I'm mainly in search of some ideas for building a 500+ hp ecotec for a rat rod '37 Chevy pick up project. What's needed to make a strong yet reliable lsj or lnf?

 

I'm surprised nobody responded to you. Wouldn't a 4-banger defeat the purpose? The sound of a V8 is awesome while a 4-banger, not so much.

You should check out ZZP. Get a girdled block and then build it from there if you can. You're also gonna need a turbo. Supercharger won't get you there. LSJ block is stronger than a LNF block but if you're starting from scratch then just get this...

ZZPerformance - ZZP Girdled Block Gen3 #

Maybe look into a silencer for the exhaust? I kid, I kid. Good luck.

 

Yeah in a way 4 banger does defeat the purpose but it is different. If I don't end up doing a ecotec I'm probably going to build a LSx motor for it.

 

I say go turbo ecotec I mean why go v8 when you can get the same power and better mileage on 4 cyl I plan to eventually do an older truck or car and have a turbo Eco powering it

 

hell that's sounds ok, a Turbo LSJ. cool, good luck, should be good enough if you keep it light weight.

 

LNF block, rods, pistons, tune, s256 or similar turbo, e85, 5th injector. done.

 

Hmm thats a very rat-roddy idea. It is all about going against the grain

 

not in a old school build, I see ecotecs better suited for things like the arial atom, and well small compact rwd cars like the Cadillac ATS.

 

The LSJ will work if you get the motor and harness. The LNF will be much harder because of the VVT and DI not to mention you will need the BCM. Personally, I don't like the way most 4 bangers sound but I installed a flowmaster on my LSJ and IMO it sounds better than anything else I have heard. I prefer that throaty sound and it's the closest thing to it.

You could easily build a reliable LSJ and make 600HP doing it. The question is, what transmission is going to take it? The 5-speed AR5 manual used in the Colorado but better yet from a Solstice/Sky would be your best bet to mate up to the engine but 400HP would probably be your max unless you had somebody *tighten it up*. Custom drive shafts aren't expensive.

It would be kind of cool to have something original like that with the power to back it up. Why not man?


LNF block is the weakest of them all..

ZZPerformance - ZZP Girdled Block Gen3 #
"The failures were due to GM attempting to "improve" the cooling passages in the block, but all they ended up doing was removing aluminum around the coolant passages and causing cracks."

 

Definitely from what I have heard and read Im going to be using a LSJ block and head. For the trans i have found a conversion kit for a T-56 to mate it up to a ecotec. For the rear end I'm probably going to use a Ford 9-inch or if I can in find a complete IRS and rear end out of a Vette for cheap enough Ill do that.

Thanks everyone for your input