[6 Grrrs]

Mr goquick:

I am a Pontiac purist myself & do not usually condone the installation of non Pontiac motors in Pontiacs. I just want you to know that before I go on.

You can bash the LSx all you want for it being a POS, but there are a whole lot more LSx engines out there than the one 'POS' in your driveway. I personally know many people locally here in the Pittsburgh area with some pretty stout LSx motors in fbuckets & trucks, as well as installed in classic Chevelles, Camaros, & Novas. I even installed one in a 1990 Chevy 454SS truck like the one in my sig (different truck though). Future plans for my truck may include a LSx series motor with twin turbos on it.

The one I did was a completely stock 325hp '99 Camaro LS1 with a 4L60e (both had 28k miles on them). It had headers & 3" exhaust & 3.73 gears. My truck when stock ran a 16.1 in the 1/4 with a severely smogged 454/TH400/3.73's and it got 8 mpg whether it was on the highway or around town. It was a pig to say the least. This other truck that I did the swap into was lowered (bagged) and had 20" front & 22" rear wheels (hurt 1/4 mile performance). It ran 14.1 in the 1/4 (only one pass ever at a track in 98 degree weather) & consistently got 18-20mpg. Two seconds faster & more than double the mileage with nothing more than Headers & exhaust. The truck literally had the snot beat out of it every time it was driven. He did donuts & burnouts literally every time he drove it. We had it on a road course, hammered it, drifted it, & ran it to redline just about the whole time and 40-50 laps. It was street raced at just about every stoplight. This motor was abused every chance it could be. I'll bet the oil was changed twice, maybe three times in the 80k miles that was put on it. It never broke, it never even hiccupped. He sold the truck & as far as I know the guy is still driving it with no problems.

Many people have similar stories about the LSx motors. Hell a guy here has a pickup with a 4.8 that makes 702 whp (turboed). Another guy has a daily driven Camaro with 550 whp and drives it daily, whether in the winter or summer. Another guy has a '72 Chevelle with a 408ci LSx that makes 480whp and runs high 10s in the 1/4. I owned a 2004 GTO with an LS1/T56 & I loved the motor. It reminded me of a Pontiac motor with the low end grunt.

If these guys want to build LSx powered Pontiacs -- who cares. It's not like they are ruining an original '64 GTO or even a factory Judge, they started life as lowly Tempests that are getting a new lease on life (no offense to Bart & Fbrown about your cars). I personally think they are both great builds. My GTO is stock & I find a lot to be desired when driving it (funny how the older guys think the '60's was when real musclecars were built, yet most 'real' musclecars won't hold a candlestick to the performance of Modern Performance Cars). These cars are not Chevelles, they are Pontiacs with GM motors. Would you rather they put Ford motors in them???

I would never put an LSx in my 63K mile real Tripower GTO, but I know it would be a whole lot more fun to drive. I would start with a Tempest or LeMans and go the route these guys are going.

I find it tough to believe a 82k mile car that was never abused has a rod hanging out the side of the block, regardless what kind of motor it is. My guess is she ran it out of oil or something. Engine failures do happen & I'm not trying to say the LSx is the greatest engine out there. It is one of the most capable, though.

I too would like to see the buildup of a reliable, powerful, lightweight Pontiac motor for less than $6200. I'll build one for my GTO in a heartbeat. Right now I'm looking to build a stout 447ci stroker (based on my '66 389 block) for about the same money (best of everything though isn't cheap). I know I could build it cheaper, but may sacrifice reliability.

Please quit pissing on these threads. Go join a Chevy or Ford forum a bash their stuff.