[6 Shooter]

The alum. block with steel liners could be bored to accept a thicker liner and then be machined to stock specs.

Notice the date on this thread.

 

[Last Stingrays]

yeah i saw that but i thought i would just reply so that people like yourself and others that read posts could get a idea and mabey try new things

 

[Last Stingrays]

by the way your vette is very nice looking is it run as good as it looks

 

[bossvette]

The alum. block with steel liners could be bored to accept a thicker liner and then be machined to stock specs. Just a thought.

vince

I believe they can also go bigger then stock bore with liners SLP and others go to 396 cubes

 

[6 Shooter]

by the way your vette is very nice looking, does it run as good as it looks

Thanks - Yes it runs great!

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter