[HWYSTR455]

Well. First of all, no engine across diff manufacturers are going to perform 'the same', they are all a little different in different ways.

But. When you talk power, torque, and efficiency, that all can compare. It boils down to basic physics, bore, stroke, flow, tune, etc.

So you can't lump all 'LS' engines together, there are a variety that are all different from one another.

If you base it on power per CI, yes, you can come very close or exceed the power of an LS with a Pontiac, with the only areas that will be difficult to compete with are head flow/design, overall design, and engine management.

You can match or exceed most of those areas except pretty much the head performance. For the LS, the entire intake tract is 'tuned' for a particular 'range'. Countless hours of design has gone into it, to the likes DIY-ers just can compete. Professional builders, with some of the 'tools of the trade' can get close, but the number of hours of testing and refining is not cost effective for people with less than billions of dollars to throw at a particular engine/combo.

So if you look at the LS 5.7, 6.0, and 6.2, factory power numbers are like 345hp-404hp, until you get into forced induction models. How is that so far off from a Pontiac 400? We've been doing those numbers for years. You want more? Go to a 455, or a stroker. The forced induction LS models are like 550-640hp, and strokers are doing that without forced induction.

Too much LS hype. And don't mention cost. People think you can go to the junk yard and grab a truck LS and blow everything off the street. Nope. You think you can get a forced induction LS engine cheap? Nope. Call a local salvage yard and ask what they will sell one for, I think you will be surprised.

Crate LS engines? Bare 'replacement' engines are $7500-$9500, before you get into electronics. Connect & Cruise packages? Start at $13k, and go over $30k. Oh, you want a 'performance' LS engine? You can't touch one for under 18k, the ones you 'want' are in the 20s, if not 30k ranges. Shoot, most here won't even spring for good rods or pistons on a $7k build, much less a roller cam.

Dependability? 90% of that is human error or failure to properly build supporting systems. Period. You go through a Pontiac, build the drivetrain, suspension, and supporting systems properly, which you would need regardless of what engine you put it, and you will have comparable reliability. I've done it. And have crushed a lot of new muscle. I can spend half as much as new muscle and outperform with a Pontiac engine. And an older platform.

Don't get caught up in the hype. LS-Fest? It's a big Chebbie advertisement. All the mag-rags? Guess who supports them with advertising? The big three. You can see it just by looking at what's gracing the pages.

Total cost of ownership. So for example, you buy a new $25k car, over 5 years, do you know what that car will cost you? Like $40k. If you had 40k to dump into your pride and joy, what could you build. You could drive that for 5 years, and sell it more than the $25k car you bought which is now a paperweight.

So many poor comparisons, and propaganda, THAT'S what's driving the whole LS crazy.


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